Kayaker: Since I have tried to follow the voice and data mobile wireless opportunities for years, a bit of history as I understand it (flawed as my old man's memory may be).
Viterbi convinced his fellow managers at Qualcomm that there was a very real advantage in handling voice and data separately. The result was HDR (High Data Rate) within the same 1.25 as CDMA One and CDMA 1x. The idea he had was that it was best to use the "channel" for voice and data in a way the maximized the advantages of separation, yet to keep them available to the user as needed by using both to the optimumm as "the traffic required".
engineer and others who were either there at that time or understand and can explain better than I can, will improve my recall no doubt. <ggg>
I was extremely interested in this because it seemed to me a few years ago that the future of mobile wireless was actually wireless data not voice. Voice would be a basic service and a cash cow, but the future was mobile wireless data. Those of you who have followed my posts over the years might recall that.
In the event, i.e. now, 1xEvDo is what was simply HDR. It carried data and whether called data "optimized" or "only" is just a preference for a label.
What matters is that yes, HDR (now 1xEvDo) can be a free standing data only system - as in Duluth.
But also when combined with 1x for voice, it can also be a very very efficient means for Verizon or Sprint or any CDMA carrier to use their spectrum most efficiently to carry both voice and data - voice on 1x and data on 1x EvDo with seemless switching by the operator based on requirements.
The Koreans understand this and are therefore moving as rapidly as they can to use 1x EvDo to save money for themselves (by more efficent data transmission) and improving services to their customers for voice and data - again voice on 1x and data on 1x EvDo.
The 1x and 1xEvDo combination is actually by far the best way to provide both voice and data at the lowest cost and most efficiently available today - a slam dunk.
Once again, the Koreans understand this. KDDI seems to also, hence their plan to introduce 1x EvDo next October.
The Chinese seem to understand also, since Unicom is driving hard to begin 1x EvDo this spring right on the heels of their initial 1x installation and turn on.
Hope this is of some help.
My understanding, limited as it is, only.
Again sadly, the US carriers are way behind the curve on this. Verizon has two "successful" tests, but no 1x EvDo adoption schedule. Sprint has nothing re 1x EvDo and it "waiting" [Godot comes to mind] for 1x EvDv which is years away at best. But then Sprint doesn't have BREW either.
Perhaps if the Supreme Court permits, Nextwave will be how 1x EvDo becomes practical in the US.
Best.
Chaz |
