JF: Thanks for the feedback. We need more of this stuff.
On another note, for those who decry TDMA as outdated technology it happens to be accelerating its way as the leading world wireless standard. Here's the latest breakdown:
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TDMA Deployment Accelerates Worldwide
The number of TDMA subscribers more than doubled in 1997. Following is how TDMA compares with wireless systems worldwide: -0- *T
TDMA/AMPS subscribers 80 million in 101 countries
TDMA subscribers(1) 8 million in 35 countries
GSM subscribers 57 million in 98 countries
PDC subscribers 24 million in 1 country
CDMA subscribers 4.5 million in 6 countries
TACS subscribers 18 million in 25 countries
NMT subscribers 4.5 million in 41 countries
All figures as of September 1997.
(1) TDMA subscribers include latest IS-136 deployments and earlier
IS-54 specification, both 800 and 1900 MHz frequency bands.
Source: UWCC research and vendor-supplied information.
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This came from the following release - a partial paste of its contents follows:
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ADVISORY/UWCC To Announce TDMA 3G at CTIA Wireless '98 Press Conference; Plans for IMT-2000 Revealed on Monday, Feb. 23
--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
The Universal Wireless Communications Consortium (UWCC) will report its recommendation for Third Generation TDMA at a press conference to be held on Monday, Feb. 23 at 11:30 a.m. in Room 368 West of the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta.
UWCC has worked on its IMT-2000 proposal for the last year through its Global TDMA Forum.
"We have been focused on TDMA's position on Third Generation because we have been working with our both our carrier and vendor members to reach a unified proposal for the next generation of TDMA," said Chris Pearson, the director of marketing for the UWCC. "Our position is that there needs to be a market commitment for 3G. We are confident that the UWCC proposal will satisfy subscribers who are interested in Third Generation benefits as well as carriers who want to protect existing digital infrastructure investments."
Key executives from the nation's top carriers as well as infrastructure vendors will be on-hand at the press conference. These include AT&T Wireless Services, Bell South Cellular Corp., Southwestern Bell Mobile Systems, Ericsson, Hughes Network Systems (HNS), Northern Telecom (Nortel), Lucent Technologies and Nokia.
RSVP by contacting Michelle Laird or Melanie Alliston of pr.com at 503/460-9677 or via e-mail at mlaird@uspr.com.
UWCC Not Surprised by ETSI's 3G Compromise; Consortium Confident More
than One Third Generation Standard Will be Deployed
The UWCC was not surprised by the Third Generation proposal recently announced by the European Telecommunication Standards Institute (ETSI) and is confident that more than one Third Generation standard will be deployed. ETSI members accepted the proposal of a combined W-CDMA and hybrid TD-CDMA during a meeting Jan. 28 in Paris.
"The decision to combine elements of W-CDMA and hybrid TD-CDMA proposals is just a first step for ETSI in developing a complete standard to meet all IMT-2000 requirements through a single, deployable system," said Leo Nikkari, the vice president of strategy and programs for the UWCC. "ETSI will face many challenges moving forward, including assuring protection of capital investment of the existing digital infrastructure as well as resolving the contentious issue of intellectual property rights."
"In a free marketplace driven by consumer demand, you will not see just one global standard," Nikkari added. "Just as there are three major wireless digital technologies deployed today, there will be multiple Third Generation technologies deployed in the future."
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