Cellular One offers free fraud protection service to all Bay Area customers; customers can use new feature locally and while traveling

Business Wire, April 17, 1995

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 17, 1995--Cellular One has announced that a new anti-fraud measure is being offered as a free option to all Bay Area customers.

The new PIN code-based system, first introduced in January for selected customers traveling in Los Angeles, can now be used by any Cellular One customer both for everyday local use and while traveling to many cities throughout the United States.

The new measure, called Fraud Protection Feature, is designed to reduce the incidences of the illegal cloning of cellular phones, which has risen dramatically over the past several years and has caused some customers considerable inconvenience.

According to Cellular One President Sue Swenson, "The purpose of Fraud Protection Feature is quite simple. We want to minimize the likelihood of cloning fraud, give customers confidence that we are doing all we can to protect them from fraud risk, and deter fraud pirates from cloning our customers."

Cellular One customers will use a personalized four-digit PIN code number to unlock their phones when they first turn them on. To use the PIN number, customers will press the following commands after turning on their phones -- "star560, PIN number, Send." By turning the phone off, the feature automatically activates, or a customer can manually re-lock the phone by pressing, "star56, PIN number, Send."

"Because customers can make an unlimited number of calls after using the PIN code to activate Fraud Protection Feature, it is simpler to use than systems offered by other carriers that require the PIN code to be used before every call," said Tim Long, head of Cellular One's fraud unit. "In addition, customers can program the code into speed dial for greater ease and safety, especially while driving."

While Long acknowledges that some customers may balk at having to input any additional numbers into their phones to make calls, he believes the benefits will be worth the effort for many cellular customers. "Fraud Protection Feature is an option for those customers who desire additional protection against cloning of their phones," said Long. "Even though customers themselves are not responsible for fraudulent calls that show up on their bills, those who are cloned often feel violated and, in some cases, have to change their cellular phone numbers. Those customers who use Fraud Protection Feature are much more likely to be spared these headaches."

Customers can use Fraud Protection Feature while traveling throughout the United States. In Cellular One's local service area, as well as in all but a few markets nationally, when customers are not using their phones and Fraud Protection Feature is activated, cloning fraud cannot take place. Outgoing calls -- including those from cloned phones -- are blocked, except for emergency numbers such as 911. Incoming calls still can be received.

Cellular One is the only cellular company in the Bay Area offering digital cellular service. It is a partnership of two communications companies: AirTouch Communications, San Francisco and McCaw Cellular Communications, Kirkland, Wash.

CONTACT: Cellular One

Karen Schornstein, 415/827-5676 or pager 253-0441

or

Torme & Kenney

Steven Freemire, 415/956-1791