chapQ,
re: Whither Goeth IS-136 TDMA
<< I saw this article, with its odd language and numbers. >>
Bottom line is this.
How Cingular "flips" or doesn't flip is the big deal US wise.
There are a batch of small TDMA players in NA, but the prize is screwed up Cingular which Loverly Lynette Looney has repeatedly and repetitiously stated since last September "is considering CDMA" ... "sources say" ... her sources obviously at either Nortel or lucent or both.
Cingular still holding out for the dream of TDMA-EDGE with GSM-EDGE at BellSouth Mobility & PacBell with some WCDMA, someday, somehow. This could change. These guys are really trapped. They can't win for losing. they oughta bite the bullet and take it all 1xRTT, IMO.
The game is pretty well over in Canada, and AWS has done named their "flip" as have the Canadians.
Latin America. Big prize is the BellSouth International properties and a few of SBC's.
The smaller players (lots) converting quickly to GSM/GPRS - its like roaches, you let one 850 MHz system in, and they multiply.
Remember your buddy "Buck" who says Nokia plays with the tier 2 guys off their GSM-1800 specialization - well they perpetrated this.
Tero out there somewhere chuckling and grinning.
TIM has a few TDMA properties they'll convert to GSM
<< North American operators on average expect GPRS services to launch in the second half of 2002. What does "on average" mean? Half? Like, you know, most? >>
LOL!
This one is intriguing.
What DOES it mean?
There are 20+ US GSM carriers but the real deal is VoiceStream (including Powertel), the 2 Cingular GSM properties (east and west) and of course AWS newly. soon to be, GSM whatever mess. So what they do is most important. particularly VoiceStream, and Pacbell (Cingular West).
I am not sure who'll be 1st, or when, but when VoiceStream does it they will do it best. Stanton one of the saviest Carrier Execs in USA, and I think he will dictate it be done right.
It all depends on 1900 MHz GPRS handsets ... ones that work ... and network tuning. I think personally think VoiceStream will surprise a lot of people with this 2nd rate, mucho late GPRS.
Bottom line on that survey ... several elements of which I find most interesting, is that, forget about the percentage of carriers BS ... look at their subscriber base and footprint.
- Eric - |
