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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.35







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                          REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT




                             Dated December 22, 1998




                                     between



                                METROCALL, INC.,


                                       and


                       MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED,
                     NATIONSBANC MONTGOMERY SECURITIES LLC,
                            TD SECURITIES (USA) INC.
                      FIRST UNION CAPITAL MARKETS CORP. and
                       BANCBOSTON ROBERTSON STEPHENS INC.



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                          REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT



         THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is made and
entered into December 22, 1998, among METROCALL, INC., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), and MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED, NATIONSBANC MONTGOMERY
SECURITIES LLC, TD SECURITIES (USA) INC., FIRST UNION CAPITAL MARKETS, a
division of Wheat First Securities, Inc., and BANCBOSTON ROBERTSON STEPHENS INC.
(the "Placement Agents").

         This Agreement is made pursuant to the Placement Agreement dated
December 17, 1998 (the "Placement Agreement"), between the Company and Morgan
Stanley & Co. Incorporated, as representative of the Placement Agents, which
provides for the sale by the Company to the Placement Agents of an aggregate of
$250,000,000 principal amount of the Company's 11% Senior Subordinated Notes Due
2008 (the "Securities"). In order to induce the Placement Agents to enter into
the Placement Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide to the Placement
Agents and their direct and indirect transferees the registration rights set
forth in this Agreement. The execution of this Agreement is a condition to the
closing under the Placement Agreement.

         In consideration of the foregoing, the parties hereto agree as follows:

         1. Definitions.

         As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized defined terms
shall have the following meanings:

         "1933 Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time
     to time.

         "1934 Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
     from time to time.

         "Closing Date" shall mean the Closing Date as defined in the Placement
     Agreement.

         "Company" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble and shall
     also include the Company's successors.

         "Exchange Offer" shall mean the exchange offer by the Company of
     Exchange Securities for Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2(a)
     hereof.


<PAGE>   3


                                        2

         "Exchange Offer Registration" shall mean a registration under the 1933
     Act effected pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof.

         "Exchange Offer Registration Statement" shall mean an exchange offer
     registration statement on Form S-4 (or, if applicable, on another 
     appropriate form) and all amendments and supplements to such registration 
     statement, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein, all 
     exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by reference therein.

         "Exchange Securities" shall mean securities issued by the Company under
     the Indenture containing terms identical to the Securities (except that (i)
     interest thereon shall accrue from the last date on which interest was paid
     on the Securities or, if no such interest has been paid, from December 22,
     1998, (ii) the Exchange Securities will not contain terms with respect to 
     transfer restrictions and (iii) the Exchange Securities will not contain 
     terms providing for additional interest if the Company fails to comply with
     its exchange obligations under this Agreement) and to be offered to Holders
     of Securities in exchange for Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer.

         "Holder" shall mean the Placement Agents, for so long as they own any
     Registrable Securities, and each of their successors, assigns and direct 
     and indirect transferees who become registered owners of Registrable 
     Securities under the Indenture; provided that for purposes of Sections 4 
     and 5 of this Agreement, the term "Holder" shall include Participating 
     Broker-Dealers (as defined in Section 4(a)).

         "Indenture" shall mean the Indenture relating to the Securities dated
     as of December 22, 1998, between the Company and First Union National Bank,
     trustee, and as the same may be amended from time to time in accordance 
     with the terms thereof.

         "Majority Holders" shall mean the Holders of a majority of the
     aggregate principal amount of outstanding Registrable Securities; provided
     that whenever the consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage
     of Registrable Securities is required hereunder, Registrable Securities 
     held by the Company or any of its affiliates (as such term is defined in 
     Rule 405 under the 1933 Act) (other than the Placement Agents or subsequent
     holders of Registrable Securities if such subsequent holders are deemed to
     be such affiliates solely by reason of their holding of such Registrable 
     Securities) shall not be counted in determining whether such consent or 
     approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage or amount.



<PAGE>   4


                                        3

         "Person" shall mean an individual, partnership, corporation, trust or
     unincorporated organization, or a government or agency or political 
     subdivision thereof.

         "Placement Agents" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.

         "Placement Agreement" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.

         "Prospectus" shall mean the prospectus included in a Registration
     Statement, including any preliminary prospectus, and any such prospectus as
     amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, including a 
     prospectus supplement with respect to the terms of the offering of any 
     portion of the Registrable Securities covered by a Shelf Registration 
     Statement, and by all other amendments and supplements to such prospectus,
     and in each case including all material incorporated by reference therein.

         "Registrable Securities" shall mean the Securities; provided, however,
     that the Securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities (i) when a
     Registration Statement with respect to such Securities shall have been
     declared effective under the 1933 Act and such Securities shall have been 
     disposed of pursuant to such Registration Statement, (ii) when such 
     Securities have been sold to the public pursuant to Rule 144(k) (or any 
     similar provision then in force, but not Rule 144A) under the 1933 Act or 
     (iii) when such Securities shall have ceased to be outstanding.

         "Registration Expenses" shall mean any and all expenses incident to
     performance of or compliance by the Company with this Agreement, including
     without limitation: (i) all SEC, stock exchange or National Association of
     Securities Dealers, Inc. registration and filing fees, (ii) all fees and
     expenses incurred in connection with compliance with state securities or 
     blue sky laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for 
     any underwriters or Holders in connection with blue sky qualification of
     any of the Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities), (iii) all
     expenses of any Persons in preparing or assisting in preparing, word 
     processing, printing and distributing any Registration Statement, any 
     Prospectus, any amendments or supplements thereto, any underwriting 
     agreements, securities sales agreements and other documents relating to the
     performance of and compliance with this Agreement, (iv) all rating agency 
     fees, (v) all fees and disbursements relating to the qualification of the 
     Indenture under applicable securities laws, (vi) the fees and disbursements
     of the Trustee and its counsel, (vii) the fees and disbursements of counsel
     for the Company and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the 
     reasonable fees and disbursements of one counsel for the Holders (which 
     counsel shall be selected by the Majority Holders and which counsel may 
     also be counsel for the Placement Agents)


<PAGE>   5


                                      4

     and (viii) the fees and disbursements of the independent public accountants
     of the Company, including the expenses of any special audits or "cold
     comfort" letters required by or incident to such performance and
     compliance, but excluding fees and expenses of counsel to the underwriters
     (other than fees and expenses set forth in clause (ii) above) or the
     Holders and underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if
     any, relating to the sale or disposition of Registrable Securities by a
     Holder.

         "Registration Statement" shall mean any registration statement of the
     Company that covers any of the Exchange Securities or Registrable
     Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement and all amendments
     and supplements to any such Registration Statement, including
     post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained
     therein, all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by reference
     therein.

         "SEC" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.

         "Shelf Registration" shall mean a registration effected pursuant to
     Section 2(b) hereof.

         "Shelf Registration Statement" shall mean a "shelf" registration
     statement of the Company pursuant to the provisions of Section 2(b) of this
     Agreement which covers all of the Registrable Securities (but no other
     securities unless approved by the Holders whose Registrable Securities are
     covered by such Shelf Registration Statement) on an appropriate form under
     Rule 415 under the 1933 Act, or any similar rule that may be adopted by the
     SEC, and all amendments and supplements to such registration statement,
     including post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus
     contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by
     reference therein.

         "Trustee" shall mean the trustee with respect to the Securities under
     the Indenture.

         "Underwritten Registration" or "Underwritten Offering" shall mean a
     registration in which Registrable Securities are sold to an Underwriter (as
     hereinafter defined) for reoffering to the public.

         2.  Registration Under the 1933 Act.

         (a) To the extent not prohibited by any applicable law or applicable
interpretation of the Staff of the SEC, the Company shall use its best efforts
to cause to be filed an Exchange Offer Registration Statement covering the offer
by the Company to the


<PAGE>   6


                                        5

Holders to exchange all of the Registrable Securities for Exchange Securities
and to have such Registration Statement remain effective until the closing of
the Exchange Offer. The Company shall commence the Exchange Offer promptly after
the Exchange Offer Registration Statement has been declared effective by the SEC
and use its best efforts to have the Exchange Offer consummated not later than
60 days after such effective date. The Company shall commence the Exchange Offer
by mailing the related exchange offer Prospectus and accompanying documents to
each Holder stating, in addition to such other disclosures as are required by
applicable law:

                  (i)    that the Exchange Offer is being made pursuant to this
         Registration Rights Agreement and that all Registrable Securities
         validly tendered will be accepted for exchange;

                  (ii)   the dates of acceptance for exchange (which shall be a
         period of at least 20 business days from the date such notice is
         mailed) (the "Exchange Dates");

                  (iii)  that any Registrable Security not tendered will remain
         outstanding and continue to accrue interest, but will not retain any
         rights under this Agreement;

                  (iv)   that Holders electing to have a Registrable Security
         exchanged pursuant to the Exchange Offer will be required to surrender
         such Registrable Security, together with the enclosed letters of
         transmittal, to the institution and at the address (located in the
         Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York) specified in the notice
         prior to the close of business on the last Exchange Date; and

                  (v)    that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their
         election, not later than the close of business on the last Exchange
         Date, by sending to the institution and at the address (located in the
         Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York) specified in the notice a
         telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the
         name of such Holder, the principal amount of Registrable Securities
         delivered for exchange and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing
         his election to have such Securities exchanged.

                  As soon as practicable after the last Exchange Date, the
         Company shall:

                  (i)    accept for exchange Registrable Securities or portions
         thereof tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the Exchange
         Offer; and

                  (ii)   deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee for
         cancellation all Registrable Securities or portions thereof so accepted
         for exchange by the Company and issue, and cause the Trustee to
         promptly authenticate and mail to each Holder, an


<PAGE>   7


                                        6

         Exchange Security equal in principal amount to the principal amount of
         the Registrable Securities surrendered by such Holder.

The Company shall use its best efforts to complete the Exchange Offer as
provided above and shall comply with the applicable requirements of the 1933
Act, the 1934 Act and other applicable laws and regulations in connection with
the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer shall not be subject to any conditions,
other than that the Exchange Offer does not violate applicable law or any
applicable interpretation of the Staff of the SEC. The Company shall inform the
Placement Agents of the names and addresses of the Holders to whom the Exchange
Offer is made, and the Placement Agents shall have the right, subject to
applicable law, to contact such Holders and otherwise facilitate the tender of
Registrable Securities in the Exchange Offer.

Each Holder of Securities participating in the Exchange Offer shall be required
to represent to the Company that at the time of consummation of the Exchange
Offer (i) such Holder is not an "affiliate" of the Company within the meaning of
Rule 405 under the 1933 Act, (ii) the Exchange Securities being acquired by it
pursuant to the Exchange Offer are being obtained in the ordinary course of the
business of the person receiving such Exchange Securities and (iii) that the
Holder has no arrangement or understanding with any Person to participate in the
distribution of the Exchange Securities. If such Holder is a Participating
Broker-Dealer that will receive Exchange Securities for its own account as a
result of market-making activities or other trading activities, it will be
required to acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any
resale of such Exchange Securities.

         (b) In the event that (i) the Company determines that the Exchange
Offer Registration provided for in Section 2(a) above is not available or may
not be consummated as soon as practicable after the last Exchange Date because
it would violate applicable law or the applicable interpretations of the Staff
of the SEC, (ii) the Exchange Offer is not for any other reason consummated by
June 22, 1998 or (iii) any Holder shall, within 30 days after consummation of
the Exchange Offer, notify the Company that such Holder (x) is prohibited by
applicable law or SEC policy from participating in the Exchange Offer, or (y)
may not resell Exchange Securities acquired by it in the Exchange Offer to the
public without delivering a prospectus and that the Prospectus contained in the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not appropriate or available for such
resales by such Holder, the Company shall use its best efforts to cause to be
filed as soon as practicable after such determination, date or notice is given
to the Company, as the case may be, a Shelf Registration Statement providing for
the sale by the Holders of all of the Registrable Securities and to have such
Shelf Registration Statement declared effective by the SEC. The Company agrees
to use its best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously
effective until the second anniversary of the Closing Date or such shorter
period that will terminate when all of the Registrable Securities covered by the
Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant to



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                                        7

the Shelf Registration Statement. The Company further agrees to supplement or
amend the Shelf Registration Statement if required by the rules, regulations or
instructions applicable to the registration form used by the Company for such
Shelf Registration Statement or by the 1933 Act or by any other rules and
regulations thereunder for shelf registration or if reasonably requested by a
Holder with respect to information relating to such Holder, and to use its best
efforts to cause any such amendment to become effective and such Shelf
Registration Statement to become usable as soon as thereafter practicable. The
Company agrees to furnish to the Holders of Registrable Securities copies of any
such supplement or amendment promptly after its being used or filed with the
SEC.

         (c) The Company shall pay all Registration Expenses in connection with
the registration pursuant to Section 2(a) or Section 2(b). Each Holder shall pay
all underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating
to the sale or disposition of such Holder's Registrable Securities pursuant to
the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or the Shelf Registration Statement.

         (d) An Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a)
hereof or a Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof will
not be deemed to have become effective unless it has been declared effective by
the SEC; provided, however, that, if, after it has been declared effective, the
offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement is
interfered with by any stop order, injunction or other order or requirement of
the SEC or any other governmental agency or court, such Registration Statement
will be deemed not to have become effective during the period of such
interference until the offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to such
Registration Statement may legally resume. As provided in the Indenture, in the
event that the Exchange Offer is not consummated and, if required by Section
2(b) hereof, a Shelf Registration Statement is not declared effective by the SEC
by June 22, 1999, the interest rate on the Securities will increase by .5% per
annum to 11.5% per annum until the Exchange Offer is consummated or a Shelf
Registration Statement is declared effective. If the Company effects the
Exchange Offer, the Company will be entitled to close the Exchange Offer
provided that it has accepted all Registrable Securities theretofore validly
tendered in accordance with the terms of the Exchange Offer. Registrable
Securities not tendered in the Exchange Offer shall bear interest at the same
rate as in effect at the time of issuance of the Registrable Securities.

         (e) Without limiting the remedies available to the Placement Agents and
the Holders, the Company acknowledges that any failure by the Company to comply
with its obligations under Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof may result in
material irreparable injury to the Placement Agents or the Holders for which
there is no adequate remedy at law, that it will not be possible to measure
damages for such injuries precisely and that, in the event of any such failure,
the Placement Agents or any Holder may obtain such relief as may be


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                                        8

required to specifically enforce the Company's obligations under Section 2(a)
and Section 2(b) hereof.

         3.  Registration Procedures.

         In connection with the obligations of the Company with respect to the
Registration Statements pursuant to Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof, the
Company shall as expeditiously as possible:

         (a) prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement on the
     appropriate form under the 1933 Act, which form (x) shall be selected by 
     the Company and (y) shall, in the case of a Shelf Registration, be 
     available for the sale of the Registrable Securities by the selling Holders
     thereof and (z) shall comply as to form in all material respects with the
     requirements of the applicable form and include all financial statements 
     required by the SEC to be filed therewith or incorporated by reference 
     therein, and use its best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to 
     become effective and remain effective in accordance with Section 2 hereof;

         (b) prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective
     amendments to each Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep such
     Registration Statement effective for the applicable period and cause each
     Prospectus to be supplemented by any required prospectus supplement and, as
     so supplemented, to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the 1933 Act; to 
     keep each Prospectus current during the period described under Section 4(3)
     and Rule 174 under the 1933 Act that is applicable to transactions by 
     brokers or dealers with respect to the Registrable Securities or Exchange 
     Securities;

         (c) in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each Holder of
     Registrable Securities to which such Shelf Registration Statement relates,
     to counsel for the Placement Agents, to counsel for the Holders and to each
     Underwriter of an Underwritten Offering of Registrable Securities, if any,
     without charge, as many copies of each Prospectus, including each 
     preliminary Prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto and such 
     other documents as such Holder or Underwriter may reasonably request, in 
     order to facilitate the public sale or other disposition of the Registrable
     Securities; and the Company consents to the use of such Prospectus and any
     amendment or supplement thereto in accordance with applicable law by each 
     of the selling holders of Registrable Securities and any such Underwriters
     in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities 
     covered by and in the manner described in such Prospectus or any amendment
     or supplement thereto in accordance with applicable law;



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                                        9

         (d) use its best efforts to register or qualify the Registrable
     Securities under all applicable state securities or "blue sky" laws of such
     jurisdictions as any Holder of Registrable Securities covered by a
     Registration Statement shall reasonably request in writing by the time the
     applicable Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC, to
     cooperate with such Holders in connection with any filings required to be
     made with the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. and do any
     and all other acts and things which may be reasonably necessary or
     advisable to enable such Holder to consummate the disposition in each such
     jurisdiction of such Registrable Securities owned by such Holder; provided,
     however, that the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify as a foreign
     corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction where it would
     not otherwise be required to qualify but for this Section 3(d), (ii) file
     any general consent to service of process or (iii) subject itself to
     taxation in any such jurisdiction if it is not so subject;

         (e) in the case of a Shelf Registration, notify each Holder of
     Registrable Securities, counsel for the Holders and counsel for the
     Placement Agents promptly and, if requested by any such Holder or counsel,
     confirm such advice in writing (i) when a Registration Statement has become
     effective and when any post-effective amendment thereto has been filed and
     becomes effective, (ii) of any request by the SEC or any state securities
     authority for amendments and supplements to a Registration Statement and
     Prospectus or for additional information after the Registration Statement
     has become effective, (iii) of the issuance by the SEC or any state
     securities authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a
     Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that
     purpose, (iv) if, between the effective date of a Registration Statement
     and the closing of any sale of Registrable Securities covered thereby, the
     representations and warranties of the Company contained in any underwriting
     agreement, securities sales agreement or other similar agreement, if any,
     relating to the offering cease to be true and correct in all material
     respects or if the Company receives any notification with respect to the
     suspension of the qualification of the Registrable Securities for sale in
     any jurisdiction or the initiation of any proceeding for such purpose, (v)
     of the happening of any event during the period a Shelf Registration
     Statement is effective which makes any statement made in such Registration
     Statement or the related Prospectus untrue in any material respect or which
     requires the making of any changes in such Registration Statement or
     Prospectus in order to make the statements therein not misleading and (vi)
     of any determination by the Company that a post-effective amendment to a
     Registration Statement would be appropriate;

         (f) make every reasonable effort to obtain the withdrawal of any order
     suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement at the earliest
     possible moment and provide immediate notice to each Holder of the
     withdrawal of any such order;




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                                       10

         (g) in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each Holder of
     Registrable Securities, without charge, at least one conformed copy of each
     Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto (without
     documents incorporated therein by reference or exhibits thereto, unless
     requested);

         (h) in the case of a Shelf Registration, cooperate with the selling
     Holders of Registrable Securities to facilitate the timely preparation and
     delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be sold and
     not bearing any restrictive legends and enable such Registrable Securities
     to be in such denominations (consistent with the provisions of the
     Indenture) and registered in such names as the selling Holders may
     reasonably request at least two business days prior to the closing of any
     sale of Registrable Securities;

         (i) in the case of a Shelf Registration, upon the occurrence of any
     event contemplated by Section 3(e)(v) hereof, use its best efforts to
     prepare and file with the SEC a supplement or post-effective amendment to a
     Registration Statement or the related Prospectus or any document
     incorporated therein by reference or file any other required document so
     that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the Registrable
     Securities, such Prospectus will not contain any untrue statement of a
     material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the
     statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
     made, not misleading. The Company agrees to notify the Holders to suspend
     use of the Prospectus as promptly as practicable after the occurrence of
     such an event, and the Holders hereby agree to suspend use of the
     Prospectus until the Company has amended or supplemented the Prospectus to
     correct such misstatement or omission;

         (j) a reasonable time prior to the filing of any Registration
     Statement, any Prospectus, any amendment to a Registration Statement or
     amendment or supplement to a Prospectus or any document which is to be
     incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement or a Prospectus
     after initial filing of a Registration Statement, provide copies of such
     document to the Placement Agents and their counsel (and, in the case of a
     Shelf Registration Statement, the Holders and their counsel) and make such
     of the representatives of the Company as shall be reasonably requested by
     the Placement Agents or their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf
     Registration Statement, the Holders or their counsel) available for
     discussion of such document, and shall not at any time file or make any
     amendment to the Registration Statement, any Prospectus or any amendment of
     or supplement to a Registration Statement or a Prospectus or any document
     which is to be incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement or a
     Prospectus, of which the Placement Agents and their counsel (and, in the
     case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Holders and their counsel)
     shall not have previously been advised and furnished a copy or to which the
     Placement Agents or their counsel



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                                       11

     (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Holders or their
     counsel) shall object;

         (k) obtain a CUSIP number for all Exchange Securities or Registrable
     Securities, as the case may be, not later than the effective date of a
     Registration Statement;

         (l) cause the Indenture to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act
     of 1939, as amended (the "TIA"), in connection with the registration of the
     Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities, as the case may be,
     cooperate with the Trustee and the Holders to effect such changes to the
     Indenture as may be required for the Indenture to be so qualified in
     accordance with the terms of the TIA and execute, and use its best efforts
     to cause the Trustee to execute, all documents as may be required to effect
     such changes and all other forms and documents required to be filed with
     the SEC to enable the Indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner;

         (m) in the case of a Shelf Registration, make available for inspection
     by one representative of the Holders of the Registrable Securities, any
     Underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such Shelf
     Registration Statement, and attorneys and accountants designated by the
     Holders, at reasonable times and in a reasonable manner and subject to
     execution of customary confidentiality agreements, all financial and other
     records, pertinent documents and properties of the Company, and cause the
     respective officers, directors and employees of the Company to supply all
     information reasonably requested by any such representative, Underwriter,
     attorney or accountant in connection with a Shelf Registration Statement;

         (n) in the case of a Shelf Registration, use its best efforts to cause
     all Registrable Securities to be listed on any securities exchange or any
     automated quotation system on which similar securities issued by the
     Company are then listed if requested by the Majority Holders, to the extent
     such Registrable Securities satisfy applicable listing requirements;

         (o) use its best efforts to cause the Exchange Securities or
     Registrable Securities, as the case may be, to be rated by two nationally
     recognized statistical rating organizations (as such term is defined in
     Rule 436(g)(2) under the 1933 Act);

         (p) if reasonably requested by any Holder of Registrable Securities
     covered by a Registration Statement, (i) promptly incorporate in a
     Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information with
     respect to such Holder as such Holder reasonably requests to be included
     therein and (ii) make all required filings of such


<PAGE>   13


                                       12

     Prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment as soon as the
     Company has received notification of the matters to be incorporated in such
     filing; and

         (q) in the case of a Shelf Registration, enter into such customary
     agreements and take all such other actions in connection therewith
     (including those requested by the Holders of a majority of the Registrable
     Securities being sold) in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition
     of such Registrable Securities including, but not limited to, an
     Underwritten Offering and in such connection, (i) to the extent possible,
     make such representations and warranties to the Holders and any
     Underwriters of such Registrable Securities with respect to the business of
     the Company and its subsidiaries, the Registration Statement, Prospectus
     and documents incorporated by reference or deemed incorporated by
     reference, if any, in each case, in form, substance and scope as are
     customarily made by issuers to underwriters in underwritten offerings and
     confirm the same if and when requested, (ii) use best efforts to obtain
     opinions of counsel to the Company (which counsel and opinions, in form,
     scope and substance, shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Holders and
     such Underwriters and their respective counsel) addressed to each selling
     Holder and Underwriter of Registrable Securities, covering the matters
     customarily covered in opinions requested in underwritten offerings, (iii)
     use best efforts to obtain "cold comfort" letters from the independent
     certified public accountants of the Company (and, if necessary, any other
     certified public accountant of any subsidiary of the Company, or of any
     business acquired by the Company for which financial statements and
     financial data are or are required to be included in the Registration
     Statement) addressed to each selling Holder and Underwriter of Registrable
     Securities, such letters to be in customary form and covering matters of
     the type customarily covered in "cold comfort" letters in connection with
     underwritten offerings, and (iv) deliver such documents and certificates as
     may be reasonably requested by the Holders of a majority in principal
     amount of the Registrable Securities being sold or the Underwriters, and
     which are customarily delivered in underwritten offerings, to evidence the
     continued validity of the representations and warranties of the Company
     made pursuant to clause (i) above and to evidence compliance with any
     customary conditions contained in an underwriting agreement.

         In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Company may require
each Holder of Registrable Securities to furnish to the Company such information
regarding the Holder and the proposed distribution by such Holder of such
Registrable Securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably request
in writing, and the Company may exclude from such registration the Registrable
Securities of any Holder that unreasonably fails to furnish such information
within a reasonable time after receiving such request.



<PAGE>   14


                                       13

         In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, each Holder agrees that,
upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the
kind described in Section 3(e)(v) hereof, such Holder will forthwith discontinue
disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement until
such Holder's receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus
contemplated by Section 3(i) hereof, and, if so directed by the Company, such
Holder will deliver to the Company (at its expense) all copies in its
possession, other than permanent file copies then in such Holder's possession,
of the Prospectus covering such Registrable Securities current at the time of
receipt of such notice. Each Holder agrees to indemnify the Company, the
Placement Agents, and the other selling Holders and each of their respective
officers and directors who sign the Registration Statement and each person, if
any, who controls any such person for any losses, claims, damages and
liabilities caused by the failure of such Holder to discontinue disposition of
Registrable Securities after receipt of the notice referred to in the preceding
sentence or the failure of such Holder to comply with applicable prospectus
delivery requirements with respect to any Prospectus (including, but not limited
to, any amended or supplemented Prospectus) provided by the Company for such
use. If the Company shall give any such notice to suspend the disposition of
Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement, the Company shall
extend the period during which the Registration Statement shall be maintained
effective pursuant to this Agreement by the number of days during the period
from and including the date of the giving of such notice to and including the
date when the Holders shall have received copies of the supplemented or amended
Prospectus necessary to resume such dispositions. The Company may give any such
notice only twice during any 365-day period and any such suspensions may not
exceed 30 days for each suspension and there may not be more than two
suspensions in effect during any 365-day period.

         The Holders of Registrable Securities covered by a Shelf Registration
Statement who desire to do so may sell such Registrable Securities in an
Underwritten Offering. In any such Underwritten Offering, the investment banker
or investment bankers and manager or managers (the "Underwriters") that will
administer the offering will be selected by the Majority Holders of the
Registrable Securities included in such offering.

         4.  Participation of Broker-Dealers in Exchange Offer.

         (a) The Staff of the SEC has taken the position that any broker-dealer
that receives Exchange Securities for its own account in the Exchange Offer in
exchange for Securities that were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of
market-making or other trading activities (a "Participating Broker-Dealer"), may
be deemed to be an "underwriter" within the meaning of the 1933 Act and must
deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the 1933 Act in connection with
any resale of such Exchange Securities.



<PAGE>   15


                                       14

         The Company understands that it is the Staff's position that if the
Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement includes a
plan of distribution containing a statement to the above effect and the means by
which Participating Broker-Dealers may resell the Exchange Securities, without
naming the Participating Broker-Dealers or specifying the amount of Exchange
Securities owned by them, such Prospectus may be delivered by Participating
Broker-Dealers to satisfy their prospectus delivery obligation under the 1933
Act in connection with resales of Exchange Securities for their own accounts, so
long as the Prospectus otherwise meets the requirements of the 1933 Act.

         (b) In light of the above, notwithstanding the other provisions of this
Agreement, the Company agrees that the provisions of this Agreement as they
relate to a Shelf Registration shall also apply to an Exchange Offer
Registration to the extent, and with such reasonable modifications thereto as
may be, reasonably requested by the Placement Agents or by one or more
Participating Broker-Dealers, in each case as provided in clause (ii) below, in
order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of any Exchange Securities by
Participating Broker-Dealers consistent with the positions of the Staff recited
in Section 4(a) above; provided that:

         (i) the Company shall not be required to amend or supplement the
     Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, as would
     otherwise be contemplated by Section 3(i), for a period exceeding 180 days
     after the last Exchange Date (as such period may be extended pursuant to
     the penultimate paragraph of Section 3 of this Agreement) and Participating
     Broker-Dealers shall not be authorized by the Company to deliver and shall
     not deliver such Prospectus after such period in connection with the
     resales contemplated by this Section 4; and

         (ii) the application of the Shelf Registration procedures set forth in
     Section 3 of this Agreement to an Exchange Offer Registration, to the
     extent not required by the positions of the Staff of the SEC or the 1933
     Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, will be in conformity with
     the reasonable request to the Company by the Placement Agents or with the
     reasonable request in writing to the Company by one or more broker-dealers
     who certify to the Placement Agents and the Company in writing that they
     anticipate that they will be Participating Broker-Dealers; and provided
     further that, in connection with such application of the Shelf Registration
     procedures set forth in Section 3 to an Exchange Offer Registration, the
     Company shall be obligated (x) to deal only with one entity representing
     the Participating Broker-Dealers, which shall be the Representative unless
     it elects not to act as such representative, (y) to pay the fees and
     expenses of only one counsel representing the Participating Broker-Dealers,
     which shall be counsel to the Placement Agents unless such counsel elects
     not to so act and (z) to cause to be delivered only one, if any, "cold
     comfort" letter with respect to the Prospectus in the form existing on the
     last Exchange Date and with respect to each


<PAGE>   16


                                       15

     subsequent amendment or supplement, if any, effected during the period
     specified in clause (i) above.

         (c) The Placement Agents shall have no liability to the Company or any
Holder with respect to any request that they may make pursuant to Section 4(b)
above.

         5.  Indemnification and Contribution.

         (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Placement
Agent, each Holder and each person, if any, who controls any Placement Agent or
any Holder within the meaning of either Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20
of the 1934 Act, or is under common control with, or is controlled by, any
Placement Agent or any Holder, from and against all losses, claims, damages and
liabilities (including, without limitation, any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by any Placement Agent, any Holder or any such controlling
or affiliated person in connection with defending or investigating any such
action or claim) caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in any Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto)
pursuant to which Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities were registered
under the 1933 Act, including all documents incorporated therein by reference,
or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading, or caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in any Prospectus (as amended or supplemented if the
Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto), or caused
by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary
to make the statements therein in light of the circumstances under which they
were made not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities are caused by any such untrue statement or omission or alleged
untrue statement or omission based upon information relating to any Placement
Agent or any Holder furnished to the Company in writing by such Placement Agent
or any selling Holder expressly for use therein. In connection with any
Underwritten Offering permitted by Section 3, the Company will also indemnify
the Underwriters, if any, selling brokers, dealers and similar securities
industry professionals participating in the distribution, their officers and
directors and each Person who controls such Persons (within the meaning of the
Securities Act and the Exchange Act) to the same extent as provided above with
respect to the indemnification of the Holders, if requested in connection with
any Registration Statement.

         (b) Each Holder agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and
hold harmless the Company, each Placement Agent and the other selling Holders,
and each of their respective directors, officers who sign the Registration
Statement and each Person, if any, who controls the Company, any Placement Agent
and any other selling Holder within the meaning of either Section 15 of the 1933
Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity
from the Company to each Placement Agent and each Holder, but only


<PAGE>   17


                                       16

with reference to information relating to such Holder furnished to the Company
in writing by such Holder expressly for use in any Registration Statement (or
any amendment thereto) or any Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement
thereto).

         (c) In case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation)
shall be instituted involving any person in respect of which indemnity may be
sought pursuant to either paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) above, such person (the
"indemnified party") shall promptly notify the person against whom such
indemnity may be sought (the "indemnifying party") in writing and the
indemnifying party, upon request of the indemnified party, shall retain counsel
reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified
party and any others the indemnifying party may designate in such proceeding and
shall pay the fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding.
In any such proceeding, any indemnified party shall have the right to retain its
own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense
of such indemnified party unless (i) the indemnifying party and the indemnified
party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel or (ii) the
named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include
both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party and representation of both
parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential
differing interests between them. It is understood that the indemnifying party
shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same
jurisdiction, be liable for (a) the fees and expenses of more than one separate
firm (in addition to any local counsel) for the Placement Agents and all
persons, if any, who control any Placement Agent within the meaning of either
Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act, (b) the fees and
expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for
the Company, its directors, its officers who sign the Registration Statement and
each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of either such
Section and (c) the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in
addition to any local counsel) for all Holders and all persons, if any, who
control any Holders within the meaning of either such Section, and that all such
fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. In such case
involving any Placement Agent and persons who control such Placement Agent, such
firm shall be designated in writing by the Representative. In such case
involving the Holders and such persons who control Holders, such firm shall be
designated in writing by the Majority Holders. In all other cases, such firm
shall be designated by the Company. The indemnifying party shall not be liable
for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent but,
if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff,
the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party from and
against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment.
Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party
shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party
for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by the second and third
sentences of this paragraph, the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be
liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent
if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days



<PAGE>   18


                                       17

after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request and (ii) such
indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party for such fees
and expenses of counsel in accordance with such request prior to the date of
such settlement. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent
of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened
proceeding in respect of which such indemnified party is or could have been a
party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party,
unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such indemnified
party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such
proceeding.

         (d) If the indemnification provided for in paragraph (a) or paragraph
(b) of this Section 4 is unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient in
respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, then each indemnifying
party under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party
thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified
party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying
party or parties on the one hand and of the indemnified party or parties on the
other hand in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. The relative fault of the Company and the Holders shall be
determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state
a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or by the Holders
and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and
opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Holders'
respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 5(d) are several
in proportion to the respective number of Registrable Securities of such Holder
that were registered pursuant to a Registration Statement.

         (e) The Company and each Holder agree that it would not be just or
equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 5 were determined by pro rata
allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of
the equitable considerations referred to in paragraph (d) above. The amount paid
or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages
and liabilities referred to in paragraph (d) above shall be deemed to include,
subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating
or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this
Section 5, no Holder shall be required to indemnify or contribute any amount in
excess of the amount by which the total price at which Registrable Securities
were sold by such Holder exceeds the amount of any damages that such Holder has
otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) shall be
entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation. The



<PAGE>   19


                                       18

remedies provided for in this Section 5 are not exclusive and shall not limit
any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any indemnified party
at law or in equity.

         The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section 5
shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any
termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of
any Placement Agent, any Holder or any person controlling any Placement Agent or
Holder, or by or on behalf of the Company, its officers or directors or any
person controlling the Company, (iii) acceptance of any of the Exchange
Securities and (iv) any sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf
Registration Statement.

         6.  Miscellaneous.

         (a) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company has not entered into, and
on or after the date of this Agreement will not enter into, any agreement which
is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders of Registrable Securities
in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. The rights
granted to the Holders hereunder do not in any way conflict with and are not
inconsistent with the rights granted to the holders of the Company's other
issued and outstanding securities under any such agreements.

         (b) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement, including
the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or supplemented,
and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be
given unless the Company has obtained the written consent of Holders of at least
a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Registrable
Securities affected by such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or
consent; provided, however, that no amendment, modification, supplement, waiver
or consents to any departure from the provisions of Section 5 hereof shall be
effective as against any Holder of Registrable Securities unless consented to in
writing by such Holder.

         (c) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, registered
first-class mail, telex, telecopier, or any courier guaranteeing overnight
delivery (i) if to a Holder, at the most current address given by such Holder to
the Company by means of a notice given in accordance with the provisions of this
Section 6(c), which address initially is, with respect to the Placement Agents,
the address set forth for the Representative in the Placement Agreement; and
(ii) if to the Company, initially at the Company's address set forth in the
Placement Agreement and thereafter at such other address, notice of which is
given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(c).

         All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly
given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five business
days after being deposited



<PAGE>   20


                                       19

in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when answered back, if telexed; when
receipt is acknowledged, if telecopied; and on the next business day if timely
delivered to an air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery.

         Copies of all such notices, demands, or other communications shall be
concurrently delivered by the person giving the same to the Trustee, at the
address specified in the Indenture.

         (d) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit
of and be binding upon the successors, assigns and transferees of each of the
parties, including, without limitation and without the need for an express
assignment, subsequent Holders; provided that nothing herein shall be deemed to
permit any assignment, transfer or other disposition of Registrable Securities
in violation of the terms of the Placement Agreement. If any transferee of any
Holder shall acquire Registrable Securities, in any manner, whether by operation
of law or otherwise, such Registrable Securities shall be held subject to all of
the terms of this Agreement, and by taking and holding such Registrable
Securities such person shall be conclusively deemed to have agreed to be bound
by and to perform all of the terms and provisions of this Agreement and such
person shall be entitled to receive the benefits hereof. No Placement Agent (in
its capacity as Placement Agent) shall have any liability or obligation to the
Company with respect to any failure by a Holder to comply with, or any breach by
any Holder of, any of the obligations of such Holder under this Agreement.

         (e) Purchases and Sales of Securities. The Company shall not, and shall
use its best efforts to cause its affiliates (as defined in Rule 405 under the
1933 Act) not to, purchase and then resell or otherwise transfer any Securities,
prior to consummation of the Exchange Offer or a Shelf Registration Statement
being declared effective.

         (f) Third Party Beneficiary. The Holders shall be third party
beneficiaries to the agreements made hereunder between the Issuer and the
Company, on the one hand, and the Placement Agents, on the other hand, and shall
have the right to enforce such agreements directly to the extent it deems such
enforcement necessary or advisable to protect its rights or the rights of
Holders hereunder.

         (g) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which
when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken
together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

         (h) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.



<PAGE>   21


                                       20

         (i) Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

         (j) Severability. In the event that any one or more of the provisions
contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held
invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of
any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions
contained herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.













<PAGE>   22

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
date first written above.


                                                 METROCALL, INC.


                                                 By
                                                   -----------------------------
                                                    Name:
                                                    Title:






Confirmed and accepted as of 
  the date first above written:

Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated

Acting severally on behalf of
  itself and the several Placement
  Agents named herein

By:  Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated


By
  ---------------------------------------
         Authorized Signatory