Paul, now two weeks since 3 Nov. Have Intercell started production yet? But look at THIS!!
Provided by Philip Merryman:
A company called Metawave Communications Corporation issued a press release on September 16, 1996 claiming it had developed an antenna for CDMA systems that could extend CDMA coverage by up to 50% and increase CDMA capacity from 30% to 100%.
In response to an inquiry in late September 1996, Qualcomm stated it was evaluating Metawave's products. If Metawave's claims are substantiated by Qualcomm, this would offer a dramatic enhancement to CDMA's current capabilities. Metawave has a web site located at metawave.com .
The following is the 9/16/96 press release announcing the antenna: Metawave Announces First 'Smart Antenna' Solution for CDMA-Based Cellular and PCS Infrastructures; ECHO CDMA Enhancer boosts coverage by up to 50%, capacity by up to 100%; REDMOND, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Sept. 16, 1996-- Metawave Communications Corp. today announced it has launched the ECHO(TM) CDMA Enhancer, the first 'smart antenna' solution for CDMA-based cellular and PCS infrastructures. The ECHO system is Metawave's proprietary platform that enables PCS and cellular carriers implementing CDMA (code division multiple access) digital technology to optimize network infrastructure expenditures by extending the range and improving the capacity of CDMA cell sites.
Field trials conducted with major equipment manufacturers have shown that ECHO can extend a CDMA base station's coverage by up to 50 percent, reducing the number of sites necessary to deploy digital service. In addition, ECHO substantially reduces the system noise floor which can result in a capacity increase of 30 to 100 percent. ECHO improves CDMA performance on both the forward and reverse paths, improving CDMA's overall efficiency. "The ECHO CDMA Enhancer gives both PCS and cellular carriers a competitive edge by keeping the number of future cell sites to a minimum -- without sacrificing coverage or capacity," said Dino Vendetti, Metawave's vice president of product management. "This dramatically impacts a carrier's bottom line by significantly reducing infrastructure costs." The ECHO system also allows CDMA mobiles to transmit at lower power. This results in longer battery life and increased air time revenue for service providers, Vendetti said.
The ECHO CDMA Enhancer brings the benefits of narrow-beam antenna arrays to wireless service providers using CDMA air interfaces. The ECHO system features a patented combiner assembly that delivers significant gain improvement on both the forward and reverse paths. In addition, ECHO replaces the six existing 120-degree transmit/ receive antennas per site with Metawave's LightHouse(TM) antenna, a single cylindrical structure comprised of twelve 30-degree antenna beams. Carriers can deploy ECHO on a site-by-site or system-wide basis.
To facilitate network planning, Metawave offers NetMentor(TM), a software application that helps carriers determine optimal system deployment, given desired performance enhancements. Metawave will show the ECHO CDMA Enhancer at PCS '96, booth No. 3709, at the Moscone Center in San Francisco.
The product will be commercially available 1st quarter, 1997. Headquartered in Redmond, Metawave Communications Corp. delivers practical spectrum management solutions that enable wireless service providers throughout the world to compete by optimizing call quality, coverage, and capacity at minimal cost.
The company's SpotLight(TM) and ECHO(TM) product lines provide site enhancements that can offer considerable savings to both cellular and PCS providers by avoiding the cost of building new sites. Metawave was founded in 1995 by key cellular technologists and executives experienced in developing wireless communications products. For more information, call 1-888-METAWAVE or visit the company's Web site at metawave.com. ECHO(TM), SpotLight(TM), LightHouse(TM), and NetMentor(TM) are trademarks of Metawave Communications Corp.
That looks like the same thing Intercell are doing!! Competition.
Maurice |
