What? Nokia delayed WCDMA? Perish the thought!
For entertainment purposes, I present to the thread a 1998 NOK PR claiming WCDMA in 2000-2001. I archived this gem in case it disappeared.
<<First WCDMA call with a Nokia terminal made in Japan
September 03, 1998
Nokia has successfully completed the first trial call with a Nokia-made WCDMA terminal on NTT DoCoMo's trial specification. The call was made at Nokia's R&D unit in Yokosuka Research Park, Japan, earlier this week.
In Spring 1997, NTT DoCoMo chose Nokia to cooperate with a group that is developing the 3rd generation mobile technology for NTT DoCoMo´s test network based on WCDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access) technology. The successful completion of the trial call is evidence of the maturity of Nokia's and NTT DoCoMo's WCDMA technology, and reaffirms Nokia's further cooperation with NTT DoCoMo. With this commitment, Nokia aims to be among the first manufacturers to launch WCDMA terminals in Japan and Europe in 2001-2002.
Ahti Vaisanen, Vice President, WCDMA Product Line, Nokia Mobile Phones, said: "We are pleased that NTT DoCoMo has taken the initiative to gather global key telecom infrastructure and terminal vendors, including Nokia, to their trial system to test and validate WCDMA technology in a multivendor environment. Nokia's strong commitment to WCDMA and proven expertise in wireless technologies has helped us to be among the first companies in the world to reach this important milestone with a successful trial call."
Kota Kinoshita, Senior Vice President, NTT DoCoMo said: "Nokia is one of our key partners in the development of our 3rd generation mobile system. This trial call has clearly demonstrated Nokia's commitment and capabilities in the WCDMA technology. We are looking forward to continue this cooperation with Nokia."
Nokia has been developing 3rd generation technologies over a decade to be standardized in Europe, Japan and the USA. The company has studied WCDMA radio technology since the early 1990s, demonstrating the viability of WCDMA for multimedia applications in its fully operational test bed.
The 3rd generation of mobile telecommunications will greatly enhance the use of sophisticated wireless applications. Users will be able to utilize personal, location-based wireless information and interactive services. The 3rd generation terminals will enable virtual work teams, even when on the move, to focus on common tasks and projects. The concept of mobile voice calls will be radically changed, as multimedia capabilities will be added. For example, data and images can simultaneously be shared with users who are connected with a voice or video connection, resulting in more effective visual communications.
Japan is a major scene for the development of new wireless technology. Nokia opened an R&D unit in Tokyo in 1995. From the start of 1997, Nokia's activities have also included infrastructure research and development for WCDMA. In 1998, Nokia further expanded its research and development activities in Japan by establishing a corporate research unit in Tokyo. One of the tasks of Nokia Research Center's Japanese unit is to support Nokia's participation in the WCDMA project in cooperation with universities. Nokia also established an R&D unit in Yokosuka Research Park, where all the WCDMA related companies have implemented a full-scale joint research and study environment for WCDMA.
Nokia is a broad-scope communications company supplying mobile phones, mobile and fixed telecommunications networks, wireless data communications solutions, multimedia terminals and computer monitors. In 1997, net sales totaled FIM 52.6 billion ($9.8 billion). Headquartered in Finland, Nokia is listed on the NYSE (NOK.A), has sales in 130 countries and employs more than 41,000 people worldwide.
NTT Mobile Communications Network, Inc. (NTT DoCoMo) is an integrated mobile communications operator, which provides cellular phone, paging, satellite mobile communication, maritime telephone and in-flight telephone services in Japan. NTT DoCoMo is energetically cooperating in standardization activities for IMT-2000, a third generation mobile communications system currently promoted by ITU and related organizations, through Wideband CDMA (WCDMA) research and development activities.
Nokia is a broad-scope communications company supplying mobile phones, mobile and fixed telecommunications networks, wireless data communications solutions, multimedia terminals and computer monitors. In 1997, net sales totaled FIM 52.6 billion ($9.8 billion). Headquartered in Finland, Nokia is listed on the NYSE (NOK.A), has sales in 130 countries and employs more than 41,000 people worldwide.
Contact information:
Nokia Mobile Phones
Communications Department
Tel. +358 10 5051 |
