Cingular Wireless to sell interactive unit

<p>Cingular Wireless plans to sell one of its older wireless data networks to a group of private investors for an undisclosed sum.</p><p>The cell-phone carrer Monday said it will sell the unit _ which carries data for Blackberry e-mail devices, among other things _ to affiliates of New York private-equity firm Cerberus Capital Management LP.</p><p>Terms of the transaction weren't disclosed.</p><p>Cingular Interactive, headquartered in Woodbridge, N.J., had 735,000 customers on June 30, down 6.7 percent from a year earlier.</p><p>The acquisition of Cingular Interactive will include the Mobitex network, customer-service operations and information technology systems and most of the current customers.</p><p>Atlanta-based Cingular Wireless will retain all direct e-mail customers, as well as several other major accounts, the company said.</p><p>Cingular Wireless, a joint venture between telecommunications giants SBC Communications Inc. and BellSouth Corp., will continue to offer Mobitex data products as a reseller of Cingular Interactive's services.</p><p>Customers will see no immediate changes in their service or customer care.</p><p>Charles Nelson, president of Cingular Interactive, and other members of the management team are expected to continue in their positions.</p>

http://accesswdun.com/article/2004/9/159899