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Technology Stocks : Qualcomm Incorporated (QCOM) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: David E. Taylor who wrote (95402)	3/8/2001 8:18:05 AM
From: taylorfife	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 152472

Wondering if anyone can give their analysis as to what the Cingular switch to GSM will mean for QCOM? accessatlanta.com Cingular Wireless changing to more common technology Michael E. Kanell - Staff Thursday, March 8, 2001 Cingular Wireless announced Wednesday it has moved its Seattle and Spokane markets to the technology known as GSM --- a first step toward an expected switch of its national network to that technology. Although officials won't talk about plans, they do praise GSM, or global system for mobile communications, as a data-friendly technology that will also give Cingular users worldwide "roaming" ability, said Dave Williams, executive vice president for the Atlanta-based company. Cingular, the nation's second-largest wireless provider, bought the Washington markets in September from Atlanta-based GTE Wireless, paying an undisclosed amount for the licenses, networks and staff. That system used a technology known as CDMA --- or code division multiple access. GSM has the world's most common wireless technology, with 456 million subscribers. "It really is the global standard now," Williams said. Other wireless carriers would disagree. But all are likely to revamp their networks in the next few years when what is known as 3G --- the third generation --- technologies are ready. GSM proponents say it is the best bridge to those new technologies. Of Cingular's 20 million subscribers, about 12 percent --- in California, Nevada, the Carolinas and Tennessee --- are on GSM. But most of the network, including Atlanta, is TDMA --- time division multiple access. In Washington, Cingular's customers have been told they can trade their GTE phones for new GSM phones. WHY ROAMING ENDS Most U.S. carriers use one of three technologies --- CDMA, TDMA and GSM --- with cell phones. Callers cannot use their wireless phones if they roam into an area that is served by a system different from theirs. Cingular Wireless has been using TDMA but is switching to GSM, the world's most common wireless technology.