Not all Euro-centric....Samsung and Nortel plan on using Prairiecomm's chipset. They expect product by Jan. of next year. Getting Samsung is pretty impressive for Prairiecomm and a blow to Qualcomm.
biz.yahoo.com
Wednesday February 21, 4:00 am Eastern Time
Press Release
Nortel Networks, Samsung, PrairieComm Testing UMTS Interoperability
CANNES, France--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 21, 2001--In a step toward bringing multimedia Wireless Internet services closer to reality, Nortel Networks (NYSE:NT - news; TSE:NT. - news), Samsung and PrairieComm have begun interoperability testing of third generation (3G) UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) mobile terminals and wireless network infrastructure.
Testing will focus on compliance with Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standards, which are expected to help define 3G wireless functional requirements, and to help ensure timely delivery of end-to-end commercial solutions for 3G operators globally.
The tests will include Wireless Internet infrastructure from Nortel Networks and Samsung multi-mode GSM/GPRS/UMTS 3G mobile terminals. These terminals will be introduced to market under the Samsung brand using PrairieComm advanced chipset technology.
``Working together on development and testing benefits our companies and our customers,'' said Kyong Joon Chun, executive vice president and chief technology officer, Samsung Electronics. ``By assuring the compatibility of all three technologies, Samsung Electronics is committed to delivering GSM/GPRS/UMTS tri-mode terminals with the advanced design and features to ensure greater satisfaction to end users and operators.''
``Working together with Samsung and PrairieComm will bring each of our individual companies new knowledge, as well as speed time to market for these 3G Wireless products,'' said Peter MacKinnon, vice president and general manager, Applications and Devices, Nortel Networks. ``It will also help ensure that the products together create a better total solution for operators.''
``PrairieComm is excited to be working with technology leaders Nortel Networks and Samsung in laying the foundation for the future of wireless communications,'' said Tom Farmer, vice president, worldwide sales, PrairieComm. ``This cooperative effort will help ensure that carriers and handset manufacturers will be able to introduce compelling 3G products based on a pre-qualified, network-tested platform and rapidly deliver the promise of the Wireless Internet to consumers.''
Field trials are planned throughout the year, leading to expected product availability in January of next year. 3GPP is intended to ensure that future regional standards will be open, consistent and compatible, allowing for unrestricted roaming and service portability. Organizational partners of 3GPP include ARIB (Japan), CWTS (PRC), ETSI (Europe), T1 (North America), TTA (Korea) and TTC (Japan). These organizations are working together to develop technical specifications for a 3G mobile system based on the evolved GSM core networks and the radio access technologies they support (UTRA FDD and TDD modes).
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., with 2000 sales revenue of KRW34.3 trillion (USD$28B), plays an important role in telecommunications, providing a wide variety of products and services, developing and manufacturing infrastructure systems for wireless and fixed networks as well as CDMA, GSM and PCS HHP. It also provides optical fibers and access networks that would be the core of the information Super Highway. CDMA systems and terminals, that Samsung developed and started servicing commercially since 1995, won high recognition worldwide for China, USA, Hong Kong, Russia, Asia, Australia and Latin America. Samsung's vision for this century is to continue to expand its leadership in the global communications market through its success in CDMA/GSM Mobile Systems and terminals, and 3G total solution. For more information, please visit our Web site, www.samsungelectronics.com.
PrairieComm Inc., based in Rolling Meadows, Ill., develops chipsets, embedded software and licensed intellectual property for CDMA, TDMA, GSM and 3G UMTS wireless technologies that give its customer-partners ``The Power To Compete'' in the worldwide digital cellular marketplace. PrairieComm is at the heart of wireless personal communications providing chipsets for products from the world's leading consumer electronics manufactures. For more information about PrairieComm and its solutions, please visit the company's Web site at www.prairiecomm.com or call 847/871-1800.
Nortel Networks is a global Internet and communications leader with capabilities spanning Optical, Wireless, Local, Personal Internet and eBusiness. The Company had 2000 U.S. GAAP revenues of US$30.3 billion and serves carrier, service provider and enterprise customers globally. Today, Nortel Networks is creating a high-performance Internet that is more reliable and faster than ever before. It is redefining the economics and quality of networking and the Internet, promising a new era of collaboration, communications and commerce. Visit us at www.nortelnetworks.com. |
