GSA# 9616

October 27, 1999
Contact: Bill Bearden (202) 501-1231
Joey Phelps (817) 978-3767

Washington, DC -- The U.S. General Services Administration has awarded contracts for advanced wireless messaging services to PageNet of Dallas, Texas, and SkyTel of Jackson, Mississippi.

The multiple award, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (ID/IQ) contract provides for a broad array of wireless messaging, including one-way local numeric beepers, alpha-numeric paging, full two-way text messaging, and other features such as voice mail and caller identification. PageNet and SkyTel also offer new and technologically advanced services to government customers that include international messaging, satellite paging and specialized messaging software development.

"We are pleased to include SkyTel and PageNet products and services in our wireless offerings for the Federal government community," said Dennis Fischer, commissioner of GSA's Federal Technology Service. "Our environment today is changing at a quick pace, and as employees are moving from place to place they need to stay in touch. Federal workers will be able to minimize disruption and manage their business affairs better with advanced messaging. We look forward to a valuable partnership with these companies."

PageNet and SkyTel are leaders in providing wireless messaging and information services with 11.5 million combined subscribers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Canada. Both companies offer a full range of paging and advanced messaging services, including assured-delivery messaging, two-way wireless e-mail, and global messaging.

According to Ed Bach, Jr., vice president of federal sales for PageNet, "The contract allows us to provide the advanced messaging products and services that federal customers are requesting. It also demonstrates PageNet's commitment to serving the federal market."

George Spohn, general manager of SkyTel said, "This new contract reflects the continuing pioneering vision of GSA in providing paging and advanced messaging to their customers. SkyTel is now an MCI WorldCom company, and we are excited about the opportunities to offer GSA's customers a full array of wireless services and emerging wireless technology."

These contracts will be managed by the FTS Greater Southwest Region and will replace the SkyTel advanced messaging contract that expires in January 2000. For contract specific information call Joey Phelps at (817) 978-3767. Additional information may be found on Internet at http://www.gsa.gov/regions/7k/fts_its/.

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