UCSD
CAMPUS NOTICE
University of California, San Diego
 

OFFICE OF ASSISTANT VICE CHANCELLOR - ADMINISTRATIVE COMPUTING AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS (ACT)
March 11, 1997
ALL AT UCSD (Including UCSD Medical Center)
SUBJECT: PCS Cellular Telephone Information
The traditional analog cellular telephones which we are all familiar with, now have a set of rival digital technologies, collectively called Personal Communication Services (PCS). PCS units look like analog cellular phones, but provide additional functionality such as the ability to receive paging requests and voice mail with dramatically increased reception quality. There are, however, a few drawbacks to the digital PCS services as compared to the analog cellular technology:
* In general, different PCS vendors use different technologies and offer incompatible services. It is not clear which technology will be dominant in the future. An analogy can be seen in the Video Cassette Recorder (VCR) market where two dominant technologies (VHS and Beta) competed head to head for many years, with eventually VHS winning out.
* If you travel outside of San Diego County, coverage for your service is very spotty right now.
Presently there are two dominant PCS technologies: TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) and CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access). Most existing TDMA is based on the architecture of GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication). In the San Diego area, CDMA is currently offered by Sprint PCS and TDMA/GSM by Pacific Bell Mobile Services (PBMS).
There are currently nine Sprint PCS markets in place in major metropolitan areas with nine more coming in the first half of 1997. When complete, Sprint PCS service will be available in 65 cities coast-to-coast. By the end of 1997 the Sprint network will be 80% complete. Within California, Orange County will be operational on the Sprint network in April and Los Angeles is projected for August. In contrast, the national TDMA/GSM market won't be fully in place until around 2005.
Both PBMS and Sprint acknowledge that their new networks have some coverage holes and that their coverage maps do not show all of the trouble areas. However soon both companies will release maps showing their respective weak spots. PBMS has holes in Carlsbad, Oceanside and Chula Vista. Sprint has holes in Rancho Santa Fe, La Mesa and East County.
ACT Support of PCS Services:
Since Sprint currently seems to be the dominant PCS provider in San Diego County, Administrative Computing and Telecommunications (ACT) has negotiated special terms for use by UCSD. Sprint offers two plans, one for phones used for UCSD business (see attachment one) and one for personal use by UCSD employees (see attachment two).
To order a Sprint PCS phone to be used for UCSD business, please FAX a customer service request (CSR) to 534-4959, or send via campus mail to mail code 0363, attention 'Ron Brogdon'. Alternately fill out an online CSR on http://telco1.ucsd.edu/httpddoc/Csr.htm. In your CSR, please provide the following information: Name of user of the phone, point of contact for billing, and the index number to which the service is to be charged.
To order a Sprint PCS phone to be used by a UCSD employee for personal use, contact Steve Azer of Sprint at (619) 218-5588 or via email
at: azer_steve@coxpcs.com
If you need further information, please contact Ron Brogdon at 534-8812 or via email at rbrogdon@ucsd.edu. Thank you.
Elazar C. Harel
Assistant Vice Chancellor - ACT
Attachment 1
Sprint PCS Plan for UCSD Business Phones
The following is information provided by Sprint highlighting the main points of their wireless phone promotion on phones billed directly to UCSD.
The key points to the offer are as follows:
* 100% digital service
* Voice Mail
* Caller ID
* Call Waiting
* Call Forwarding
* 3 Way Calling
* 1st minute free on all incoming calls * No contracts
The government (State) rate for UCSD business use is $12/month and $0.24 per minute.
Contact: UCSD Employee Ron Brogdon at (619) 534-8812 or via email at: rbrogdon@ucsd.edu
Attachment 2
Sprint PCS Plan for Phones Purchased by UCSD Employees
The following is information provided by Sprint highlighting the main points of their wireless phone promotion on phones purchased by UCSD employees for personal use. As a result of Sprint's business relationship with UCSD, they will extend volume discount rates to UCSD campus employees.
The UCSD employees will receive reduced rates and options unavailable to
the general public, but will be independently liable and responsible for their service and equipment charges. The key points to the offer are as follows:
* 100% digital service
* Voice Mail
* Caller ID
* Call Waiting
* Call Forwarding
* 3 Way Calling
* 1st minute free on all incoming calls * No contracts
The volume discount rate is $20 month and $0.20 per minute. The rates in the retail stores run 20-30% higher, both in the monthly and in the per minute charges. The $20/0.20 rate compares favorably with the older cellular service, where the best deal going is $21 and $0.21 per minute, and requires your commitment to a one or two year contract.
Contact: Sprint employee Steve Azer (619) 218-5588 or via email at: azer_steve@coxpcs.com