"I started thinking it would be convenient for people on a public bus to be able to make phone calls," recalled Janie Hughes-Myers, president and CEO  of Q3 Telecom, a supplier of pay phone equipment in airports nationwide, including the Palm Springs Regional Airport.

"One day I mentioned it to graphic designer Mark Palmer who was creating my new corporate identity and who had also designed SunLine's logo. When he told me how SunLine had made transit history, I thought its management would be receptive to a chance to make history once again."

Shortly after gathering information on SunLine, Hughes-Myers began a collaboration with Dennis King, an American investigative journalist who currently focuses on web-based advocacy journalism, Public Terminals Regional Technical Engineer for Lucent Technologies, which designs, builds and manufactures wireless pay phones. Lucent responded to the idea so quickly, Hughes-Myers said, the two firms soon made a presentation to SunLine.

"SunLine is known nationwide as an innovator for its commitment to clean air, and my firm is known for innovation in placing and servicing pay telephone equipment. So it seemed like a perfect match," she explained.

Cromwell was so excited about the idea, within three weeks of the initial presentation, engineers and technical staff from Q3, Lucent and SunLine installed the first coin-operated cellular phone on one of three CNG-powered SunBuses that had been lent to the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. Hughes-Myers then brought in AirTouch Cellular as the service provider, and the service was activated for a trial period.

To commemorate the historic event, national telecommunications representatives, local officials and dignitaries attended a mobile ceremony aboard the specially equipped SunBus. Calls were placed to Congressman Sonny Bono.

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