Close
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Video
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Subscribe
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Video
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Subscribe
    Home Latest News
    • Mobile

    States Hope to Reap Rewards from Wireless Contract

    Written by

    Wayne Rash
    Published January 3, 2007
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      eWEEK content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More.

      The Western States Contracting Alliance has put into place a wireless purchasing contract designed to save money for states and localities across the United States.

      In a new contract that went into effect Jan. 1, WSCA has developed a contracting vehicle that can be used by states, cities, counties and other municipal entities to get favorable rates on wireless phones, data devices and PDAs, as well as on voice and data wireless services.

      “WSCA is a loosely formed cooperative of 15 Western states and we have banded together to procure on a larger scale to get better pricing,” said Greg Smith, administrator of the Nevada State Purchasing Division.

      Smith, a vice chairman of WSCA, took the lead in Nevada’s management of the wireless contract. The state of Nevada is the lead state in the wireless procurement, and involves other states to make sure that the overall contract meets the needs of all members.

      “Each of the state organizations contributes in some way,” Smith said. “We do the procurement. We let everyone know that we’re doing this on behalf of all of the states.”

      All four major wireless providers, Cingular, T-Mobile, Verizon and Sprint, were represented in the contract. The contract provides for pre-negotiated prices for equipment and services for any state or municipality, and in some ways resembles the federal government’s well-known GSA contracts.

      “When we do something like this, Nevada does the original document and we circulate it to the other states to make sure that everything is covered,” Smith said.

      “Cingular has the largest share,” said Chris Hill, vice president of government solutions for Cingular Wireless. Hill said that the WSCA award to Cingular is worth about $2 billion, and is Cingular’s largest contract.

      “We are supporting 41 states where we have signed with participating addendums. It’s our primary contracting vehicle for state and local governments,” Hill added.

      Hill said that this contract is for the full range of Cingular’s products. This includes all Cingular handsets, PDAs including the new 8525 and Blackjack, and BlackBerrys and Treos.

      The WSCA contract will also provide discounts on wireless access cards and on wireless service, where governments will receive a 20 percent discount. Hill said that the discount on handsets will depend on the handset.

      Wireless providers to push smart-phone apps, content in 2007.

      Click here

      to read more.

      Hill also said that Cingular is offering to bundle software from NetMotion Wireless, to provide mobile VPN services with persistent connections to governments that need that.

      He said that in addition to states, cities and counties his company would offer the same pricing to state universities and other governmental organizations.

      “The pricing that we received across the board is substantially better than anyone could have received on their own any other way,” Smith said.

      He noted that while state and local governments are permitted to use the WSCA contract, they are not required to do so. “Each state has the ability to add on smaller companies that may serve their areas,” Smith said.

      WSCA also awards multi-state contracts for a wide variety of other products and services including such things as desktop and laptop computers. The new wireless contract is available to state and local governments as of Jan. 1.

      Check out eWEEK.com’s Mobile & Wireless Center for the latest news, reviews and analysis on mobile and wireless computing.

      Wayne Rash
      Wayne Rash
      https://www.eweek.com/author/wayne-rash/
      Wayne Rash is a content writer and editor with a 35-year history covering technology. He’s a frequent speaker on business, technology issues and enterprise computing. He is the author of five books, including his most recent, "Politics on the Nets." Rash is a former Executive Editor of eWEEK and a former analyst in the eWEEK Test Center. He was also an analyst in the InfoWorld Test Center and editor of InternetWeek. He's a retired naval officer, a former principal at American Management Systems and a long-time columnist for Byte Magazine.

      Get the Free Newsletter!

      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis

      Get the Free Newsletter!

      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Artificial Intelligence

      9 Best AI 3D Generators You Need...

      Sam Rinko - June 25, 2024 0
      AI 3D Generators are powerful tools for many different industries. Discover the best AI 3D Generators, and learn which is best for your specific use case.
      Read more
      Cloud

      RingCentral Expands Its Collaboration Platform

      Zeus Kerravala - November 22, 2023 0
      RingCentral adds AI-enabled contact center and hybrid event products to its suite of collaboration services.
      Read more
      Artificial Intelligence

      8 Best AI Data Analytics Software &...

      Aminu Abdullahi - January 18, 2024 0
      Learn the top AI data analytics software to use. Compare AI data analytics solutions & features to make the best choice for your business.
      Read more
      Latest News

      Zeus Kerravala on Networking: Multicloud, 5G, and...

      James Maguire - December 16, 2022 0
      I spoke with Zeus Kerravala, industry analyst at ZK Research, about the rapid changes in enterprise networking, as tech advances and digital transformation prompt...
      Read more
      Video

      Datadog President Amit Agarwal on Trends in...

      James Maguire - November 11, 2022 0
      I spoke with Amit Agarwal, President of Datadog, about infrastructure observability, from current trends to key challenges to the future of this rapidly growing...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2024 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×