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August 9, 2000 Leap Wireless International Inc., a San Diego-bred wireless company, is inching closer to offering its trophy Cricket service at home.
Yesterday, Leap announced it has signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding to purchase a PCS operating license in Visalia, Ca., for an undisclosed amount. It’s the company’s first California venture.
The agreement, if executed, will give Leap the right to add more than 470,000 potential customers (1998 POPs) to the company’s holdings.
“Leap aims to bring a whole new set of people to the wireless revolution with its simple and affordable Cricket service," says Harvey P. White, Leap's chairman and CEO. "Cricket is penetrating markets faster than a typical new wireless company, and we expect to duplicate our industry-leading results as we launch in markets across the country."
Priced competitively with traditional home phone service, Cricket service lets customers make and receive virtually unlimited phone calls in their local service area. Cricket service has achieved strong penetration and brand awareness in its first two markets, Chattanooga and Nashville, Tenn. Leap plans to launch Cricket service in eight more markets by the end of this year and to offer service in a total of 35 markets by the end of 2001.
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Bay Logics Inc., a Downtown San Diego technology company that specializes in lease relationship management software, has completed phase I of its series C funding. Chicago-based Apex Venture Partners led the funding effort, which was started in May. The amount of the funding will be disclosed later when the series closes, the company says.
"This funding serves as confirmation to us that we have a sound business model," says Sam Borgese, CEO of Bay Logics. "We will use the funds to expand our product line, which will leverage our ability to stay on an aggressive growth path, and give our customers the increased functionality necessary for them to stay on top of LRM. We will also spend the necessary money to enlarge our sales force and increase the mind share of Bay Logics in the rapidly developing LRM market."
Established in 1987, Bay Logics develops and delivers software solutions to manage owned and leased real estate assets through installed and Web-hosted environments. The company serves more than 280 of the world's best-known corporations including Sears, Starbucks and Staples.
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Entrepreneurs and small-business owners looking to take their business to the next level can enroll in a free training course offered by the University of San Diego’s division of continuing education.
“Competitive Skills for Small Business Owners” is a development program designed for San Diego small-business owners. It provides owners with core competency skills training in business planning, management and development, along with the areas of finance, marketing and Internet technology. Topics include hiring and firing issues, developing a financial plan, and e-commerce for small business.
Classes begin Sept. 5 and meet Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. through Oct. 24. Classes take place on the west end of the USD campus in the Manchester Executive Conference Center. The program is offered through a partnership between USD, the city of San Diego and Sempra Energy.
Participants in the program are required to own at least 20 percent of a small business with up to nine full-time employees. The businesses must be headquartered in California and pay into the California Unemployment Insurance Fund.
There is no charge, but enrollment is limited and participants are required to make a $500 deposit to secure a spot, which is refundable upon completion of the course. For more information, contact Jodi Waterhouse at (619) 260-4231.
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American Electric Automobile Co. Inc. says that two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Rodger Ward has completed an initial road test of the new Hyundai Accent which the company has converted into an electric vehicle.
"I must say I was very impressed,” says Ward. “The car performed and handled far better than I could have imagined. I look forward to getting such a car for myself.” Ward, often referred to as the ambassador of racing, won the Indianapolis 500 in both 1959 and 1964.
The tests, which were completed on July 18, involved a combination of highway and city driving designed to simulate anticipated everyday use of the vehicle.
AEAC's converted Accent is on display at American Electric’s showroom in Downtown San Diego at 1055 G St. The company expects its converted Accent will sell for about $24,000 and will include as standard features: standard Accent body, 2-door hatchback or 4-door body, heating, second-generation dual airbags, seatbelt pretension and force limiters, child safety door locks, power steering, front wheel power disc brakes, power windows and door locks, four-speaker AM/FM stereo cassette, multi-adjustable driver's seat, split rear seat with console, remote trunk release, tinted glass, electric rear window defroster, and rear window wiper/washer.
American Electric says it has focused its strategy on providing vehicles that are environmentally friendly and provide state of the art technology, safety, practicality and affordability. The company intends to serve the anticipated growing need for zero emission vehicles through conversion of standard gasoline-powered vehicles into EVs accomplished by replacing their internal combustion engines with commercial electric motors controlled by the company’s proprietary computerized electric drive controllers.
The company also is working on a hybrid electric-gasoline version which, if successful, will satisfy certain increasing requirements for "very low emission vehicles." Depending upon the vehicle that is being converted, prices for the EVs are projected to range from about $17,000 to $24,000.
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Children ages 8 to 18 can learn how to use a computer and then take it home with them — all at no charge — starting at noon, Saturday, during the grand opening of the San Ysidro Urban Council's Computer Training and Education Center at 1223 3rd Ave., Suite G, in Chula Vista.
"Instead of a computer lab at a school somewhere, it’s better to practice your skills while at home using your own computer," says Manny Navarro, CTEC coordinator for the San Ysidro Urban Council. "After the kids learn some basic skills on a computer, then the computer will be theirs to take home for free. We’re trying to improve computer literacy in our own neighborhood."
It’s taken two years of planning to open CTEC, which will be open in the afternoons after school and on weekends, Navarro says.
The 1,000-square-feet office space near a video store at a small retail center in Chula Vista is expected to have enough room for about 40 kids to start learning basic skills over a several-week time frame. The waiting list already numbers more than 100.
Navarro, a Chula Visa resident, says he has several hundred computers in storage that have been donated by local businesses, including Washington Mutual, Union Bank and Maxwell Corp. The office space was donated at no charge by the Chula Vista law firm of Contreras & Gomez.
"Of course, we’re looking for more donations of computers and more volunteers who are able to teach computer skills to kids," Navarro says.
Navarro works as an assistant manager for the Consumer Credit Counseling Service of San Diego & Imperial Counties.
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