Paging and messaging carrier Arch Wireless released its first-quarter numbers today, reporting a narrower per-share loss of $1.12, compared with $1.14 per share in the year-earlier period. Net loss to common shareholders totaled $186.6 million for the quarter.

Arch, which completed its purchase of Paging Network Inc. last November, increased its consolidated net revenue for the quarter by 75 percent to $316 million. The company added 63,000 two-way messaging users in the quarter, bringing its total advanced-messaging subscribership to 221,000.

'We believe continued integration-related expense savings -- projected to exceed $250 million in 2001 -- combined with steadily growing demand for two-way wireless messaging... will provide considerable momentum for Arch over the balance of the year,' says C. Edward Baker Jr., chairman and CEO of Arch.

Arch has struggled to redefine itself as traditional one-way paging services have leveled off and mobile voice services have become more affordable. Last Friday, the company's shares were booted from the Nasdaq listing for trading consistently under the $5 mark. In midday trading today, Arch shares rose more than 3 percent to 32 cents per share.

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