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<br />08:26 96 <br /> <br />APT <br /> <br />AMERICAN "ORlABLL fEI[(OM <br /> <br />" TDS COMP"NY <br /> <br />8410 West Bryn Mawr Avenue <br />Suite 1100 <br />Chicago, Illinois 60631 <br />312-399-4200 <br />Fax 312.399-4170 <br /> <br />The FAQs: <br />Frequently Asked Questions <br /> <br />\Vhat is Personal Communications Sen'ice? <br /> <br />PCS is a sophisticated new fom1 of digital wireless communications that offers <br />subscribers a variety of enhanced features and services first-generation wireless cannot <br />provide. For example. American Po.rtable Telecom's PCS service will offer two-way text <br />messaging. a personalized removable Smart Card that separates the subscription from the <br />handset. and secure communications free from eavesdropping and fraudulent "number <br />cloning" . <br /> <br />\Vhy is PCS needed when we already have cellular phones? <br /> <br />PCS was created to help meet the growing consumer demand for wireless <br />communications services. Today. about 8 percent of the U.S. population uses some form <br />of wireless communications. It is estimated that by year 2000, over 40 percent will be <br />using wireless. Cellular technology alone cannot accommodate that burgeoning demand. <br />The U.S. government has actively encouraged the development of PCS as a \va)' to <br />enhance competition and consumer service in the wireless"marketplace. <br /> <br />How is PCS different from cellular? <br /> <br />PCS systems operate at higher frequencies on a much broader bandwidth than cellular <br />networks. PCS operates in 140 r.fHz of spectrum between) 850 and 1990 MHz. Cellular <br />occupies only 50 MHz between 824 to 849 and 869 to 894 MHz. The pes frequency <br />range is noted for excellent propagation characteristics and range. Using proven GSM <br />technology. PCS can efticiently handle several times the call capacity of cellular. pes <br />systems are also more secure than cellubr due to a special encryption feature that makes <br />number cloning impossible. Like cellular. pes offers great mobility and compatibility <br />with other telephone networks. <br />