Motorola wins nationwide iDEN network contract in KSA

Motorola, Inc. has been awarded an integrated Digital Enhanced Network (iDEN) wireless system contract in Saudi Arabia by Public Telecommunications Company (PTC), a consortium of four major Saudi companies authorized by the Saudi Telecommunications Company, to build and operate a nationwide iDEN system. The initial phase of the iDEN infrastructure contract, signed during the second half of 2004, is valued in excess of $40 million. Motorola recognized $10 million of revenue from this contract in 2004. PTC plans to sell iDEN services to business, and government users who have a need to communicate with co-workers using iDEN’s unique features. The iDEN solution is a digital trunking system that provides push-to-talk, telephone interconnect services, and packet data to digital Public Access Mobile Radio (PAMR) users and commercial and industrial system customers. PTC anticipates launching the new wireless service in the second quarter of 2005. “We are very excited about offering nationwide iDEN service in Saudi Arabia,” said Abdul Rahman Al-Ohaly, chairman of the board, PTC. “This new service will help improve efficiency and productivity in the workplace and is ideal for businesses where employees must be able to quickly communicate with co-workers, vendors and clients in a reliable, cost-effective manner.” “We are pleased to be able to team with PTC to provide versatile and efficient communications to the Saudi market,” said Fred Wright, Motorola senior vice president. “iDEN technology has proven to be very successful globally, providing over 21 million users multiple wireless services via a single handset and allowing operators to generate some of the best ARPU and lowest churn in the industry.” Motorola’s iDEN technology is currently deployed in 18 countries around the globe. Customers can enjoy the benefits of a single handset that offers one-to-one Push-To-Talk service; simultaneous Push-To-Talk service to multiple individuals or groups; telephone interconnect service; short-messaging; and wireless internet data service. Current models of iDEN handsets offer a full range of features including global positioning satellite (GPS) technology, color displays, speakerphone, voice recorder, voice dialing and downloadable ring tones in competitively sized and designed handsets.