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To: alias who wrote (60695)	1/7/2000 2:30:00 PM
From: Jeff Vayda	Respond to of 152472

From CNET: 2000 Prediction: 3G Wireless Trickles In cnet.com Jeff Vayda The Prediction: Third-generation (3G) wireless phones featuring high-speed Internet access will trickle in, with CDMA technology providing the basis for the transition. The Challenges Many analysts feel that 3G will be a few more years in coming. Second-generation wireless technologies, such as global system for mobile communications (GSM) and time division multiple access (TDMA), are widely used in Europe and elsewhere, and some say that it will take longer to make the transition to third generation from these standards. However, more than half of the North American wireless industry currently uses the code division multiple access (CDMA) standard, and many analysts and manufacturers believe that CDMA will allow an easier migration to 3G technologies--a migration expected to begin within the year. Qualcomm announced in November a new, CDMA-based wireless technology, High Data Rate (HDR), which acts as a stepping stone between second- and third-generation technologies. Perry LaForge, executive director of the CDMA Development Group, claims that we'll see 3G devices with data-transfer rates upwards of 144 kilobits per second by next summer. The Outcome There are still a lot of kinks to be worked out before we achieve the ultimate goal of global wireless coverage and seamless roaming between networks at high data-transfer speeds. The various manufacturer groups are engaged in complicated disputes over enforcing one standard or letting the issues work themselves out in the free market. And, assuming we do achieve the transfer rates predicted by the pro-CDMA faction, there's still the question of who will provide the data and package it for viewing on dinky cell phone screens. But, in spite of these hurdles, we'll see the beginnings of third-generation wireless technology in 2000.