sed Nextel Communications is a leading provider of integrated, wireless communications services and has built itself into the largest all-digital, wireless network in the country. The company has used the specialized mobile radio (SMR) spectrum to build its position as a leading mobile phone operator in the U.S., where it has 10.6 million subscribers. Nextel and its subsidiary, Nextel Partners, Inc., currently serve 293 of the top 300 U.S. markets. Short, but eventful, history The company can trace its history back to April of 1987 when its predecessor, Fleet Call Inc., was founded. By 1992, the company had grown large enough to file for an initial public offering. The next year, the company changed its name to Nextel Communications, Inc. In July 1994, the company embarked on a rapid-fire growth spurt, transforming Nextel into the wireless giant we know today. That month, Nextel got together with OneComm, formerly CenCall Communications, and announced a merger to form a company to provide service to all of the top 50 U.S. markets. A month later, the company bought all of Motorola's SMR radio licenses in the United States, providing Nextel with significant spectrum rights in these markets. In October, Nextel closed a merger with Questar Telecom, Inc. and a subsidiary of Advanced Mobilcom, Inc., giving Nextel ownership of SMR properties in San Diego, Las Vegas and other western markets. Over the next few years, the company signed agreements to expand its digital wireless service in markets across the United States and Canada, and in October 1997, signed up its one millionth customer. In nine months, that figure had doubled to two million customers. Since then, the company has steadily grown its customer base to over 10 million subscribers in 2004. In January 2003, the company acquired NeoWorld Communications, Inc. from Boston Millennia Partners for about $270 million. The acquisition of NeoWorld gave Nextel licenses in the 900 mega-hertz spectrum in the top 12 U.S. markets. The real McCaw Craig O. McCaw, the billio