Gent tries to cool GPRS hype
June 15, 2001
OXFORD, United Kingdom—Afraid that its just-launched General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) might receive the same skeptical reception that the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) now labors under, Vodafone’s Chief Executive Chris Gent admitted the high-speed Internet Protocol (IP) data service should not be overhyped and will have its initial problems. He referred industry observers to the early days of GSM when it too encountered initial technical problems.
“GPRS will face the same issues, and so will 3G (third generation). There is a gestation period with these things,” he added.
Outsiders believe Gent was prompted into making these cautionary remarks following the public failure of BT Cellnet’s GPRS launch some weeks ago and the recently announced delay to the United Kingdom’s first 3G trial network due to handset software problems. Vodafone, which has just launched its GPRS service, said it had some concern over the volume availability of GPRS handsets, but was at pains to stress that its retail outlets had normal stock levels of these high-speed data cell phones.
Separately, Vodafone is said to be talking to its lawyers following the news that its four rivals in the United Kingdom plan to cooperate on the deployment of their 3G networks. Orange, which is owned by France Télécom, and Hutchison 3G, are strongly tipped to share networks, while BT Cellnet and Deutsche Telekom-owned One 2 One have said they will use shared infrastructure. It is thought that Vodafone, which is financially much stronger than its European rivals, is against striking any similar network-sharing deals, least of all in the United Kingdom or Germany. Vodafone can also be expected to robustly oppose other network-sharing deals.
A spokesman confirmed the company “reserves the right to sue if the conditions of the 3G licenses were changed retroactively.”
rcrnews.com
not be overhyped, just use normal hype? |
