Sprint announces dual 3G/4G aircard from Franklin Wireless

Sprint announced it will make the first 3G/4G dual-mode device, the Sprint 3G/4G USB Modem U300, which operates on both the Sprint 3G and 4G networks, available in US retail stores Dec. 21.

Sprint launched 4G in Baltimore in September and plans to launch in other markets across the country throughout 2009. The device will enable customers to experience high-speed Internet access, greater productivity and enhanced multimedia quality throughout 4G markets, and offer access to the existing Sprint 3G network virtually everywhere else. This is the first product available in the US to offer both 3G and 4G connectivity.
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Qualcomm halts UMB project, sees no major job cuts

By Sinead Carew (Reuters)

Qualcomm Inc, seeking to cut costs in the face of slowing demand for cell phones, has stopped developing a next-generation wireless technology called Ultra Mobile Broadband and is making small-scale layoffs.

The wireless chip maker will instead put its resources into a rival high-speed technology called Long Term Evolution, which some of its major customers, such as Verizon Wireless, have backed, said Qualcomm Chief Executive Paul Jacobs.
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Icomera trials live CCTV on London buses

Icomera AB announced that its Moovbox technology has been selected to provide real-time communications for a trial of live CCTV on London buses to improve public safety. 21st Century CCTV, a division of TG21 plc, has equipped twenty-one double-decker buses in North London with the technology, which allows live images to be transmitted to a central control center shared by officers from TfL (Transport for London) and the Metropolitan Police’s Transport Operational Command Unit. The six-month trial on behalf of TfL will monitor and analyse the use of the technology to decide whether it can help deal with incidents on buses more effectively.

The LIVEview system installed on each bus comprises a ProGuard digital video recorder (DVR) developed by 21st Century CCTV, connected to a Moovbox M200 Mobile Broadband Gateway from Icomera. Cameras fitted inside and outside the bus record images continuously to disk but the new Moovbox technology means the driver can activate a high-speed link whereby operators can view live or recorded footage in real time. The TfL deployment is the first stage of an initiative by 21st Century CCTV and Icomera to offer live mobile video streaming technology to municipalities and transport operators for public safety applications.
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CDG predicts CDMA2000 operators among first to deploy LTE and mobile WiMAX to complement 3G networks

The CDMA Development Group (CDG) today announced that CDMA operators will be among the first to complement their 3G networks with wider bandwidth OFDM-based technology solutions, such as Long Term Evolution (LTE) and Mobile WiMAX, as the 3G CDMA2000 family of technologies continues its rapid growth. CDMA operators are well-positioned to build on the wireless data business models they have developed for CDMA2000 1xEV-DO, and their 3G voice, broadband and broadcast data services will serve as their core revenue generators as they deploy next-generation networks.

“3G is enabling new services that drive profitable wireless data business models, which will continue to be the foundation for operators even as OFDM-based technologies like LTE and Mobile WiMAX are deployed,” said Perry LaForge, executive director of the CDG. “Next-generation mobile broadband solutions will increase the value of existing 3G voice and data networks by interoperating with them to address distinct business needs.”
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Market Forces to Drive Embedded Cellular Modem Sales Over 83 Million Units in 2013

Although embedded cellular modem sales have been slow to take off, momentum is building for increased sales, according to a recent study from ABI Research. One recent development is the GSMA’s Mobile Broadband Service Mark initiative which, backed by media spending of $1 billion, will create awareness of laptops with embedded connectivity.

Other drivers include: Qualcomm’s Gobi chipset that enables modem connectivity on both GSM and CDMA networks; lower mobile broadband pricing; and networks maintaining their current EV-DO Rev A and HSPA air interfaces for at least two more years. ABI Research forecasts that these and other market forces will increase embedded cellular modem sales to nearly $9 billion in 2013.
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Over 160 million non-cellphone devices to offer mobile video by 2013, says In-Stat

The entry of a broad range of new mobile devices able to display video will have a profound effect on the mobile video market, reports research firm In-Stat. The reach of new device choices will provide more markets for mobile operators, mobile broadcasters, advertisers and other content owners, the high-tech market research firm says.

Even though cellphones and smartphones will remain the predominant method of viewing mobile video, over 160 million other devices that provide mobile video over networks now in exclusive use by cellphones will be sold in the next five years.
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Nokia and Nokia Siemens Networks Enter Into Patent License Agreement With Huawei

Nokia and Nokia Siemens Networks announced today a patent license agreement with Huawei and its affiliates for standards essential patents. The comprehensive agreement covers the worldwide use of all standards essential patents of all parties, including GSM, WCDMA, CDMA2000, optical networking, data communications and WiMAX in mobile devices, infrastructure and services.

“We are very pleased to have entered into this agreement with Huawei” said Ilkka Rahnasto, Vice President, Intellectual Property Rights, Nokia. “Huawei is the thirty-fifth company to license Nokia patents related to cellular standards and this agreement demonstrates how companies can license intellectual property in a way that encourages industry innovation and fosters a healthy IPR environment.”
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CE Vendors Offering Internet Connectivity Must Get the Usage Model Right

The trend towards cramming ever more functions into mobile phones is forcing consumer electronics vendors to explore new capabilities in their devices in order to stay relevant to consumers in a “connected age.” Mobile Internet Devices (MIDs) combining specialized functions (camera, media player, navigation etc.) with wireless Internet access seem likely to succeed and consumers increasingly expect their electronics to connect to the Internet. But makers of these products have only a window in which to build devices and business models that users will adopt.

“CE manufacturers try to stay relevant in the face of phones that perform multiple functions ‘well enough’,” says ABI Research director Kevin Burden. “Mobile Internet Devices promise to deliver that relevance, but consumers aren’t clamoring for these new devices yet. That means CE vendors must get the user experience and the economic model right from the start. If consumers are not hooked by a compelling experience right away, they’ll stick with what they’ve got.”
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Non-Handset mobile Internet devices to reach $90 billion in operator revenues by 2013

The mobile phone is by far the most common device used to connect to mobile networks. However, the number of non-handset mobile devices is set to grow dramatically. These category of products, termed ‘Mobile Internet Peripherals and Devices’ encompass products such as data cards, laptops, ultra-mobile PCs, game consoles, eBooks, digital signs, ATMs and host of other M2M applications. Sitting within all these devices is a wireless data module providing a connection to a wide-area network. ARCchart forecasts that unit shipment of these mobile data modules will grow from a base of 10 million in 2007 to 370 million units by 2013, representing a market value of $11 billion.

There are several factors driving the proliferation of these devices. “In their pursuit of higher ARPU, network operators have become a key driving force.” says Kaustubha Parkhi, ARCchart Senior Analyst, “Their willingness to subsidise the cost of devices such as data cards, laptops and UMPC is making them affordable to a wider base of consumers.” ARCchart estimates that the service revenue generated by operators from these products will hit $93 billion worldwide by 2013.
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LG Electronics picks Ericsson for HSPA modules

by Jeff Orr, Editor
Mobile Broadband News

Ericsson announced today that it has been selected by LG Electronics to provide mobile broadband modules based on high speed packet access (HSPA). LG Electronics notebooks and netbooks will include the modules starting in Q3 2008.

Ericsson developed its own HSPA chipset technology, based on a collection of mobile telephony protocols that extend and improve the performance of existing UMTS protocols. Two standards, HSDPA and HSUPA, have been established by ETSI and a further standard, HSPA+, is soon to be released.
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CDMA Is Not Dead Yet, says ABI Research

Although the overall dynamics of CDMA markets are overshadowed by the hype around UMTS/HSPA and the migration to LTE, CDMA operators continue to upgrade their networks to provide capacity for higher numbers of bandwidth-intensive data services, as well as escalating traffic load.

“Worldwide EVDO Rev A subscriber numbers ramped up more than eightfold between Q2 2007 and Q2 2008,” says ABI Research analyst Khor Hwai Lin. “The US and South Korean markets shows the highest growth rate for EVDO Rev A. The increased support for LTE from incumbent CDMA operators does not imply the imminent death of EVDO Rev A and B, because LTE is addressing different market needs compared to 3G.”
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Ericsson in Bangladesh HSPA pilot

Ericsson is launching a pilot in Bangladesh to demonstrate how to improve productivity and quality of life in the country with the use of high-speed internet services through 3G/HSPA technology.

The project, called Alokito Bangladesh (Enlightened Bangladesh), will demonstrate high-speed internet access and a range of advanced services - including mobile health and mobile learning - in the region of the capital, Dhaka, from early August to the end of October this year. Ericsson is seeking to showcase how the technology can be a major catalyst for social and economic empowerment by bridging the digital divide in this developing market.
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Sony Ericsson unveils T700 HSDPA thin-phone in England

Sony Ericsson unveiled its 10mm-thick luxury handset ‘T700′ in England. Adopting a 3.2M built-in camera and 2-inch LCD screen, the T700 supports HSDPA, Bluetooth connectivity, high-quality stereo speaker and 512MB memory. Measuring 48×104x10mm and weighing in at 78g, it is expected to be available in Q4′2008.
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Top Global launches TD-HSPA Mobile Router at the 2008 Olympics Games

by Jeff Orr, Editor
Mobile Broadband News

Top Global announced its Time Division High Speed Packet Access (TD-HSPA) Router was launched during the 2008 Olympics Games opening day. Top Global’s Mobile Routers were used to provide network connectivity to numerous bank ATMs, information and payment Kiosks in an effort to help to increase the efficiency, safety and convenience of the visiting dignitaries, volunteers and spectators during the Beijing Olympic Games.

Top Global developed and patented its MobileBridge platform, which serves as a gateway/router linking Third Generation (3G) Cellular network and Wi-Fi/LAN networks. Time Division-Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (TD-SCDMA) is a 3G mobile telecommunication standards being pursued in China. The national commercial trials of the TD-SCDMA network launched on April 1, 2008 and is expected to reach 60,000 users by the end of the year. TD-HSPA is the high speed data evolution of the TD-SCDMA, and can reach 2.8 Mbps peak speed. Multiple products from Top Global can support TD-HSPA including the MB8000, MB6800 and MB5000. Enterprises in China can get wireless Internet connectivity anywhere, at anytime within the coverage of a TD-HSPA network.
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Multi-Tech targets M2M applications with HSDPA embedded modem

Multi-Tech Systems, Inc. is now shipping a new embedded HSDPA modem for use by developers to add cellular wireless communications to products. The new SocketModem HSDPA offers standards-based tri-band UMTS/HSDPA cellular communications and is available in USB or serial interface versions that can match the requirements for adding cellular capability to new or legacy designs. The new SocketModem HSDPA is part of the company’s Universal Socket Connectivity family that shares a common design footprint and pin assignments.

“OEMs partner with Multi-Tech because we provide the M2M communication technologies needed for their designs allowing full concentration on their application expertise,” states Bill Chesney, Vice President of Sales for Multi-Tech Systems, Inc. “Our SocketModem HSDPA models are complete and approved modems so they can be implemented in designs to reduce a product’s time-to-market. The SocketModem HSDPA is yet another member of our family of embedded solutions that create communication-ready devices by integrating connectivity into a single universal socket design.”
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