PCS '99 Sessions

Knowledge is critical to the survival of your business. At this year's PCS '99, to be held Sept. 21-24 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, take advantage of the unlimited educational opportunities provided through special sessions, concurrent sessions, FCC roundtables and full-day wireless seminars.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 21Concurrent Sessions

Wireless Voice: State of the Industry (10-11:30 a.m.) -- A panel of cellular and PCS carriers addresses the challenges faced, the solutions implemented and strategies for succeeding in today's competitive business.

3G: Is It a Standard Yet? (10-11:30 International Wireless: Creating the New Global Customer (Noon-1:30 p.m.) -- Leading U.S. and international carriers discuss the changing global wireless landscape, acquiring global wireless customers, roaming agreements, opportunities for small, mid-size and niche carriers, and creating successful partnerships and alliances.

Paging & Messaging: State of the Industry (Noon-1:30 p.m.) -- A panel of leading carriers, industry analysts and financial experts discusses the present and future of paging and messaging.

Wireless Data: State of the Industry (Noon-1:30 p.m.) -- Wireless data experts provide their perspectives on the current state of the industry and provide a preview of what's ahead.

Satellite: State of the Industry (Noon-1:30 p.m.) -- Experts discuss who the players are and the status of their product introductions, reporting on coverage models, constellations and service turn-on.

Wireless Marketing: Targeting the New Wireless Customer (Noon-1:30 p.m.) -- A panel of experts looks at the latest targeting trends and techniques being used by companies inside and outside the industry on the wireless customer.

Traditional Paging: New Revenue Opportunities (2-3:30 p.m.) -- Hear case studies on carriers that have been successful in making the switch from numeric to alphanumeric paging and examine different distribution methods. Other topics include increasing RPU, creating new revenue opportunities, and acquisition and retention.

Calling Party Pays: Challenge or Opportunity? (2-3:30 p.m.) -- This session features lessons learned from international carriers and discusses what it will take to make CPP a reality in the U.S. market.

Convergence Vs. Divergence: One for All or All-In-One? (2-3:30 p.m.) -- Will future wireless devices be converged or diverged? What will their features and form factors be? What does consumer research tell us? What's the likely impact on carriers and service offerings?

Fixed Broadband: State of the Industry (2-3:30 p.m.) -- Panelists analyze the financial and regulatory challenges and solutions, address what services will be offered and how to bring them to market, discuss who the customer is, and predict what role fixed broadband will play in the future.

Branding: The Power of Your Identity (2-3:30 p.m.) -- Leading brand strategists and experts discuss the power of branding in the new millennium, present case studies from inside and outside the wireless industry, and look at branding through the Internet, niche branding, co-branding, ingredient branding, and creating vertical brands.

Tower & Network Management Forum (2-3:30 p.m.) -- Site-management professionals from wireless carriers and tower companies discuss how their organizations are addressing these management and logistical challenges.

Numbers Game: What's the Winning Solution? (4-5:30 p.m.) -- This session presents a status update on numbering, discusses the issues surrounding the subject, and opens a dialogue among the various proponents and opponents.

Wireless Internet Generation (4-5:30 p.m.) -- Leading Internet companies join wireless companies and industry experts to discuss what the wireless Internet will look like, what types of converged devices are in the pipeline, timelines, consumer research, and revenue and market potential.

LMDS in Action -- Promise to Reality (4-5:30 p.m.) -- Hear from companies that are on the forefront of this new technology, and learn what products and services are available and how customers are using the service.

Emerging Technologies: A Glimpse Into the Future (4-5:30 p.m.) -- Leading manufacturers and developers offer a preview of the future, showcasing the most exciting emerging technologies. Topics include voice recognition, video-display concepts, smart cards and spread-spectrum products.

Facility Management: Site Operations & Regulatory Compliance (4-5:30 p.m.) -- Experts address a range of critical operations and regulatory compliance topics. Topics include complying with the FCC's RF-exposure regulations, understanding the FAA obstruction and evaluation process, assuring compliance with safety rules for tower riggers, and using combiners to conserve tower space.

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 22Supersession (8-10 a.m.)

The Era of Wireless Convergence -- Executives behind today's high-profile wireless/computing alliances describe the converged future, and offer insights into what companies and carriers should do now to ensure they're smartly positioned for the future. Learn from the companies leading the convergence wave. Ted Leonsis, AOL Interactive Properties Group president, presents ideas on how your company can prepare.

Other featured speakers include Merle Gilmore, Communications Enterprise EVP and Motorola president; Nicholas "Colly" Myers, Symbian CEO; Irwin Jacobs, Qualcomm chairman & CEO; George Schmitt, Omnipoint president and LLC & PCIA chairman; Harel Kodesh, Microsoft vice president productivity appliance division; K.P. Wilska, Nokia Mobile Phones president; John Major, Wireless Knowledge president & CEO; and FCC Commissioners Harold Furchtgott-Roth, Susan Ness and Michael Powell.

CONCURRENT SESSIONSSmall Carriers: Exploring Business Models for Success (2-3:30 p.m.) -- This session looks at trends and business models for small carriers, including franchising, affiliations and market differentiation. It also discusses the impact of the prepaid marketplace, and describes how carriers can increase market share and capitalize on large carrier churn.

Embedded Systems & 2-Way: New Trends & Opportunities (2-3:30 p.m.) -- A panel representing manufacturers, carriers and the data industry discusses what the devices will look like and what applications must be developed to attract a large customer base.

Wireless Internet: Adding Value by Adding Content (2-3:30 p.m.) -- A panel of wireless Internet experts discusses business scenarios and partnership opportunities that carriers should be considering today.

39GHz: The New Broadband Alternative (2-3:30 p.m.) -- This fall, the FCC is expected to begin auctions for broadband spectrum at 38.6GHz to 40GHz. Hear the alternatives for fixed and mobile use of this band, and learn about the prospects for near-term equipment availability.

Satellite Carriers: Partners or Competitors? (2-3:30 p.m.) -- Terrestrial carriers meet their high-flying satellite counterparts to discuss the different technologies, service offerings, business models and partnership opportunities.

Internet Marketing: Weaving the Web Into Your Wireless Marketing Strategy (2-3:30 p.m.) -- Internet marketing experts review case studies from inside and outside the industry, and provide their expertise in creating on-line stores and implementing a successful on-line marketing program.

Wireless Infrastructure: State of the Industry (2-3:30 p.m.) -- Financial experts and senior executives from the top tower and infrastructure-management companies examine the prospects for growth and diversification in this vibrant industry segment.

Wireline to Wireless Migration: Cutting the Cord (4-5:30 p.m.) -- Industry experts, analysts and futurists look at the wireline-to-wireless trend.

Wireless Internet: Getting Your Slice of the E-Commerce Pie (4-5:30 p.m.) -- Industry analysts look at the e-commerce future, and share the latest research, forecasts and trends. In addition, e-commerce experts look at possible business scenarios and opportunities wireless companies may consider as they position for the e-commerce boom.

Retail Selling: New Trends & Opportunities (4-5:30 p.m.) -- This session discusses best practice case studies from the field, plus the latest techniques for marketing, displaying and selling wireless in a retail environment.

To Sue or Not to Sue: The Last Resort? (4-5:30 p.m.) -- Legal experts examine the latest round of court decisions on antenna-siting questions, and discuss the pros and cons of a last resort solution.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 23Supersession (8:30-10 a.m.)

The New Era of Competition -- Learn what the leading carriers know about the three major forces shaping today's wireless industry -- competition, simplification and globalization.

Speakers include Anthony Navarra, Strategic Development, Globalstar COO & EVP; Dan Hesse, AT&T Wireless Services president & CEO; George Schmitt, Omnipoint president and LCC & PCIA chairman; Mark Lowenstein, Global Wireless Practice and the Yankee Group senior vice president; and Jerry Vento, TeleCorp president & CEO.

CONCURRENT SESSIONSThe European Wireless Voice Opportunity (10-11:30 a.m.) -- This session examines the latest subscriber facts, figures and trends in Europe.

Mobile Messaging in Europe (11:45 a.m.-1:15 p.m.) -- Learn what the European paging industry will look like in the year 2000 and what manufacturers and operators need to do to ensure the healthy growth of paging in Europe.

Financing Wireless: Show You the Money (2-3:30 p.m.) -- A panel of investors, venture capitalists and analysts discusses what's been hot in the past year and where the new sources of investment dollars can be found.

Paging Gizmos & Gadgets (2-3:30 p.m.) -- Preview some of the most exciting new paging and messaging devices coming onto the market from leading manufacturers.

Wireless Internet: To ISP or Not to ISP (2-3:30 p.m.) -- Carriers and Internet service providers present a series of business cases, and share ideas for forming alliances and identifying partners.

Gaining Access to Customers (2-3:30 p.m.) -- Learn what a carrier's legal rights are involving gaining access to customers who want to receive fixed broadband wireless service and how they negotiate with building management to be able to provide it.

3G Products: Stars of the Show (2-3:30 p.m.) -- This session provides a glimpse at some of the first products off the drawing board from the biggest players in 3G.

Reconnecting to the Customer: The New Marketing Challenge (2-3:30 p.m.) -- Marketing experts discuss how companies in other industries are reconnecting with their fickle customers. Top marketers inside and outside wireless also discuss bundled offers and similar marketing tactics.

China: The Changing Face of the World's Largest Market (2-3:30 p.m.) -- Learn about the current status of wireless penetration and operations in China, what to expect from China over the next few years and what the latest growth forecasts are.

Wireless Price Wars: Competing on the Wireless Battlefield (4-5:30 p.m.) -- Experts discuss the programs designed to entice customers with free minutes, free weekends, single-rate plans and 1-stop telecommunications shopping, and the impact they will have on the bottom line, as well as on rising minutes of use, network expansion and carrier attrition. Which programs are working? Which are not? What are today's best competitive strategies?

Paging & Messaging: The Next Generation (4-5:30 p.m.) -- Leading carriers and business strategists present a series of concepts, case studies and business models for reinventing the messaging industry, as well as recommendations for implementing success-oriented strategies. They also address reselling, bundling, network optimization, forming strategic alliances and reducing churn.

Wireless Data Gizmos & Gadgets (4-5:30 p.m.) -- This session showcases the new data devices and portable PCs coming onto the market, and provides a sneak peek at the latest concepts on the drawing board.

B-Block: The New Players Are Coming (4-5:30 p.m.) -- Learn what products and services can be offered on a standalone basis in this band or in conjunction with the A-block spectrum, and hear manufacturer's plans for rolling out equipment for B-block use.

Selling Wireless Data: New Revenue Streams or Bundled In Add-On? (4-5:30 p.m.) -- Marketing experts explore ideas, new consumer research and business models for selling wireless data.

Mobile Market Opportunities in Asia (4-5:30 p.m.) -- Experts discuss how voice and messaging operators around the region are coping with the challenges of these volatile markets.

Building & Rooftop Management for Telecommunications (4-5:30 p.m.) -- This session addresses the full range of building issues for telecommunications, including riser management, RF compliance, building access, lease negotiation and sub-contractors management.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 24Supersession (8:30-10 a.m.)

Bernard Ebbers, MCI World-Com president & CEO, discusses the company's wireless developments and important trends shaping the industry's growth.

Also featured in this session will be Don Shula, former Miami Dolphins head coach, and George Foreman, the current world heavyweight boxing champion.

>SBFull-Day Workshops

TUESDAY, SEPT. 21Selling Wireless on the Web (9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.) -- Learn how to plan, build and grow your e-commerce business. Experts in design, development, strategy and implementation will help carriers and retailers tap into the power of e-commerce.

Part 90 Licensing Skills & Techniques Workshop (9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.) -- This workshop discusses Form 601 and provides a comprehensive review of the many changes and new requirements of the FCC's electronic filing process. PCIA's instructors, experienced in spectrum management, share insights needed to transition into a paperless world smoothly and efficiently.