A Reprieve for MagnaStar Users

Verizon Airfone has notified customers that it will continue to provide Teledyne Control MagnaStar users with air/ground communications through at least Dec. 31, 2007. Verizon will also accept new service agreements with the understanding that they may end on that date. The actions reverse an earlier Verizon announcement that it would exit the air/ground phone business this month, leaving some 4,100 MagnaStar operators to seek options with other service providers. Users may still be seeking other options, but at least they have a year to do so.

At an FCC auction in May, competitor AirCell won the spectrum that includes Airfone's 800-MHz operating frequency. Airfone could function for two more years using a portion of the AirCell spectrum, then two more on LiveTV's spectrum.