ALEXANDRIA, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 9, 2001--Following a competitive bid process, Metrocall, Inc. (Nasdaq:MCLL), one of the nation's largest wireless data and messaging companies, has been awarded a contract by The City of Philadelphia to furnish wireless communications services to its personnel.

Under the agreement, Metrocall will furnish a mix of digital, alphanumeric and two-way wireless services to many of the City's 25,000 employees. The two-year contract commenced February 1, 2001.

"Municipalities such as the City of Philadelphia can realize remarkable operational efficiencies through Metrocall's portfolio of communication solutions," said Steven D. Jacoby, Metrocall's chief operating officer. "Wireless messaging will promote order and efficiency in many of the City's most important departments, such as Social Services, Public Service and Public Safety. Communication between colleagues is quick and discreet, making it ideal for the time and budget sensitive activities of a local government."

Initially more than 4,000 Philadelphia employees will be outfitted with Metrocall wireless devices. These communications services will be particularly useful to field personnel and their office-based stationary colleagues. Word messages can deliver important information directly to the devices and, in the case of two-way users, a response is just as direct without the use of other communications devices. Alerts can be delivered quickly and to multiple wireless units, supporting mobilization efforts during emergencies or large events.

About Metrocall, Inc.

Metrocall, Inc. headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, is one of the largest wireless data and messaging companies in the United States providing both products and services to more than six million business and individual subscribers. Metrocall was founded in 1965, became a publicly traded company in 1993 and currently employs approximately 3,500 professionals coast to coast.

The Company offers two-way interactive messaging, wireless e-mail and Internet connectivity, cellular and digital PCS phones, as well as one-way messaging services. Metrocall operates on many nationwide, regional and local networks, including a new Two-Way Interactive Network (TWIN), and can supply a wide variety of customizable Internet-based information content services.

Also, Metrocall offers totally integrated resource management systems and communications solutions for business and campus environments. Metrocall's wireless networks operate in the top 1,000 markets all across the nation and the Company has offices and retail locations in more than forty states.

Metrocall is the largest equity-owner of Inciscent, an independent business-to-business enterprise, that is a national full-service "wired-to-wireless" Application Service Provider (ASP). For more information on Metrocall please visit our Web site and On-line store at www.Metrocall.com.

Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

The statements set forth above that are not historical facts, such as those concerning Metrocall's advanced wireless data and messaging strategies, are forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties.

A number of risks and uncertainties could cause actual results, events or developments to differ from expectations. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ are 1) the speed and extent to which markets for advanced messaging data and messaging services develop and grow; 2) Metrocall and its joint venture affiliate Inciscent's ability to develop and market products and services that respond to market conditions and customers' needs; 3) the impact of competition from other companies in the wireless data and Internet business; 4) the need to respond to rapid technological developments that could affect the commercial viability of Metrocall's and Inciscent's products and services.

You should refer to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for a complete discussion of these and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in these forward-looking statements.