KumaarShah 143 Report post Posted January 21, 2008 Verizon moves toward Global Standard technology? Wow!!! Posted on January 21, 2008 by Scot Cerullo Verizon Wireless has begun laying plans to join the global wireless community, stating that it will be using Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology as the platform for its fourth generation network, or 4G as it is more commonly known. This is a significant development, since until now in the US there have been two different major platforms running our cell phones: CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), which is the technology foundation used by Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon, and GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications), used by AT&T Wireless (GSM uses Time Division Multiple Access or TDMA as its foundation). The latter is the world standard, and those of you with cell phones using SIM cards will be familiar with GSM. (Nextel runs on IDN technology and is not relevant to this discussion). These two platforms are incompatible and have run parallel in the US since their inception, and this disparity has resulted in numerous frustrations that accompany proprietary networks. A person using an AT&T phone cannot port it over to Verizon, or vice versa. Each has it’s strengths and weaknesses. For example, Verizon’s CDMA network is based on military technology and is provably more secure by design than it’s GSM counterpart. But GSM’s latest incarnation, being deployed by AT&T throughout the US, allows for simultaneous transmission of voice and data, something CDMA cannot do. Therefore, if a Verizon customer is surfing the web, an incoming call will go to voice mail, whereas with AT&T Wireless it will not. Another example: future phones will allow for users to talk to their friends and see them in real time simultaneously. Here again, something CDMA cannot do. More importantly, when AT&T wireless comes out with a phone, any phone, it will work in over 130 countries right out of the box, without any modifications whatsoever. By contrast, when Verizon launched it’s Blackberry 8830 World phone, it made a huge deal about its ability to work in many countries. Yes, but only because of the addition of a SIM card, or GSM technology, and software that allows the devise to switch between technologies. In short, Verizon Wireless has built an entire network based on a technology used by less then 30% of the world. Seventy percent of the world’s cell phones use GSM; LTE lays the groundwork for the two technologies to finally intersect and allow Verizon Wireless to capitalize on the benefits of 4G speeds, especially as they relate to data. Verizon Wireless is jointly owned by Vodafone and Verizon Communications. Vodafone is the largest telecommunications company in the world, and owns 45% of Verizon Wireless. Living in the US it is easy to be unaware of the global network, but global implications for future growth is clearly not lost on Verizon Wireless, especially since some cell phone manufacturers are becoming more reluctant to develop devices for CDMA. LTE deployment for Verizon Wireless is set for 2010, and the result will be across-the-board improvements, including faster upload and download speeds. Also, the shared technology partnerships will preclude the need for dual-band phones. Even more exciting is that AT&T Wireless plans to adopt the LTE technology as well, which would mean interoperability between the two rivals. Moreover, with Verizon Wireless’s recently announced “any app, any device” policy, customers will eventually be able to port their phones back and forth between the two rival companies. A common, global platform has many benefits, but it also means fewer players. AT&T Wireless and Verizon Wireless have chosen their future, while Sprint is still using its WiMAX XOHM service, and probably does not have the cash necessary to fund a new deployment. Common platforms will also make it infinitely easier for software companies to design applications. With rival companies sharing a common technology, there will no doubt be a marketing shift away from focusing on “the best network” and “fewest dropped calls” and a heightened focus on which provider offers the more exciting product mix, who has the best customer service, etc. Finally, while 4G will provide the speeds necessary to deliver a high quality data experience, surveys show that a considerable number of customers remain unenchanted with the idea of using their cell phones to access the internet. But as carriers continue to improve their technology and continue to offer easier-to-use devices, more people will no doubt test the internet waters from their handhelds. It’s worth noting that data usage among customers is so important, it has become the new, primary metric upon which the carriers keep score. Whereas they used to measure Net Adds (new customers), they now focus of ARPU, Average Revenue Per User, and Data is a huge driving factor in generating revenue. Link: http://www.cellphones.ca/news/post002869/ Are we Indians missing out on some new technologies? Are we being given some obsolete technology in the name of 3G which has till date not seen the light of the day? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kshah 452 Report post Posted January 21, 2008 Good info. THis clearly shows that CDMA is infact dying due to qualcomm's policies. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Honest 836 Report post Posted January 23, 2008 Are we Indians missing out on some new technologies? ^^^ Yes we do missing the latest technologies my dear Kumaar. Are we being given some obsolete technology in the name of 3G which has till date not seen the light of the day? ^^^ Correctly said my dear friend. It seems that still we are on obsolete technologies in the name of 3G. Only God knows when we get the latest stuff. Regards. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kshah 452 Report post Posted January 23, 2008 Are we Indians missing out on some new technologies? ^^^ Yes we do missing the latest technologies my dear Kumaar. Are we being given some obsolete technology in the name of 3G which has till date not seen the light of the day? ^^^ Correctly said my dear friend. It seems that still we are on obsolete technologies in the name of 3G. Only God knows when we get the latest stuff. Regards. I think we are not given bsolete technology. GSM is still about 70% EDGE in europe. Same with CDMA. 3G is not more than 30% glabally. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
