• AT&T is the largest cellular carrier in the United States.

• It provides cellular phone service to over 9.5 million users.

• Geographic coverage of the United States exceeds 80 percent.

• AT&T is also in pursuit of expanding their geographic reach around the world.  Possesses has minority ownership in wireless communication systems located in Hong Kong, Mexico, South America and India. 

• By seamlessly connecting the United States based AMPS (Advanced Mobile Phone Service) network with the Pan-European GSM (Group Special Mobile) network, AT&T provides customers with fully inter-network roaming functionality.

• AT&T provides connection to over 46 countries located within Europe, Asia, Oceania, Africa, and the Middle East.

• Operates both an analog (AMPS) and a digital (TDMA) wireless network.

Basic Information

• Promotes wireless phones produced by Nokia, Ericsson, Mitsubishi, and Motorola, through special contracts.
• American Mobile Satellite Company (AMSC).  AMSC launched the most powerful commercial satellite ever constructed.  AT&T  is a major stockholder in AMSC.  One key strength of the AMSC’s service is satellite service is integrated into cellular service thus extending wireless communications to virtually everywhere in North America.
• Offers the Universal Wireless Communications Network (UWCN) and other technological and convenience benefits.

Mergers and Acquisitions

April 22, 1999.  AT&T Offer to Acquire MediaOne Group.

March 4, 1999.  AT&T Canada and MetroNet Communications Merger.

February 1, 1999.  AT&T and Time Warner Joint Venture.
This strategic relationship will offer AT&T-branded cable telephony service to residential and small business customers over Time Warner's existing cable television systems in 33 states.

December 8, 1998.  AT&T and IBM.
AT&T will acquire IBM's Global Network business for $5 billion.  These two companies will also enter into outsourcing contracts with each other.

July 26, 1998.  AT&T and British Telecom enter into $10 billion global venture.

STRENGTHS OF AT&T WIRELESS PHONE SERVICE:

• Seamless Nationwide and International wireless service and automatic roaming with the North American Cellular Network and the Universal Wireless Communications Network .

• Digital wireless service providing increased security and additional customer service.

• Standardized dialing patterns and feature usage throughout all AT&T service areas.

• Direct access to your AT&T virtual private network, i.e. AT&T SDN, One Net, VTNS, in all AT&T service areas.

Universal Wireless Communications Network (UWCN)

• Allows you to be truly portable.
• Interoperates with both long-distance network and cellular network.
• Direct linkage between AMPS analog system and GSM digital system, the standard in Europe.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

-You turn on the GSM phone. The phone automatically sends and identifying signal to the visiting switch.

-The visited switch identifies your “home” service area

-The visited switch notifies the home switch that you have registered in its market

-Home switches notes locations, sends your profile to visited switch

-Visited switch sets you up like you were at home

This entire process takes less than ten seconds to complete

     
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