Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : Sprint Nextel Corporation (S) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Rono who wrote (353)	10/27/2000 2:31:49 PM
From: slacker711	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 1691

Can you give a brief explanation of what 1xrtt is and why you believe this will help PCS differentiate themselves from other carriers like Nextel? For some reason, I cant seem to find any links that appropriately explain the subject (Do you have any Cooters?)....so you are forced to let me muddle through it. Sprint PCS currently uses a form of CDMA called IS-95A. This allows about 6-10x the capacity of analog and data throughput speeds of 14.4Kbps. The term 1xrtt refers to an upgrade to the Sprint network (IS-95C) which will double the voice capacity and also allow speeds of 144Kbps on the network. This will also change Sprint's networks from circuit-switched to packet-based. Cell-phones that are on will always be connected to the network....it is sort of the difference between 56K dial-up and DSL. This is going to allow PCS to advertise itself as wireless data company instead of just wireless voice. OTOH....Nextel has a problem. They use a form of TDMA called iDEN. It's proprietary....noone else in the world uses it. Currently, there is no real difference between the PCS and Nextel networks....PCS probably has higher capacity but you cant really tell the difference in the rates. Next year, there should be a clear difference in the type of services that can be provided with the two carriers. I'm sure that Nextel has some sort of upgrade path planned...but I'm not sure what it is, and I can guanttee that it wont be available by 3Q '01 or provide the amount of capacity that 1xrtt will for PCS. Slacker