Telular Corp. is expanding its dealer program for its PhoneCell product line, which offers wireless dial tone. It also announced deals with mobile operator Sprint PCS and wireless reseller OPEX Communications.

Telular’s agents include general cellular dealers that provide wireless service in conjunction with the company’s PhoneCell products, which emulate the central office to provide wireless dial tone for home phones and PBXs, says Jeff Krevitt, senior vice president of marketing. “We have also been working to develop business relationships with dealers in a number of specific vertical segments,” he says, citing those focused on marine, public safety, VoIP, construction and telemetry as examples.

“Our product appeals to these industry verticals for a number of reasons,” says Krevitt. “It’s portable, wireless dial tone that provides voice, fax and data services over the wireless network on a boat or ship.” Similarly, he says, in temporary trailers used a home base for construction crews, news reporters and emergency first responders, it provides dial tone over the cellular network.

“We continue to look for dealers that can handle these specific verticals,” he says.

Krevitt adds Telular offers its dealers a special pricing structure, technical support, product support, co-op marketing programs and more.

Meanwhile, the company has partnered with OPEX Communications as OPEX offers its Wireless@Home program, which combines Telular’s fixed-wireless product with wireless service for residential wireline replacement. Krevitt says OPEX is the first mobile virtual network operator to provide a wireline-replacement program using Telular’s terminals. “They provide local and longdistance service and resell cellular service and, with our terminals, are able to provide a wirelinereplacement program to their customers,” he explains. “That’s a great example of the kind of dealer, the kind of channel, we’d like to develop.”

Krevitt says OPEX is actively looking for qualified agents and offers residual commissions.

“It’s kind of a change in mindset as well that wireless service is no longer just mobile with a tiny handset,” Krevitt says. Telular’s home service allows consumers to plug its terminal into their existing phone equipment, then make calls over the wireless network. It also is compatible for equipment like TiVo or alarm systems that require use of phone lines to upload and download data.

“They don’t need a landline phone service for all of that - all of that will work now with our equipment over the wireless network,” Krevitt says.

“It really makes it convenient for the consumer to get one bill … and it’s something channel partners can take advantage of.”

Telular also is in the process of launching a market trial with Sprint PCS in five markets around the country for its fixed wireless terminal for wireline replacement applications. The service will be available only through Sprint retail stores during the trial, but Krevitt says if the test run is successful, Telular will consider selling it through alternate channels.