Anyone know what is the "b" version of the cdma2000 standard? According to EETimes, KDDI is still planning to roll out cdma2000 this fall but only the "b" version.
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TOKYO — Citing software problems, Japan's second-largest mobile carrier, KDDI, will put off the commencement of its third-generation (3G) mobile service to next spring. KDDI originally had planned to begin service this autumn, competing with NTT Docomo's so-called Foma 3G service.
KDDI's development of 3G phones was successful, but "software development for the infrastructure, such as basestations, is behind schedule," said company president Tadashi Onodera. The company also needs a better test infrastructure for field trials, a KDDI spokesman said.
KDDI now plans to offer a packet communication service that will support 144-kbit/second transmissions this autumn, based on the "b" version of the cdma2000 standard. NTT Docomo has started a 384-kbit/s service, based on the W-CDMA system, to a limited number of users in central Tokyo.
Hiroyuki Masuko, an analyst at Daiwa Institute of Research Ltd., said third-generation cdma2000 "can be added on to the current cdmaOne service. Foma's service areas are limited at this early stage, but the cdmaOne service already offers nationwide coverage, so even though KDDI's service is delayed to next spring, KDDI's service will be competitive to Foma."
KDDI currently offers a WAP-based information service based on the cdmaOne network, which supports a data rate of 14.4 kbits/s. The cdma2000 1x is an extension of the current cdmaOne service, and does not require a completely new infrastructure such as NTT Docomo's Foma system, according to KDDI.
Meanwhile, KDDI said it will increase the data rate of its existing cdmaOne service to 64 kbits/s in December. Using the accelerated network, the company will begin MPEG-4 compressed video distribution and GPS service with an accuracy of about 10 meters. KDDI's WAP service will be upgraded to be WAP 2.0 compatible at the same time.
eetimes.com |
