Vendors collaborate to push CDMA for Internet access
By Marc Ferranti
September 22, 1997
3Com, Qualcomm, and Unwired Planet last week announced an alliance to
promote CDMA wireless technology as an attractive, alternative way to
connect to the Internet.
The companies announced they are using quick net connect technology,
which extends the capabilities of the standard IS-99 Code Division
Multiple Access (CDMA) circuit switched data protocol, as a means of
letting digital Internet connections be established in 3 seconds to 6
seconds. The technology also provides for connection speeds comparable
to packet-data-based services, officials said.
Quick net connect was developed by 3Com and digital phone maker
Qualcomm. They have been working together and with other manufacturers
to develop CDMA standards.
The quick net connect technology has the potential to offer speeds
faster than those most people are accustomed to when using modems and
land-line telephones and will be available first to users of Unwired
Planet's UP.Browser software on Qualcomm CDMA telephones.
However, other wireless carriers also plan to use the quick net connect
technology, officials at the three companies said. They did not specify
which other carriers had plans for the new CDMA technology.
3Com Corp., in Santa Clara, Calif., can be reached at
3com.com. Qualcomm Inc., in San Diego, can be reached at
qualcomm.com. Unwired Planet Inc., in Redwood Shores,
Calif., can be reached at uplanet.com. |
