Audio PlusTM solves digital dilemmas for Cellular One®

Business Wire, March 1, 1995

LEESBURG, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 1, 1995--The Cellular One companies in New York, New Jersey, and Florida recently implemented digital cellular service complete with the Audio PlusTM sound enhancement technology from leading echo cancellation specialist, Coherent Communications Systems Corporation of Leesburg, Va. Audio Plus was subjected to extensive field tests by Cellular One companies, demonstrating significantly enhanced audio quality across all digital cellular call traffic.

Maintaining excellent audio quality on digital cellular networks has been the subject of extensive research and development, necessitating an effective solution to the complex combination of acoustic and hybrid network echo produced in this environment. This occurs as a result of several factors including digital delays, the hybrid connection between the digital and analog networks, and acoustic or "multiple" echo as produced in a noisy environment such as an automobile.

Overcoming this hurdle is a vital element in ensuring that the full capacity and performance benefits of Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) technology are realized in operation. With its focus on echo control and voice quality enhancement, Coherent elected to invest over 2 years in researching a solution to digital cellular echo, creating Audio Plus for operation with its EC-6000 and EC-7000 echo canceller platforms.

Gary Ottosi, Director of Network Engineering of Cellular One in New York and New Jersey, highlights the value he feeds Audio Plus has added to their service: "You can clearly hear the difference with Audio Plus. The results of our internal tests were overwhelmingly favorable. We wanted to be certain of customer acceptance before we installed the digital network. In fact, with Audio Plus, our test base told us that their sound quality was even better than their regular analog service."

Similarly, Cellular One's Florida operation also received an enthusiastic customer response. "We were overwhelmed with unsolicited calls from subscribers after we installed Audio Plus. People noticed the improvement and called to tell us," commented Director of Operations, John Giannella. Cellular One's Florida operation, currently the largest digital operator in the US, decided to install Audio Plus as a competitive tactic. John Giannella again: "The turnover rate among cellular subscribers on a national scale is 26% a year. This is largely because many customers see cellular service as a commodity, purchasing or converting on the basis of promotional offers. By offering our customers a clear quality difference, we rise above commodity status."

By the end of 1994, these Cellular One companies reported a doubling of their overall coverage, with over 200 cell sites now equipped with Audio Plus across the Florida, New York, and New Jersey markets. As operating companies within McCaw Cellular Communications Inc., Cellular One's choice of Audio Plus is in line with the company directive announced in May 1994, naming Coherent as its preferred provider of digital echo cancellation products. To date, some 16 different companies within the group are using Audio Plus, encompassing services from San Francisco, Las Vegas, and Santa Barbara to Seattle, Miami and New York.

Coherent Communications Systems Corporation is a worldwide leader in state of the art digital and acoustic echo cancellation technology, encompassing the full breadth of wireless, satellite and terrestrial networks. The company's products are used globally by major commercial telecommunications companies and network operators, including McCaw, Cellular One, Telmex, British Telecom, Deutsche Bundespost, and France Telecom amongst the long list of current customers. In addition, the company also designs and manufactures a market leading range of high performance full duplex audio conferencing products.

CONTACT: Coherent, Leesburg

Diane McClelland, 703/729-6400, ext. 311

or

Garrett Axford

Georgina Garrett, 44(0)1273-441200

KEYWORDS: VIRGINIA

INDUSTRY KEYWORD: COMPUTERS/ELECTRONICS COMED REPEATS: New York 212-575-8822 or 800-221-2462; Boston 617-330-5311 or

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