
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, May 23, 1995                   TAG: 9505240014
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: B-7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Short

MCI PREPARES TO JOIN CELLULAR PHONE TREND

MCI Communications unveiled plans Monday to add cellular phone service to its lineup, reflecting the trend among such companies to provide one-stop shopping for customers.

MCI plans to buy Nationwide Cellular Service Inc., the nation's largest reseller of cellular service, for $190 million in cash, or $18.50 a share.

Nationwide Cellular Service, based in Hempstead, N.Y., reported revenues of $213 million in 1994 and has 275,000 customers.

Rival long-distance companies AT&T and Sprint already provide cellular service.

MCI plans to package the cellular service with long-distance and eventually local phone service, said spokesman Kevin Inda. Unlike its rivals, MCI has chosen not to build its own transmissions facilities or acquire licenses to provide wireless services.

by CNB