It wouldn't matter if you were at home, on the beach, or even in another country.

All a caller would have to do is dial your personal number, and the lightweight phone in your pocket would ring.

This vision -- the next stage in cellular phone technology -- was presented to the Telecommunications Commission yesterday.

Two small firms want permission to start setting up such a network, known as a personal communications services system.

Opposing them is Telco, which says it may set up its own network if it seems workable.

One of the small firms is Bermuda Digital Communications, a new outfit set up by Bermudian businessman Mr. Kurt Eve.

The other is Telecom, which already supplies 2,000 residents with personal pagers, or beepers, that relay short messages.

Yesterday's Telecommunications Commission hearing was the latest in a series of inquiries into firms who want to challenge the hold that Telco and Cable & Wireless have on phone services.

Mr. Eve is chairman and owner of BDC. Vice-chairman is Mr. Cyril Rance and secretary is magazine publisher Mr. Kevin Stevenson.

Mr. Eve said his system would boost Bermuda's business image and lead to more workers operating from home.

Eventually a Bermudian could be reached on their local number even if they were on a trip to the States, he said. American visitors could be reached in Bermuda the same way.

Telecom, in business since 1959, was represented by locals Mr. Ken Krassy, general manager, and Mr. Charles Marshall, president. It is backed by US telecommunications giant Motorola.

Motorola expert Mr. Ken Wolkowiz explained Telecom first wanted to set up a "telepoint'' system.

Customers would be able to use special portable phones to make calls in the City of Hamilton and at other selected sites.

The phones could not be used in a car. Nor could they take calls -- but they could receive requests to call someone. A full PCS system would be the next step.

Telco general manager Mr. Ernest Pacheco said his company was introducing improvements to its cellular services -- including the ability to use a local portable phone while in the States.

In time, Telco would apply for a licence for a PCS system of its own.

He said PCS was a dream that faced many uncertainties before it could become a reality. He expected it would not be as cheap as claimed. Existing cellular services would be able to compete for some time, he suggested.