Communications Veteran To Play Key Role In Broadband Program

AirCell announced Friday the appointment of Thomas E. Weigman to the position of Senior Vice President, Wireless Services.

Company representatives tell ANN with extensive experience in marketing and business, Weigman will be responsible for driving the service design, marketing programs and customer care capabilities for AirCell's new broadband service, scheduled to go online by early 2008. In this position, he will be based at AirCell's new Chicago facility.

"We're delighted to welcome Tom to our history-making team," said Jack Blumenstein, AirCell President and CEO. "His vast experience in fixed and wireless communications and in consumer marketing will be an invaluable resource as we create an outstanding range of broadband experiences for the nation's airlines, business aircraft, and passengers."

Weigman spent years in senior leadership positions with Sprint, including his appointment as the company's first-ever Chief Marketing Officer. His effort involved initiatives in the company's Consumer, Enterprise, International and Wholesale markets, requiring immersion in the management and development of both voice and data communications products. He was asked to lead Sprint's initial forays into the world of multimedia, and was actively involved in the emergence and integration of Sprint's PCS business.

He was named President of Sprint's Consumer Long Distance Division, which he drove to record subscriber counts and profitability behind advertising copy featuring Candice Bergen and her immortal "Dime Lady," the restoration of Sprint's "Pin Drop," and a substantial and persistent focus on new products and product improvements.

Earlier in his career, Weigman held marketing and sales roles at such noteworthy consumer packaged goods companies as Procter and Gamble and Mars, Inc. He also spent seven years at the Marketing Corporation of America, building a consulting franchise with clientele that included Quaker Oats, Kraft and Nabisco, and gaining extensive experience in top-level business and marketing strategy, brand positioning, and innovative approaches to distribution.

Most recently, with the Riverstone Group and MCAworks consulting firms, Weigman provided strategic marketing direction to consumer-oriented technology and communications services companies involved in wireless, broadband and video-focused markets.

Weigman received a B.S. in Engineering from Lehigh University and an M.B.A. - with distinction - from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

After winning the exclusive FCC broadband frequency license at auction earlier this year, AirCell reports rapid progress in its effort to bring affordable wireless broadband service to domestic airlines and their passengers. At initial launch, AirCell's broadband service will include Wi-Fi hotspots that allow airline passengers to surf the Internet, use e-mail, and log on to their corporate VPNs using their personal 802.11b/g-equipped Wi-Fi data devices.

The system will offer voice service for airline operational communications and provide a path to a wealth of future cabin services including cellular data, integration of live and on-board content delivery, premium content, and additional airline features such as operational/crew data applications and security.

FMI: www.aircell.com