TELEPOINT PHONE TO SURPASS CELLULAR? 

Way back in 1988 cellular phones were the hottest new tool in the communications marketplace. Today they could be passed by the very, very latest: The Forum Phone, the newest generation (known at CT2) of digital cordless telephones.

Cellular phones use a very sophisticated network of cells tied to a master computer system to keep your message flowing regardless of your physical movement. The system is expensive to build and operate, the phone unit, whether a self-contained portable or one fixed in your car, carries a high initial cost -- around $2,000, although prices are starting to drop rapidly. The per call cost is very high. Technically, cellular is superior to the Telepoint network used with the Forum phone -- but that superiority is delivered at considerable cost.

The Forum Personal Phone is the first unit to be publicly thrust upon the world for immediate use. It was designed, developed and manufactured in the England by Shaye Communications of London. I was shown a Japanese version five years ago in the Tokyo research headquarters of the Uniden Corporation the worlds largest manufacturer of cordless phones. All operate on the same principal.

The Telepoint concept consists of a network of public base stations, accessible through a Forum Phone. It is the advanced generation version of the present home cordless phone. It does all that your current home unit does and more. Once the Telepoint network is established, Forum Phone users will be able to make outgoing calls from within 100-200 metres of a base station. Base stations will be installed by network operators in convenience locations such as bus, railway and airport terminals, restaurants, convenience stores, service stations and shopping centres.

One of the big changes may be that these relay or "repeater stations" in some countries may not be solely operated by the traditional monopolistic phone company! I was told in Japan that these could go to local entrepreneurs, who might provide a superior service. Tokyo already has six private phone companies.

These very small units (which actually fit in your shirt pocket!) weigh only 130 grams including battery (replaceable or rechargeable), have all the features of a cordless phone, such as: mute, redial, intercom function to a base unit and adjustable ring. These new units react to your own Personal Identification Number (PIN) to prevent unauthorized calls and have extended battery life, a 15-key keypad, memory storage for 22 numbers, 40 frequency channels, higher speech quality and improved security.

The Forum phone is "frequency agile" and will select the best available channel when call is made (It uses a different coding technique called Delta Modulation). You can also choose the company you wish your call to be routed through (An earlier column covered Mercury Communications ability in England to undercut British Telecom on phone rates at home and abroad). At the moment 11 U.K. companies have indicated they are going to apply to the British Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) for licences to operate Telepoint networks.

But the single best feature is the price: Just 150 British pounds or C$300, about one-tenth the cost of a cellular phone. Base units for business establishments run another $150 pounds. Units are scheduled to go on sale soon through multiple retailers and other outlets throughout Britain. Operating costs should be considerably lower than cellular.

I suggest you call the B.C. Utilities Commission in Vancouver and ask when is this new technology coming to British Columbia. Their number is: 660-4700.

Shaye Communications, in a 50/50 partnership with Motorola Ltd. is also an applicant for a network entitled Call Point. Shaye is a group of international shareholders including Nokia-Mobira of Finland, Timex Corporation and several Norwegian public companies. More information: Bill Jeffery, Chief Executive, Shaye Communications, Capital House, 48-52, Andover Road, Winchester, Hampshire SO23 7BH, England.

Phone: (0962) 55925.

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