CNMI braces for text messaging on mobile telephones

Northern Marianas mobile telephone subscribers are bracing for one of the most advanced telecommunications technology in the world, which makes sending and receiving text messages through handsets available on the islands.

GTE Pacifica is gearing up for next year’s launching of new sets of handheld cellular phones which will be capable to receive and send text messages using the company’s digital telecommunications technology.

Kerry Deets, staff administrator for marketing and communications, said GTE Pacifica is bringing in new mobile telephone models which offer additional and advanced features that are not available with analog cellular units.

GTE Pacifica currently uses the Time Division Multiple Access, the first digital standards to be developed for cellular communications and was utilized by the telecom industry association in 1992.

According to Ms. Deets, GTE Pacifica digital cellular subscribers will be allowed to avail of the new text messaging service free of charge during the introductory promotional period next month, as part of the company’s efforts to emphasize the feature’s advantages.

Although GTE Pacifica’s TDMA technology is capable of sending and receiving text messages, Ms. Deets explained that current digital telephone units available on the island can only receive full word messages.

“We are anticipating our new orders of Nokia 61 series, which can both send and receive text messages, to be arriving in a few weeks. We are on track with our schedule for a product launch in January,” she told an interview.

At present, digital cellular telephone subscribers can receive text messages in their units sent through the company’s Internet-based partner www.web2mobile.com. They can also send text messages using the website to other digital phone subscribers in Guam and the mainland United States.

Ms. Deets also mentioned that present setup allows callers to send text messages to GTE Pacifica digital phone subscribers through the 411 access number without any charge.

“People can call 411, dictate the full word message to the operators who will then type and send the message to our subscribers. And we offer this without additional cost,” she pointed out.

Ms. Deets said GTE Pacifica will continue providing both the analog and digital mobile telephone services in the Northern Marianas, although the digital service offers enhanced features such as caller ID, clearer reception and lower airtime rates.

GTE Pacifica’s new digital infrastructure makes Caller ID more advanced, with the capability of identifying cellular numbers as well as landline telephone numbers from Saipan, Tinian and Rota.

Ms. Deets also noted that digital cellular subscribers can turn their mobile phones into a personal assistant with the capability to keep track of appointments and store important numbers, names and messages.

Also, the digital technology allows battery to last between 100 to 200 hours on standby and 2-3 hours of talk time. It also registers call logs such as missed, received and sent calls.

GTE Pacifica’s TDMA technology is currently capable of all the enhanced features enjoyed by mobile telephone subscribers in the Philippines and in Asia, that include short text messaging, systems that allow computers to hook into the Internet, and units that can receive local and international news.