142 lines
6.7 KiB
Plaintext
142 lines
6.7 KiB
Plaintext
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EDITORS NOTE:
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Following the general release is a longer version for trade
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publications.
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David Arneke
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919-279-7680 (office)
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Bill Jones
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919-279-6511 (office)
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FOR RELEASE THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1992
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AT&T PROTECTS CELLULAR PHONE CALLS FROM UNWANTED LISTENERS
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GREENSBORO, N.C. -- New technology from AT&T is cutting
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eavesdroppers out of the loop for cellular phone conversations.
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The AT&T Cellular Privacy System protects cellular calls by
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scrambling the cellular telephone's over-the-air signal. The
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signal is descrambled at the cellular carrier's switch, trans-
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mitting a conventional phone signal to the recipient.
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If the scrambled over-the-air signal is intercepted, the
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eavesdropper will hear only a chirping sound. AT&T's advanced
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privacy technology destroys the intelligibility of the over-the-
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air signal.
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"This system significantly increases the usefulness of cel-
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lular phones for anyone in business with a duty of
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confidentiality--or anyone who simply wants protection from
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eavesdroppers," says Ed Hickey, AT&T Vice President, Secure Com-
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munications Systems.
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"It enables users to conduct business on their cellular
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phone just as they would in their office or home."
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The AT&T system is an unprecedented solution to a problem
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inherent in cellular technology. Cellular telephone calls,
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transmitted as radio signals, are easily interceptable with inex-
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pensive, widely available scanners.
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The AT&T Cellular Privacy System is the first widely
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available, integrated solution to the privacy problem. It offers
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benefits far beyond those of any other cellular privacy products.
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o It's the first privacy system with technology compact enough
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and light enough to be embeddable in today's small, portable
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phones.
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o The system features an unmatched combination of high voice
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quality and an advanced level of privacy.
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o It is applicable to all three types of cellular telephones--
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portable, transportable ("bag phones") and mobile (car
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phones).
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The system has two components. The AT&T privacy unit at-
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taches to the phone and scrambles the phone's signal. The Mobile
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Telephone Switching Office (MTSO) unit is installed at the cel-
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lular carrier's switch and descrambles the signal.
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The first compatible phone is the AT&T Model 9000 Privacy-
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Capable Cellular Telephone, an 8.9-ounce portable model.
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Suggested retail price of the Model 9000 is $795. The op-
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tional privacy unit retails for $895. The phone, privacy unit
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and switch unit will be available in February.
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For more information, contact David Arneke, 919 279-7680, or
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Bill Jones, 919 279-6511.
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# # #
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TRADE VERSION
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David Arneke
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919-279-7680 (office)
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Bill Jones
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919-279-6511 (office)
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FOR RELEASE THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1992
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AT&T PROTECTS CELLULAR PHONE CALLS FROM UNWANTED LISTENERS
|
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|
|
|
||
|
|
GREENSBORO, N.C. -- New technology from AT&T is cutting
|
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|
|
eavesdroppers out of the loop for cellular phone conversations.
|
||
|
|
The AT&T Cellular Privacy System protects cellular calls by
|
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|
|
scrambling the cellular telephone's over-the-air signal. The
|
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|
|
signal is descrambled at the cellular carrier's switch, trans-
|
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|
|
mitting a conventional phone signal to the recipient.
|
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|
|
If the scrambled over-the-air signal is intercepted, the
|
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|
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eavesdropper will hear only a chirping sound. AT&T's advanced
|
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|
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privacy technology destroys the intelligibility of the over-the-
|
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|
|
air signal.
|
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|
|
"This system significantly increases the usefulness of cel-
|
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|
|
lular phones for anyone in business with a duty of
|
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|
|
confidentiality--or anyone who simply wants protection from
|
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|
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eavesdroppers," says Ed Hickey, AT&T Vice President, Secure Com-
|
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|
|
munications Systems.
|
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|
|
"It enables users to conduct sensitive business on their
|
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|
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cellular phone just as they would in their office or home."
|
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|
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The AT&T system is an unprecedented solution to a problem
|
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|
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inherent in cellular technology. Cellular telephone calls,
|
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|
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transmitted as radio signals, are easily interceptable with inex-
|
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|
|
pensive, widely available scanners.
|
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|
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The AT&T Cellular Privacy System is the first widely
|
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|
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available, integrated solution to the cellular privacy problem.
|
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|
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It offers cellular users benefits far beyond those of any other
|
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|
|
cellular privacy products.
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|
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o It's the first privacy system with technology small enough
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|
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and light enough to be embeddable in today's small, portable
|
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|
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phones.
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|
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o The system features an unmatched combination of high voice
|
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|
|
quality and an advanced level of privacy.
|
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|
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o It is applicable to all three types of cellular telephones--
|
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|
|
portable, transportable ("bag phones") and mobile (car
|
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|
|
phones).
|
||
|
|
The system has two components. The AT&T privacy unit at-
|
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|
|
taches to the phone and scrambles the phone's signal. The Mobile
|
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|
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Telephone Office Switch (MTSO) unit is installed at the cellular
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|
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carrier's switch and descrambles the signal.
|
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|
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The first compatible phone is the AT&T Model 9000 Privacy-
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Capable Cellular Telephone, an 8.9-ounce portable model. The op-
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tional privacy unit and its extended battery add less than six
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ounces to the weight of the phone. The module and battery add
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about a half inch to the depth of the phone.
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The Model 9000 is a full-featured, third-generation cellular
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phone. Other compatible models are in development by AT&T and
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other manufacturers. Privacy modules for those phones are being
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developed by AT&T.
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Suggested retail price of the Model 9000 is $795. The op-
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tional privacy unit retails for $895. The phone, privacy unit
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and switch unit will be available in February.
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The phone will be sold through carriers and by a variety of
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retail outlets including cellular telephone agents, consumer
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electronics stores and mass merchandisers and through an inter-
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national network of distributors.
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Because the privacy system scrambles the only over-the-air
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portion of the call, no matching unit or special equipment is re-
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quired at the receiving end.
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Installation of the privacy module is quick and simple.
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Once the phone is equipped, privacy is activated by simply
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pressing a button anytime during the call.
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Service and support for the phone and privacy unit will be
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available through the nationwide network of Antel service
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centers.
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The AT&T Cellular Privacy System was developed by AT&T
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Secure Communications Systems, a world leader in the design,
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manufacture and integration of encryption and privacy products.
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It is a primary supplier of secure products to the governments
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of the United States and other nations as well as corporations
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around the world.
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For more information, contact David Arneke, 919 279-7680, or
|
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|
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Bill Jones, 919 279-6511.
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# # #
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