EXHIBIT 99.1
[LOGO]
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACTS: Bob Lougee 508-870-6771
September 25, 2000 Erika von Hacht 972-830-2706
Krista Grossman 201-969-4959
Arch Communications Group Changes Name to Arch Wireless
Underscoring Leadership Position in Wireless Data Marketplace
Company Stakes Claim as a Leading Enabler of Two-Way Internet-Messaging
Identity Program Includes New Name, Logo, Brand Tagline and Stock Ticker Symbol
Westborough, MA (September 25, 2000) - Arch Communications Group, Inc. today
announced the company's name change to Arch Wireless, Inc. (Nasdaq: ARCH) as
part of a company-wide repositioning strategy. The repositioning underscores
Arch's transformation from a traditional paging and messaging carrier to a
leading provider of two-way wireless Internet messaging and wireless information
products and services throughout the United States. The company also has adopted
a new corporate logo and new tagline, "Net@Hand."
In addition, effective today, Arch's Nasdaq common stock ticker symbol "APGR"
will change to "ARCH" and its Nasdaq warrants ticker symbol "APGRW" will change
to "ARCHW."
The name change and new corporate identification program reflect Arch's
refocused business strategy aimed at today's rapidly emerging market for
interactive wireless messaging and wireless mobile data. This strategy also
addresses the increasing demand for wireless e-mail and wireless instant
messaging. Arch already plays a major role in providing these and other wireless
data and mobile messaging capabilities to companies and consumers nationwide.
Through strategic alliances and the utilization of Arch's ReFLEX(TM) network,
the wireless Internet is quickly becoming a reality.
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"As our business strategy continues to shift toward emerging opportunities in
two-way Internet messaging and wireless data, we believe it is essential that
our customers and potential customers recognize, understand and appreciate the
scope of the changes we are undertaking," said C. Edward Baker, Jr., chairman
and chief executive officer. "It is also important that they recognize the value
of the productivity enhancements and personal benefits that our new two-way
wireless products and services can provide. We believe the name Arch Wireless,
coupled with our new corporate logo and visual identity, will help create public
recognition of this newly evolving segment of the wireless industry and
underscore Arch's leadership role as an enabler of the wireless information
age."
"We have made significant progress in recent months in pursuit of our strategic
goals," Baker added. "We believe our new name and repositioning initiative -
signifying both the promise of the expanding wireless Internet and the
reliability and affordability of Arch's wireless data messaging services -- will
create a bridge to new and better ways of communicating Arch's mission."
Over the past year Arch has continued to enhance its presence in the wireless
Internet marketplace by forming strategic alliances with numerous companies that
have both broadened its services and created access to a host of new customers.
Relationships with such Internet service providers as America Online, Inc.
(NYSE: AOL), OracleMobile, a subsidiary of Oracle Corp. (Nasdaq: ORCL), and
GoAmerica, Inc. (Nasdaq: GOAM) are allowing Arch to leverage the substantial
advantages -- including ubiquity and reliability -- of its ReFLEX network.
In July, Arch introduced the Arch Webster(TM) 100 Service, the first two-way
Internet-messaging (or I-Messaging) service in a new line of Arch Webster
interactive services. The Arch Webster 100 Service is designed around a wireless
e-mail application using Motorola's T900 handheld device. "Results to date have
been very encouraging," Baker said. "With more than 5 million Americans
projected to purchase wireless messaging and wireless e-mail devices over the
next 24 months, the new Arch Wireless is well positioned to participate in that
growth."
Baker added that Arch's new corporate identity and business focus is expected to
help leverage the company's ReFLEX technology in the enterprise marketplace.
"Managing a diverse and dispersed workforce and workplace is essential to
surviving in today's wireless environment," he said. "The new Arch Wireless
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plans to develop numerous customized two-way wireless messaging solutions for a
variety of businesses that will help them better manage the increasing
requirements for employees to communicate and access data while on the go.
"We believe our repositioning and branding strategy places Arch Wireless
squarely in the vanguard of bringing the wireless Web to our customers," Baker
said. "Arch's repositioning articulates more clearly than ever our commitment to
being at the forefront of connecting people with the technology and tools that
are vital to their success."
Arch's new corporate tagline, Net@Hand, was chosen because it conveys the
company's ability to offer its customers the convenience of Internet
functionality through portable handheld devices anywhere, anytime across the
United States. The new Arch logo and tagline were developed by FutureBrand, a
New York corporate identity firm and part of the InterPublic Group. Arch intends
to launch its new corporate and brand identity campaign this week. The campaign
is expected to include a series of marketing initiatives to create a broader
brand awareness of Arch Wireless and its growing capabilities.
In addition to the new corporate name of Arch Wireless, Inc., Arch has changed
the name of two of its subsidiaries. Arch Communications, Inc., a wholly owned
subsidiary of Arch Wireless and the issuer of 9.5% Senior Notes due 2004, 12.75%
Senior Notes due 2007, 13.75% Senior Notes due 2008 and 14% Senior Notes due
2004, was renamed Arch Wireless Communications, Inc. The trading symbols of
these Senior Notes will not change. Arch Paging, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary
of Arch Communications, Inc., was renamed Arch Wireless Holdings, Inc.
Also, effective today, the Nasdaq ticker symbol for Arch Participation Warrants
will change from "APGRW" to "ARCHW."
ABOUT ARCH WIRELESS
Arch Wireless, Inc. (formerly Arch Communications Group, Inc.), of Westborough,
MA, is a leading two-way wireless Internet messaging and wireless information
company. It provides local, regional and nationwide wireless messaging and
information services to customers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and
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in the Caribbean. Arch operates approximately 300 offices and company-owned
stores across the country. Arch's pending merger with Paging Network, Inc. will
create one of the leading wireless Internet messaging and wireless information
companies in North America. Additional information on Arch is available on the
Internet at www.arch.com.
Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act:
Statements contained herein which are not historical fact, such as statements
regarding the anticipated benefits of Arch's repositioning strategy, including,
without limitation, its new corporate name, logo and tagline, anticipated market
demand for wireless email and the Arch Webster 100 service, future availability
of additional two-way messaging products and applications for the Arch
Webster-branded services, anticipated benefits of Arch's recently formed
strategic alliances, the launch of future branding and marketing campaigns, the
projected market for wireless messaging and email, and the anticipated
completion of the PageNet merger, are forward-looking statements for purposes of
the safe harbor provisions under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may
cause Arch's actual results to be materially different from the future results
expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could
cause actual results to differ materially from those expectations include, but
are not limited to, risks associated with the consummation of the PageNet
merger, other merger and integration challenges, future capital needs,
unforeseen delays or difficulties in launching Arch's additional two-way
messaging products and services, competitive pricing pressures, competition from
both traditional paging services and other wireless communications services,
dependence upon third-party application providers, as well as other risks
described from time to time in Arch's periodic reports and registration
statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Although Arch
believes the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are based
on reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its expectations will
be attained. Arch disclaims any intent or obligation to update any
forward-looking statements.
Trademarks: Oracle is a registered trademark and OracleMobile is a trademark or
registered trademark of Oracle Corporation. Other names may be trademarks of
their respective owners.
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