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Technology Stocks : Nokia Corp. (NOK)
NOK 6.070-1.5%Dec 5 9:30 AM EST

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To: slacker711 who wrote (2586)10/21/2002 1:18:17 PM
From: Eric L  Read Replies (1) of 9255
 
<< Doesn't it bother you when you read the various comments about the "complexity" of GPRS? >>

There was a time when it did.

It certainly doesn't now.

I wasn't alone back then, however.

It surprised even the vendors, but I don't think the vendors really expected (or wanted) GPRS to have as much forward compatibility to WCDMA as it actually does or WCDMA to require as much backward compatibility with and dependence on GPRS.

GPRS was "all new". Unlike cdmaOne which was designed with mobile IP connectivity (however rudimentary), GSM was designed initially in the ISDN early days before TCP/IP. GPRS required quit bit more than just plugging in routers and firewalls. Add to that carriers inexperience with IP and packet data. IS95B (and PDC) although not deployed outside of Korea, Japan, and Korea really gave the carriers and vendors a heads up in deploying packet data in a mobile environment

I am currently reading a very good new book called GPRS Demystified edited by John Hoffman who in real life is a truly witty and clever guy. John didn't write the book. It is a collection of articles on GPRS written by a variety of industry players on a wide variety of GPRS related subjects. It is very good overall and not overly technical.

Darn it. I can't find the book right now. John has a good line in his introduction that I wanted to quote to you. When I find it I will.

Back "then" it bothered me that Nokia was apparently late to "the GPRS non-party". It turns out that they weren't late at all, and there certainly was no party, but hopefully the party is about to begin, and hopefully customers will attend.

I think that the GPRS experience has made the vendors (and carriers) smarter and sharper then they were. Part of the "learning" as they say. One of the real benefits of the ordeal is the interoperability labs that were set up and are now being utilized for WCDMA. I also think that the Open Mobile Architecture initiative is one of the great outcomes.

<< It was sold as the relatively easy upgrade path for GSM....just as EDGE is now being sold. >>

I don't put the two in the same basket. EDGE is simply <g> a new modulation scheme building on GPRS with added QoS.

<< I think carriers are going to wait to actually see data traffic materialize before spending their precious cap ex on EDGE. >>

That could be. Here is the rub though. I'm becoming increasingly convinced that they aren't going to roll out WCDMA to the degree that you and I (or Nokia and Ericsson) had expected or would like until they can make a comparison of the comparative cost/benefit of one v. the other v. GPRS.

- Eric -
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