Motorola to drop traditional pagers

Motorola will discontinue in mid-2002 its one-way and two-way pagers based on traditional paging technology. Motorola will instead focus on two-way messaging devices for wireless telephone networks. "Sales of our traditional one- and two-way messaging products are migrating to demand for two-way messaging for use on cellular networks with integrated product offerings and increased functionality," Miguel Pellon, vice president of the wireless messaging unit, said in a statement Monday. Motorola said it will continue to provide technical support for the traditional protocol known as ReFlex to its more than 20 licensees. It will also continue to provide warranty service for the traditional pagers. Motorola said it has shipped more than 2 million ReFlex-based pagers since 1996. Story Copyright © 2001 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.