ATLANTA, Nov. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Preferred Networks, Inc. (Nasdaq: PFNT)
(PNI), a leading outsourcing services provider to the wireless industry,
announced that it has received FCC approvals for it high-speed switching
platform, developed by PNI engineers as a cost-effective solution to the
telephony needs of data network carriers. The technology underlying the
switching platform is patent pending.
Mark H. Dunaway, CEO of PNI, said, "Receipt of the FCC approvals on the
switch heralds the beginning of a new era for PNI, where we will expand our
offerings in enhanced services. Over the coming months, we plan to introduce
products and services enabled by the switch that are currently under
development, including Internet access, e-mail, text-to-speech and one-number
access to multiple communications services."
Dunaway continued, "A key technological breakthrough of the switch is its
advanced call activity rate. While most existing switch platforms are
designed for conversational calls, where call holding times average two to
three minutes, the switch is capable of call holding times as short as two
seconds -- up to 2,016 calls simultaneously. This high-speed processing is
required for many data network applications, such as voice messaging, paging
and Internet services."
PNI's engineering team originally developed the switch to meet the
internal needs of PNI's paging networks. The platform enables PNI's customers
that collocate their terminal equipment in a PNI Technical Control Center
(TCC) to access subscriber telephone numbers on a number-by-number basis
rather than in the large number blocks originally issued by the telephone
company. It also reduces the space and capital costs necessary for operation
by replacing racks of channel banks and other dedicated telco switching
equipment used in the routing of telephone numbers. The benefits of the
switch derive from its ability to concentrate and multiplex several toll
exchanges into a single, efficient, cost-effective output group. The switch
technology was internally deployed in PNI's Chicago TCC in October 1997. With
FCC approvals now in place, PNI expects to begin marketing switch products and
services to customers in early 1999.
Preferred Networks, Inc., headquartered in metropolitan Atlanta, provides
outsourcing solutions to the wireless industry which allow companies to offer
branded wireless services directly to subscribers, while relying on PNI to
provide high-quality network, technical, and product services. PNI offers its
services through its Access Services Division, a provider of wholesale paging
network services, and through its wholly owned subsidiaries: Preferred
Technical Services, Inc., a provider of paging network equipment installation,
maintenance and engineering services; EPS Wireless, Inc., a national provider
of paging and cellular product repair services, sales of new, used and
refurbished paging and cellular products and inventory management services.
PNI's address on the World Wide Web is http://www.pni.net.
Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995: The statements contained in this release which are not historical
facts, such as those concerning future financial performance and growth, are
forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties,
including those identified in the Company's 1997 Annual Report on Form 10-K
and in its June 30, 1998 1O-Q, and actual results could differ materially from
those anticipated in the forward-looking statements.
SOURCE Preferred Networks, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.pni.net
Company News On-Call:
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/109794.html or fax,
800-758-5804, ext. 109794
CONTACT:
David Sullivan, Director of Corporate
Relations, Preferred Networks, Inc., 770-582-3507
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