American Wireless Achieves First Phase of Nationwide Activations Footprint - Company Business and Marketing

Cambridge Telcom Report, Sept 20, 1999

Silicon Valley-based American Wireless has announced it has completed Phase 1 of its "National Activation Services" network, with 43 carriers representing networks throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico covering 98 percent of the nation's population.

The master agent is now moving into the second phase of its program, that of signing -- on multiple carriers in key regions to give consumers a range of wireless service plans and coverage options. The innovative program allows the company's cellular agents to activate throughout the country, and users relocating from one geographic region to another region to be activated on a cellular network in their new area. The service transition can be seamlessly and quickly, coordinated by an American Wireless associate agent operating within the affiliated network footprint. With the completion of the carrier agreements, American Wireless is the largest combined master agent (which activates service) and wireless products distributor in the Western Hemisphere.

According to Harry Brix, chairman of The Brix Group, parent company of American Wireless, the seamless network culminates a year-long, phased implementation of an activation communications center purchased from Hughes Corp., a business unit of General Motors Corp.(GM).

"New service can be activated from any of our more than 2,100 traditional cellular associate agents," Brix said. "As well, service can be activated from participating GM auto dealerships, for either the OnStar Global Positioning System, which provides satellite-based location services in the case of emergencies or auto theft, or for wireless phone service."

Brix said the program benefits consumers and small retailers alike. "Not only does the consumer gain access to one-stop, accelerated credit approval and service activation, but the cash flow-conscious retailer receives his commissions for activations weekly. In some carrier-direct compensation structures, it can take as long as 60 days to be paid."

The Brix Group Inc., has been in business for more than 30 years. Its American Wireless Division provides activations throughout the United States, as well as wholesale distribution of cutting-edge wireless products and fulfillment services, to carriers, retailers, resellers, dealers and agents in the U.S. and Latin America. The Campbell, Calif.-based company activates close to 400,000 subscribers annually for the carriers it represents, some of which are Nextel, Sprint PCS, AirTouch Cellular, GTE Wireless, MCI Worldcom and US Cellular and distributes wireless product for QUALCOMM, Motorola, Audiovox, and Ericsson.