Ruff,
<< This Has A little Dust On It >>
Just a little <g>, but it is a treasure.
Back then of course AT&T was pushing CDMA heavy as well as IS-136 TDMA (before the Lucent spinoff).
The referenced article was frequently quoted as "evidence" AT&T wireless (McCaw Cellular) would choose CDMA for its wireless technology, instead of IS-136 TDMA or GSM.
But then ....
[these 2 classics from my archives have only slightly less dust]
>> AT&T MCCAW CELLULAR PLACES ORDER
Reuter 08-10-95 06:27 New York
AT&T McCaw Cellular unit said Wednesday it placed a $450 million order for wireless communications equipment with its parent AT&T and Sweden's LM Ericsson telecom group, giving the two an early jump on rival telephone equipment makers.
In its size, the McCaw order was the most significant deal to date to provide equipment for the next generation of wireless communications, known as personal communications services.
While not unexpected by industry analysts, McCaw's decision to stick with wireless equipment using a technology called TDMA, or Time Division Multiple Acccess, gives TDMA an early lead over rival CDMA, or Code Division Multiple Access, technology.
The rival technologies are used to design both the telephone handsets and the switching equipment to be used as the backbone in nationwide personal communications services.
Personal communications services will provide cellular users not only voice, but also data and messaging services.
Yet to be placed are big orders for PCS phone equipment from Sprint Corp. and its cable television allies, and PCS PrimeCo, which is made up of AirTouch Communications Inc. and regional Bells NYNEX Corp., Bell Atlantic Corp. and U.S. West Inc.
Sprint, McCaw and PCS PrimeCo were the leading bidders in the $7 billion FCC auctions held earlier this year for licenses to offer national wireless communications networks.
In all, the digital wireless phone equipment market promises to become a multi-billion dollar market, analysts say. The McCaw digital network is expected to cover areas that contain more than 80 percent of the U.S. population. <<
And then:
>> ERICSSON, AT&T TEST DIGITAL PHONE TECHNOLOGY IN US
Source: Newsbytes
Stockholm, Sweden
1995 AUG 14
McCaw Cellular, now a wholly owned subsidiary of AT&T, has begun testing PCS (personal communications system) digital phone systems in two US markets: Chicago, Illinois, and Atlanta, Georgia. The Chicago tests are being carried in conjunction with AT&T equipment, while the Atlanta tests are being carried out in conjunction with Sweden's Ericsson.
According to McCaw, the tests will initially include a limited number of PCS base stations, a switch, and will focus on technology verification. Following the tests, and continued system development, McCaw plans to move towards launching a commercial service.
Bob Ratcliffe, a spokesman for McCaw, told Newsbytes that it is still very early days with PCS technology, which makes it difficult to say whether PCS will win out over competing digital cellular technology in the North American marketplace.
"What we're seeing is the result of the FCC's decision to sell the PCS licenses to the highest bidder, rather than take a lottery approach. The result is that PCS will be aiming to cover 40 percent of the US in coverage terms," he said, adding that this is the same 40 percent that analog networks already cover.
"What we're looking at doing is to release a dual modem mobile phone that will be able to use both PCS and existing analog networks," he continued, adding that, once the tests have been completed, McCaw expects to place orders work up to $450 million with both AT&T and Ericsson, rather than one manufacturer.
"Some press reports have suggested that these orders have been placed. They have not, but will be placed once the tests are complete," he told Newsbytes.
McCaw is taking the same multi-vendor approach that it has taken in the past with its analog networks, Newsbytes notes. Plans call for the company to allow AT&T's Network Services Division and Ericsson to share in the delivery of the $450 million network. According to McCaw, the percentage share of the equipment purchases between the two equipment vendors will be determined in future contract negotiations between the two companies.
Commenting on the tests, Nicholas Kauser, McCaw's chief technology officer, said that the company is now off and running with two strong strategic partners "to expand our network and service offerings for customers.
"We will integrate cellular and PCS licenses into the nation's most powerful and far reaching wireless service. The digital platform our companies build together will allow us to continue to fulfill our promise to deliver a tool that significantly improves people's quality of life," he explained.
What's interesting about McCaw's strategy is that the company is rolling out an 800 megahertz (MHz) Digital AMPS (American Mobile Phone System) alongside a planned 1,900 MHz PCS network. According to McCaw's Ratcliffe, running two digital networks alongside each other may not be the best strategy in the long run.
"I'm not sure that it will work," he told Newsbytes, adding that the twin digital network situation is a direct result of the FCC's strategy in selling licenses to the highest bidders. "This means we have a number of operators, many competing for the same market," he explained.
Ericsson, meanwhile, is firmly in favor of digital cellular, and in particular, PCS technology. The Swedish telco points out that digital cellular has up to six times the capacity of current analog systems, resulting in a need for fewer base stations. This means, the company claims, reduced costs for the carrier, which can be passed along to the customers in rate reductions. <<
C'est La Guerre.
- Eric - |
