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To: JohnG who wrote (10991)	5/29/2000 10:53:00 AM
From: JohnG	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 13582

GPRS Roaming initiative for Taiwan, HK, & Britain. JohnG Published on Tuesday, May 23, 2000 TELECOMS SmarTone trials herald roaming wireless service Expansive mood: SmarTone chief executive Ian Stone says browsing the Net will be simple and fast. SCMP picture BIEN PEREZ SmarTone and Taiwan-based partner Far EasTone say they are on track to create advanced services and customer-friendly global pricing after successfully completing roaming trials between their two wireless, high-speed data-transmission networks. The trials, which use prototype handsets from Ericsson, are part of the larger development initiative on general packet radio services (GPRS) that SmarTone and Far EasTone have embarked on with global allies AT&T Wireless Services and BT Cellnet. "The way the future is going to develop is through these alliances and partnerships," said Ian Stone, chief executive at SmarTone. "We have the intention of looking beyond the technology and moving towards increased co-operation between the companies." GPRS is a new technology for transmitting data over Global System for Mobile (GSM) cellular networks. It will be commercially available in the second half of the year and will provide customers in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Britain with mobile data connections at more than twice the speed of today's desktop modems. The GPRS roaming trials are supposed to ensure that the four operators gain the needed experience to implement wireless high-speed data roaming services. The trials also aim to assess network stability, integration and connectivity. Joseph O'Konek, president at Far EasTone, one of Taiwan's leading mobile-phone operators, said: "We are working towards the day when a customer with a wireless handset can go anywhere in the region and be guaranteed a set of services and pricing that is easy to understand and consistent. "Once GPRS is in place so that the networks interact without having to go through clearing houses, although they do provide good value, we would be able to offer even global pricing." Mr O'Konek said the pricing initiative followed the lead of the Digital One Rate programme rolled out by AT&T Wireless in the United States about two years ago. "For the first time, a user was able to make a voice call or a long-distance call to any place in the US on a single-rate plan," he said. "Prior to that, the US rate plan looked much like what was being implemented in Europe or Asia. When you went to a different state, you had a different roaming price, which was very expensive and confusing to the customer." In Hong Kong, SmarTone's GPRS trials were expected to continue over the coming weeks. The GPRS development is part of an infrastructure expansion of SmarTone's existing dual-band GSM network. The Ericsson-based GPRS system will directly integrate SmarTone's dual band mobile network with the Internet world, where data is transmitted using packet-switching technology. "For customers, browsing the Internet will become simple, fast and convenient," Mr Stone said. Commercial GPRS services would start in the second half. "Compared with the capabilities offered now, GPRS transmits data in excess of 115 kilobits per second. This technology maximises the efficiency of network resources and enables users to be always on-line." GPRS will also be suitable for video and multimedia applications. New GPRS modems and phones will be required for customers who want to use the services. The technology is hailed as an important step in the evolution of third-generation communications networks. Y2K Archive What's On Analyst Reports Tech Pix

To: JohnG who wrote (10991)	5/29/2000 11:04:00 AM
From: JohnG	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 13582

ERICY offers Korean Gvt royalty rates below 5% for W-CDMA technology. JohnG Foreign telecom equipment makers lure Korea with royalty fee discounts As the government prepares to announce the selection criteria and process for third-generation (3G) mobile telecom licenses, foreign equipment manufacturers are competing to offer discounted royalty fees. Ericsson, a leading maker of W-CDMA (wideband code division multiple access) infrastructure equipment, met with officials from the Ministry of Information and Communication (MIC) last week and offered to bring down the IPR (intellectual property rights) payments to below five percent of annual sales for some essential parts, according to the ministry yesterday. Qualcomm, the leader in cdma2000 technology, also expressed its intention to offer better terms over its European competitors. The ministry added that Finland's Nokia has indicated that it would charge even lower IPR than Qualcomm. However, the ministry is reported to be seeking to bring down the rate even further, to less than four percent of annual sales, apparently unsatisfied with the proposed rates that are only marginally lower than the current 5.2-5.7 percent being paid by local mobile equipment manufacturers. Local makers of mobile telecom equipment are being encouraged to conduct collective negotiations with the foreign IPR holders in a bid to gain better rates, according to a ministry source. "IPR holders for 3G infrastructure equipment and handsets on both W-CDMA and cdma2000 sides are offering to better the others' terms because we have yet to make a decision on the technology standard," said a ministry official. "There are no official negotiations per se, and the ministry will decide on the technology standard after taking various factors into consideration including licensing fees, possibility of global roaming and technology transfer," the official added. Updated: 05/30/2000 by Kim Hoo-ran Staff reporter