GSM1X -- How does this help Unicom?
Who can help me understand the practical application of GSM1X to the Unicom system and how it saves money and improves service to their GSM customers.
let me use plainspeak as i am not able to describe the situation in tech terms. Unicom has ~12M cdma subs and ~60M GSM subs. let's just assume Unicom has 12x cdma base stations and 60x GSM base stations which, at present, provide more comprehensive coverage than the cdma network.
1. dual mode handsets. i fully understand the advantage to Unicom of the dual mode (cdma/GSM) handset and, therefore, understand the prospective value of the Q 6300 chipset. Unicom subs, either GSM or cdma, who buy a handset with the 6300 chipset can use cdma where the signal is operative but still use the GSM network where cdma service is not available. great solution to make up for cdma coverage gaps for subs who can afford the presumably more expensive new dual mode handset.
2. GSM1X - service upgrade. I am not sure I understand the upgrade mechanic for Unicom if they were to adopt GSM1X. I assume they go to some portion (or all, in time) of their 60x GSM base stations and bolt on a new radio which is a cdma radio connected for all "back office" functions, provisioning, authenticating, roaming, billing, to the existing GSM core network. Let's call these upgraded base stations GSM1X stations.
Question 1. GSM subs cannot send/receive through the GSM1X stations with their exisiting GSM handsets: Is this correct? of course, if the same base station maintains its GSM radio the coverage will be maintained for GSM subs but it will not be in any way enhanced.
Question 2. To use the GSM1X station a GSM sub must buy a new handset. the sub could buy a 6300 dual mode handset but that would work with the GSM and cdma base stations without any upgrade. So there is no benefit to a 6300 handset user in the GSM1X upgrade except that some usage may be diverted from pure GSM freeing up some GSM capacity. Correct?
Question 3. what is a GSM1x handset and who is/will be making them? I take it that a modified GSM handset will be needed with all the back office hardware/software of GSM but a cdma radio interface. Is this available?
Question 4. If these new hybrid GSM/cdma handsets are available, it would seem that one big benefit to Unicom and its GSM subs might be that the sub could buy the new hybrid handset and plug in his SIM chip from his old GSM phone, keeping his phone number and all billing info. Is this correct?
Question 5. I can conceive that the upgrade of a base station from GSM to GSM1X might be less expensive than making that base station into a cdma base station because the "back office" components would not have to be replaced. Is this correct? Are there any back office components in the base station or is this all software??
Question 6. Is GSM1X a major system benefit to Unicom and if so how? For China Mob, I understand. They have no cdma network. So they could keep all their billing and back office on GSM's MAP system and just add on cdma radios to their base stations. Then if there are GSM1X handsets available and cost, roaming and other service conditions are not unfavorable, maybe this would be great for China Mob. But Unicom has already developed the second backbone so what's the big benefit of creating this third hybrid system?
Any help in understanding this conundrum would be much appreciated.
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