Nextel Launches Another Internet-Ready Phone - the i500plus; Company Announces Targeted Rollout of Nextel Online Dial-up Services - SM - Product Announcement

Cambridge Telcom Report, August 9, 1999

Nextel Communications, Inc., (Nasdaq: NXTL) a leading provider of fully integrated wireless communication services, Monday announced the introduction of the i500plus Internet-ready phone, manufactured by Motorola. The i500plus represents Nextel's second Internet-ready phone following on the heels of the i1000plus phone, launched in June.

The i500plus is similar to the current i390 phone that combines digital cellular, text/numeric paging and Nextel Direct Connect, however the i500plus contains a Web browser for future access to Nextel Online(SM) services. The i500plus is smaller, lighter, fits comfortably in hand and is targeted to the business segment. This phone also provides the customer with enhanced voice features such as Quickstore which instantly adds phone numbers and Direct Connect Private IDs to your personal directory. The suggested retail price of the phone is $199 with promotional pricing at launch as low as $99.

The company also announced the availability of Nextel Online Dial-up Services (a wireless modem dial-up functionality) to customers in the transportation segment. This remote capability will permit Nextel customers to access their corporate network to send or receive time-critical information such as a sales proposal document, e-mail, or a field service report. This feature will allow a customer to extend their office network to the field by improving access to more in-depth information in real-time without using a separate fixed modem or a landline connection.

"With the launch of our second Internet-ready phone, Nextel is continuing to seed the marketplace in anticipation of providing wireless Internet services later this year," said Tom Kelly, Nextel's chief marketing officer. "Additionally, the launch of Nextel Online Dial-Up services is our first step toward offering our business customers access to their time critical information while mobile."

The Nextel Online wireless Internet services will provide Nextel customers access to Internet services allowing them to keep in touch with their time critical information while on the go. When fully operational, the services are expected to include e-mail, calendar functionality, address book contacts and access to Web-based content and corporate intranet information.

Nextel Communications, Inc. headquartered in Reston, VA, is the leading provider of fully integrated wireless communications and has built the largest guaranteed all-digital wireless network in the United States that covers thousands of communities across the United States. Nextel and Nextel Partners, Inc. currently serve 92 of the top 100 U.S. markets. The Nextel National Network offers a fully integrated wireless communications tool with digital cellular, text/numeric paging and Nextel Direct Connect -- a digital two-way radio feature. In addition, through Nextel International, Inc., Nextel has wireless operations and investments in Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, the Philippines, Peru, Japan and Shanghai, China. FMI: http://www.nextel.com.