I think that UMTS equipment is going to trickle out this year and pick up considerable growth next year. 2003 is when the UMTS gear will be gushing. I think that PrarieComm, INTC, TXN, and QCT are doing everything they can to accelerate the pace of CDMA2000 and WCDMA. Do you suspect anything different??
prairiecomm.com
CANNES, France--Feb. 21, 2001--In a step toward bringing multimedia Wireless Internet services closer to reality, Nortel Networks (NYSE:NT)(TSE:NT.), Samsung and PrairieComm have begun interoperability testing of third generation (3G) UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) mobile terminals and wireless network infrastructure.
Testing will focus on compliance with Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standards, which are expected to help define 3G wireless functional requirements, and to help ensure timely delivery of end-to-end commercial solutions for 3G operators globally.
The tests will include Wireless Internet infrastructure from Nortel Networks and Samsung multi-mode GSM/GPRS/UMTS 3G mobile terminals. These terminals will be introduced to market under the Samsung brand using PrairieComm advanced chipset technology.
"Working together on development and testing benefits our companies and our customers," said Kyong Joon Chun, executive vice president and chief technology officer, Samsung Electronics. "By assuring the compatibility of all three technologies, Samsung Electronics is committed to delivering GSM/GPRS/UMTS tri-mode terminals with the advanced design and features to ensure greater satisfaction to end users and operators."
"Working together with Samsung and PrairieComm will bring each of our individual companies new knowledge, as well as speed time to market for these 3G Wireless products," said Peter MacKinnon, vice president and general manager, Applications and Devices, Nortel Networks. "It will also help ensure that the products together create a better total solution for operators."
"PrairieComm is excited to be working with technology leaders Nortel Networks and Samsung in laying the foundation for the future of wireless communications," said Tom Farmer, vice president, worldwide sales, PrairieComm. "This cooperative effort will help ensure that carriers and handset manufacturers will be able to introduce compelling 3G products based on a pre-qualified, network-tested platform and rapidly deliver the promise of the Wireless Internet to consumers."
Field trials are planned throughout the year, leading to expected product availability in January of next year. 3GPP is intended to ensure that future regional standards will be open, consistent and compatible, allowing for unrestricted roaming and service portability. Organizational partners of 3GPP include ARIB (Japan), CWTS (PRC), ETSI (Europe), T1 (North America), TTA (Korea) and TTC (Japan). These organizations are working together to develop technical specifications for a 3G mobile system based on the evolved GSM core networks and the radio access technologies they support (UTRA FDD and TDD modes).
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., with 2000 sales revenue of KRW34.3 trillion (USD$28B), plays an important role in telecommunications, providing a wide variety of products and services, developing and manufacturing infrastructure systems for wireless and fixed networks as well as CDMA, GSM and PCS HHP. It also provides optical fibers and access networks that would be the core of the information Super Highway. CDMA systems and terminals, that Samsung developed and started servicing commercially since 1995, won high recognition worldwide for China, USA, Hong Kong, Russia, Asia, Australia and Latin America. Samsung's vision for this century is to continue to expand its leadership in the global communications market through its success in CDMA/GSM Mobile Systems and terminals, and 3G total solution. For more information, please visit our Web site, www.samsungelectronics.com.
PrairieComm Inc., based in Rolling Meadows, Ill., develops chipsets, embedded software and licensed intellectual property for CDMA, TDMA, GSM and 3G UMTS wireless technologies that give its customer-partners "The Power To Compete" in the worldwide digital cellular marketplace. PrairieComm is at the heart of wireless personal communications providing chipsets for products from the world's leading consumer electronics manufactures. For more information about PrairieComm and its solutions, please visit the company's Web site at www.prairiecomm.com or call 847/871-1800.
Nortel Networks is a global Internet and communications leader with capabilities spanning Optical, Wireless, Local, Personal Internet and eBusiness. The Company had 2000 U.S. GAAP revenues of US$30.3 billion and serves carrier, service provider and enterprise customers globally. Today, Nortel Networks is creating a high-performance Internet that is more reliable and faster than ever before. It is redefining the economics and quality of networking and the Internet, promising a new era of collaboration, communications and commerce. Visit us at www.nortelnetworks.com.
Certain information included in this press release is forward-looking and is subject to important risks and uncertainties. The results or events predicted in these statements may differ materially from actual results or events. Factors which could cause results or events to differ from current expectations include, among other things: the impact of price and product competition; the dependence on new product development; the impact of rapid technological and market change; the ability of Nortel Networks to make acquisitions and/or integrate the operations and technologies of acquired businesses in an effective manner; general industry and market conditions and growth rates; international growth and global economic conditions, particularly in emerging markets and including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; the impact of consolidations in the telecommunications industry, the uncertainties of the Internet; stock market volatility; the ability of Nortel Networks to recruit and retain qualified employees; the ability to obtain timely, adequate and reasonably priced component parts from suppliers and internal manufacturing capacity; and the impact of increased provision of customer financing by Nortel Networks. For additional information with respect to certain of these and other factors, see the reports filed by Nortel Networks with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Nortel Networks disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Nortel Networks, the Nortel Networks logo and the Globemark are trademarks of Nortel Networks. Samsung is a trademark of Samsung Electronics. PrairieComm is a trademark of PrairieComm, Inc.
CONTACT:
Nortel Networks
Beatrice Germain, 33 1 39 44 4028
germainb@nortelnetworks.com
or
Samsung Electronics
Helena Lee, 82 2 751 2728 helenita@samsung.co.kr
or
PrairieComm
Patrick Hall, 858/457-4888, x112
phall@townsendagency.com
Copyright©2001 PrairieComm, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
The Power to Compete is a trademark of PrairieComm, Inc. All other trademarks are properties of their respective companies. For further information about PrairieComm, please visit their Web site at www.prairiecomm.com |
