ICO is continuing to build on its position as the leading provider of inter-standard roaming services to GSM subscribers.  

It has signed up six more Cellular Network Operators (CNOs) for its ICOroam(tm) service, bringing the total to eleven.

The six new operators comprise Telecel (Portugal), Airtel (Spain), FarEasTone (Taiwan), Maxis (Malaysia), Q-Tel (Qatar) and Satelindo (Indonesia.).  

Customers of these Cellular Network Operators will now be able to roam into the popular cellular standard (ANSI-41-AMPS) in North America using their current GSM telephone numbers. 

These CNOs join TMN (Portugal), Eircell (Ireland), Pacific Cellular (Taiwan), KPN (Netherlands) and Cellnet (UK), all of whom are already offering ICOroam(tm) to their customers.

Q-TEL is the first Cellular Network Operator in the Middle East to sign up for the service, demonstrating the service's appeal to cellular networks world-wide. 

In addition to the United States and Canada, ICOroam can now be used by GSM subscribers travelling to Puerto Rico.

ICO's eventual aim is to extend the reach of ICOroam(tm) to many regions of world where the GSM standard is not available, including Latin America. 

ICO launched the ICOroam(tm) service in 1998, extending the terrestrial mobile coverage available to GSM operators by bridging the gap between the GSM and ANSI-41 mobile standards.  

The service is of particular interest to international business travellers, an important market segment for cellular networks.

ICO expects to develop additional solutions for cellular networks to extend their coverage and in particular to begin commercial operations of its mobile satellite services in the third quarter of next year. 

Its satellite services are expected to be used by international and domestic cellular users who roam outside areas covered by compatible cellular networks.

Typical users will come from business, industry and government organisations, mining, transportation, aeronautical, maritime, media and other sectors, as well as residents of rural and remote areas lacking adequate local communications. 

ICO's satellite services will be based on a new generation of pocket-sized mobile phones that will allow users to make and receive calls outdoors at any time, anywhere in the world. 

The handsets will be dual mode, capable of working on satellite, cellular and PCS  networks. 

Using their handsets, customers will be able to roam between ICO and mobile networks around the world.  

If no cellular network is available, the handset will roam to ICO's satellite network to offer customers mobility and accessibility for their communications needs.


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