More Cingular from same issue of same magazine (No Q bombs):
>> The Cingular Sensation
Nikki Swartz
Wireless Review
Jan 1, 2001
telecomclick.com
Excerpt:
<snip>
... Cingular has plotted a technology path based on GSM, TDMA/EDGE and GPRS.
"The world's standard is GSM, and we've chosen the technology that I think has the backing of all the major players in the world. GPRS is certainly the first packet-based network deployed by wireless phone companies throughout Europe," Carter said. "GPRS then turns into EDGE, which is even faster, and then to WCDMA. That's not to say that CDMA is a terrible thing; it obviously works. But it's got much more minor support around the world, and there's really no clear route to where it goes after the 1XRTT.
That path hasn't been a difficult one so far because BellSouth and SBC Wireless used TDMA and GSM, as well as common vendors (Ericsson, Lucent and Nortel).
According to Rinne, the major tasks still under way include integrating backbone networks in terms of SS7 connectivity and point-to-point connections, and feature-transparency, making sure features work the same way in Chicago as they do in Atlanta.
Also under way is a lab environment for TDMA/EDGE in 2Q01, with the first office applications due in fourth quarter and deployment throughout 2002.
"We would also deploy EDGE in our GSM environments so we have that total interoperability," she said. "The additional benefits of EDGE is it has peak speeds all the way up to 384kb/s. Further, it brings together our two technologies in a packet-data environment."
The world caught a glimpse of Cingular's data future at Comdex 2000 in Las Vegas, where the carrier demonstrated next-generation wireless services over a live GPRS network on Ericsson R520 GPRS terminals.
"The initial introductions will be 9.6kb/s from the customer to the network and 56 from the network back to the customer," Rinne said.
Cingular is deploying circuit-switched data in its TDMA markets and will launch WAP over circuit-switched data in many of its major metropolitan areas before the end of the year and continue to roll out through 1Q01.
Its GPRS-enabled service will be available in California throughout the Pacific Bell Wireless network in 1Q01, followed by roll out in all of the carrier's GSM markets unless handset-restricted.
<snip> <<
- Eric - |
