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Nextel Partners Launches First ''Four-in-one'' Wireless Service in Rio Grande Valley
URL(s): www.nextelpartners.com
MCALLEN, Texas, Oct. 24, 2001--Local businesses interested in increasing productivity and maximizing resources
can now access the first "four-in-one" digital wireless service available in Edinburg, McAllen, Harlingen, Brownsville, South Padre Island and
surrounding areas.
This comes with today's official launch of Nextel Partners' (Nasdaq:NXTP) all-digital wireless network and services combining digital
cellular, digital two-way radio, wireless Internet access and text/numeric messaging, all in one compact phone.
The Rio Grande Valley expansion completes Nextel's coverage of the entire I-35 corridor from Dallas/Fort Worth to the Mexican border,
an essential travel route for Texas businesses.
Nextel Donates to American Red Cross
In conjunction with its launch, Nextel Partners is donating 10 wireless phones and free local service for a year to the American Red Cross
- South Texas Chapter to enhance its disaster relief efforts, a total donation valued at nearly $15,000. Nextel Partners will officially present
the donation to the American Red Cross today, Wednesday, Oct. 24, at 10 a.m., at the Red Cross center located at 425 West State in Pharr.
The donation marks the first time the chapter has received wireless phones also equipped with a digital two-way radio, a feature that will
enable instant communication between Red Cross staff and citizen volunteers participating in the organization's "Disaster Services Team."
The phones are expected to improve critical coordination of relief efforts, enhance response time during emergencies, and give South Texas
Chapter staff the ability to access Red Cross counterparts in Corpus Christi. The Coastal Bend Chapter in Corpus Christi received free
phones from Nextel Partners when it launched its service there a year ago.
"The ability to communicate instantly with our Corpus Christi Chapter will be extremely valuable as we respond to disasters that cross
county lines," said Sylvia Galvan, Director of Emergency Services for the American Red Cross - South Texas Chapter. "Being able to
communicate instantly with volunteers and local officials at different locations throughout the city - and across the state - will save precious
time, help us respond more quickly and better protect our communities."
Nextel Coverage Extends from Dallas, Fort Worth to Corpus Christi and the Mexican border Nextel's and Nextel Partners' all-digital
wireless network extends along the frequently traveled corridors of I-35 south from Dallas and Fort Worth through Waco, Temple, Killeen
and Austin to San Antonio; I-37 south from San Antonio through Mathis and Sinton to Corpus Christi, continuing on State Route 77 south
through Kingsville, Raymondville and Harlingen to Brownsville; I-37 south from San Antonio to State Route 281 south through Alice,
Falfurrias and Edinburg to McAllen; and State Route 83 from McAllen west to La Joya and east through Pharr, Weslaco, Harlingen and
Rancho, continuing east on Route 100 to Port Isabel and South Padre Island.
Other Nextel coverage areas in East Texas include I-45 south from Dallas to Houston; I-30 east from Dallas to Texarkana, Ark.; and I-20
from Dallas west to Abilene and east to Shreveport, La.
Rio Grande Valley customers will receive the latest in Nextel Direct Connect(R) two-way radio service. The feature enables any Nextel
customer, those of both Nextel Communications and Nextel Partners, to communicate with one another -- significantly increasing the number
of colleagues, customers or suppliers available via two-way radio within their calling region. Using Nextel Direct Connect(R), a Nextel
Partners customer in McAllen, for example, can press one button and talk instantly with any other Nextel user all over Texas, from the Rio
Grande to the Red River, to Houston to Lubbock; Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Norman, Lawton, Enid, Moore, Shawnee and Stillwater, Okla.; Hope
and Texarkana, Ark.; and Shreveport, Bossier City, Monroe, Ruston and Natchitoches, La. -- and pay no long-distance charges and avoid the
hassles of voicemail.
The launch expands Nextel's and Nextel Partners' regional coverage, which already includes Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio,
Austin, Abilene, Bryan, College Station, Corpus Christi, Laredo, Waco, Killeen, Temple, Tyler, Longview, Beaumont, Port Arthur and
Victoria, Texas; Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Norman, Lawton, Enid, Moore, Shawnee and Stillwater, Okla.; Little Rock, Hot Springs, Pine Bluff,
Conway, Fayetteville, Fort Smith, Arkadelphia, Hope and Texarkana, Ark.; and New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Bossier City,
Monroe, Alexandria, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Ruston and Natchitoches, La.
Melichar Joins as General Manager
To oversee its expansion in the region, Nextel Partners has hired David Melichar as General Manager. Melichar brings extensive
experience and understanding of Nextel Partners' business needs, having worked in the wireless industry for more than 18 years. Prior to
joining Nextel Partners, Melichar served as vice president/general manager for eLink Communications in Dallas, where he was responsible
for launching data and professional operations in North Texas.
"Nextel Partners' service will offer strategic capabilities to businesses in the region," said Melichar. "On a nationwide basis, no other carrier
can eliminate the need for multiple communications devices with one simple and affordable solution. Nextel is ideal for businesses that need
instant access to co-workers, suppliers and business associates, as well as the quality and security of digital service."
Nextel Partners' temporary regional office is located at 3825 N. 10th St. in McAllen. Effective November, the company's permanent
address will be 4316 N. McColl Rd. in McAllen. The company employs 10 people in the Rio Grande Valley to date.
About Nextel Partners
Nextel Partners, Inc., (Nasdaq:NXTP), based in Kirkland, Wash., has the exclusive right to provide digital wireless communications
services using the Nextel brand name in 30 states where approximately 51 million people reside. Nextel Partners offers its customers the
same fully integrated, digital wireless communications services available from Nextel including digital cellular, text/numeric messaging,
wireless Internet access and Nextel Direct Connect(R) digital two-way radio, all in a single wireless phone. Nextel Partners customers can
seamlessly access these services anywhere on Nextel's or Nextel Partners' all-digital wireless network, which currently covers 191 of the top
200 U.S. markets. To learn more about Nextel Partners, visit www.nextelpartners.com. To learn more about Nextel's services, visit
www.nextel.com.
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