CHATSWORTH, Calif., Oct. 27, 1999 (PRIMEZONE) -- FocusWireless.com (Nasdaq:FONE) announced today that the Company has been authorized by the Telecommunications Resellers Association (TRA) to provide wireless products and services to TRA's members. Under the agreement, FocusWireless.com will offer the TRA's member companies its full line of wireless handsets and accessories, as well as associated packaging services, via a web application in the commerce portion of FocusWireless.com's portal, www.focuswireless.com
As part of the agreement, TRA will notify its members that FocusWireless.com was selected as the authorized provider of wireless handsets and accessories for the TRA. This arrangement creates a potentially significant new source of revenue for FocusWireless.com
FocusWireless.com Chief Marketing and Business Development Officer Mark Fruehan explained that this agreement generates an opportunity for FocusWireless.com to offer TRA members a business-to-business e-commerce solution that features "virtual warehousing" to reduce members' inventory expenses; online product availability for instant access to inventory; order status and tracking; phone programming; product branding and more.
Mr. Fruehan said, "FocusWireless.com will provide TRA members with online end-to-end transaction management that is fast, convenient and will save them money. We are honored that FocusWireless.com has been chosen as the provider to this leading association whose membership includes high-growth, emerging telecom companies and well-established enterprises including carriers, network marketing companies and resellers. Telecom resellers represent a multi-billion dollar industry with an estimated $13 billion in long distance revenues alone. "I believe the TRA member companies will play a significant role in the continued robust growth in new wireless subscribers," concluded Fruehan.
David Gusky, executive vice president of the TRA said, "We chose FocusWireless.com as a result of their innovative business-to-business E-commerce solutions and quality management team. The TRA is confident in FocusWireless.com's ability to service our members with reliability and efficiency."
About Focus Wireless Based in Chatsworth, CA with offices in Dallas, TX, FocusWireless.com will be offering the wireless telecom industry an e-commerce solution that provides end-to-end transaction management for its business-to-business customer base. As a wireless product distributor, the Company will facilitate the sale of wireless products and offer innovative value-added services for its "B-to-B" customers, which include manufacturers, carriers, resellers, retailers, and dealers. The Company intends to continue its expansion by targeting existing and emerging wireless telecom distribution channels and will offer comprehensive web-based solutions that will allow more companies reduced barriers to entry of retailing wireless telecom products.
Telecommunications Resellers Association Founded in 1992, the Telecommunications Resellers Association (TRA) is the Washington, DC-based national organization for resellers of telecommunications services, representing 800 companies involved in the resale of domestic and international long distance, local, wireless and other enhanced telecommunications services. Resellers typically make volume purchases of network services from facilities-based carriers and, in turn, offer their subscribers discounts and value-added services, including customized billing, personalized customer service and consultation.
TRA was created and carries a continuing mandate to foster and promote telecommunications resale, to support the telecommunications industry, and to protect and further the interest of entities engaged in the resale of telecommunications services. Further information is available at www.tra.org.
Statements included within this press release that are not historical in nature constitute forward-looking statements for the purposes of the safe harbor provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that this press release may contain certain such forward- looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. When used, the words "anticipate," "believe, " "estimate," "expect" and similar expressions as they relate to the Company or its management are intended to identify such forward looking statements. The Company's actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from the results expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. Risks include potential delays in the completion of developing the Internet e-commerce solution, potential increased inventory and warehousing costs to meet future TRA member demand and potential lack of customer acceptance of this order processing method by TRA members or others. Further management discussion of risks and uncertainties can be found in the Company's quarterly filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and other periodic filings.