Chaz,
Is it correct that 1x comes close to doubling voice capacity for an operator using it
Yes, in reality it's about 1.5 and above.
If so, why wouldn't the networks "seed" their users with 1x phones to gain voice capacity?
They should, but there are a few factors in it. First we are still in the earlier stage of 1x, so you can expect there are still glitches, bugs and instabilities making the operators and the users more cautious in going 1x in full speed. Secondly, because of the backward compatibility, you gonna have a lot of old cheap phones out there. However as things getting more and more mature we will see the old phones getting phased out smoothly.
And how about GPRS? Is there any voice capacity gain from GPRS over using GSM?
No, GPRS is about data solution, it does nothing to increase the capacity, it is only trying to no to waste more.
but the voice capacity improvement which CDMA 2000 1x provides is an important plus for operators
Absolutely, as a matter of fact, the operators really don't like data service in their nature. Billing will be a very big topic for the years to come. |
