Verizon Communications Inc. will sell most of the assets of SkyTel Corp. to Bell Industries Inc. for $23 million, Bell Industries said in a release.

Verison said in a filing that the move will allow the New York-based telecommunications company to focus on its wireless ventures.

El Segundo-based Bell, which provides technology lifecycle and outsourced services, said the acquisition “is an effort to expand beyond technology management and support services to wireless solutions.”

SkyTel, based in Clinton, Miss., provides national wireless services including e-mail and two-way messaging and had revenue of more than $100 million last year.

Bell also released a third quarter net loss of $2.5 million (-29 cents per share) compared to net income of $436,000 for the same period a year earlier.

Revenue was also off 1 percent to $36.7 million, which the company attributed to startup costs for its expanding technology sector which Chief Executive John Fellows said should contribute more than $30 million in revenues in 2007.