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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U.S.: WiMAX is here, proclaims Sprint and Intel

by Jeff Orr, Editor
Mobile Broadband News

“It’s not slideware - WiMAX is here now,” said Sprint chief Dan Hesse as he addressed the crowd assembled in Baltimore, Maryland today for the formal launch of Sprint XOHM mobile broadband service. “It will take time to build it everywhere. Sprint will be launching 3G/4G multimode devices later this year for ubiquitous coverage.” What will people do with 4G services? “The killer application is video,” added Hesse. “And a lot of other great applications too. For example, public workers can pull down detailed, bandwidth-intensive architectural plans.”

Executives from Intel and the XOHM business spoke about the milestone and brought vendor and ecosystem partners on stage to be recognized during the event that culminated in the “ribbon cutting” of cables. The ritual signified the focus on delivering multi-megabit speeds to business and consumer customers without the restriction of location associated with DSL, cable and leased copper T1 lines.
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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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Sprint announces XOHM WiMAX Broadband Service in Baltimore Maryland

A next-generation 4G wireless network based on mobile WiMAX technology debuted today in Baltimore, Maryland as Sprint officially launched XOHM mobile broadband commercial service in the first U.S. city.

“This is truly an historic day with the birth of a completely new Internet-based business model that alters the dynamics of the traditional telecom industry,”

explained Barry West, president of Sprint’s XOHM business unit. “Wireless consumers will experience WiMAX device and XOHM service innovation on multiple levels as the computer, Internet, telecom and consumer electronics industries converge to redefine wireless mobility.”
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Wavesat samples Mobile WiMAX, Wi-Fi, XG-PHS multi-mode chipset

Wavesat today introduced its new family of 4G Broadband Wireless chipset named Odyssey, with a multi-mode 4G architecture enabling WiMAX Wave2, Wi-Fi, XG-PHS and seamless migration to future 4G technologies such as LTE.

The first product in the Odyssey family, the Odyssey 8500, is powered by a multi-core architecture incorporating multiple ultra low power DSPs, offering flexibility, high performance and low power consumption, without any trade off. The SOC manufactured using advanced Embedded DRAM technology requires no external memory, thus saving customers valuable real estate, cost and power consumption for very small form-factor portable and mobile applications such as wireless USB dongle, mobile handsets and other consumer electronic devices.
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Mobile backhaul equipment market set to skyrocket due to exploding mobile data/video use

Mobile operators and backhaul transport providers spent $3.7 billion worldwide on mobile backhaul equipment in 2007, and are expected to increase their spending in the high double-digit percents from 2009 to at least 2011, according to Infonetics Research’s latest Mobile Backhaul Equipment, Installed Base, and Services report.

“All market indicators support continued growth of the mobile backhaul market. Manufacturers and service providers have had residential broadband and corporate services as the main thrust of their businesses for a long time, and now mobile backhaul makes up a third area that nearly all of them are focusing on. We expect to see the Ethernet mobile backhaul revolution really kick off in 2009,” said Michael Howard, principal analyst of Infonetics Research and lead analyst on the report.
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Tele2 secures 2.6 GHz spectrum in Sweden

Tele2 is one of the winners when the auction for next-generation mobile network in Sweden concluded this last week. With the frequencies for 4G that Tele2 in Sweden now has been awarded, Tele2 will be able to build the next generation mobile network offering access speeds of more than 10 times faster than today’s network.

“With the four frequencies we secure the next generations mobile broadband and will be able to offer our customers a significant higher access speed, which we are pleased about,” says Niclas Palmstierna CEO Tele2 Sweden.
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Telenor acquires license for 2.6 GHz spectrum in Sweden

The Swedish Post and Telecommunications Authority today concluded the auction of spectrum in the 2.6 GHz band, regarded as key to the next generation of mobile technology. Telenor Sweden was awarded a license for 2x 20 MHz in the auction, granting Telenor substantial opportunities to provide 4G services and high-quality mobile broadband.

“This is the most important spectrum auction since the 3G frequencies were distributed, and I’m very pleased that Telenor Sweden now holds this opportunity to build high-quality 4G networks and provide our customers with the many possibilities provided by next generation mobile services and Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology. With this spectrum, we will be able to provide high-quality mobile broadband with speeds of up to 300 Mbit/s, a major leap forward in the mobile race,” said Johan Lindgren, CEO of Telenor Sweden.
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LTE to lead OFDM-based technologies by 2014, says Visant Strategies

The early favorite in 4G wireless is the long-term roadmap for UMTS, LTE, but other technologies are now gaining support, according to a new study by Visant Strategies.

“We see LTE as the leading OFDM-based platform in 2014, accounting for 39 million subscribers and $9 billion in equipment revenues, with the market accelerating the next three years after that as far as subscribers and infrastructure sales go,” said Andy Fuertes of Visant Strategies. “These next six years will lay the foundation for 4G with the market really growing in earnest during the years after that.”
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Kyocera Wireless Demonstrates Emerging Wireless Technologies at CTIA Wireless 2008

Kyocera Wireless Corp. (KWC) illustrated its strong position in the development of several emerging wireless technologies by staging live demonstrations at its booth at the CTIA Wireless 2008 trade show in Las Vegas. Included in the demonstrations are Near-field Communication (NFC), WiMAX, Femtocell and a proprietary software architecture for device-based management of dynamic content handoffs between 3G and 4G networks.

“These demonstrations illustrate the strength of KWC’s technology portfolio while giving visitors to the show a glimpse into the future of wireless communications,” said Cheri de Lacy, KWC’s divisional vice president of strategic planning. “From our demonstration of the world’s first MIMO-enabled WiMAX device to our role as the exclusive handset provider for the first-of-its-kind North American NFC trial on a CDMA network, KWC has the experience and the vision to assert a leadership position in these key emerging technologies.”
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Alcatel-Lucent to Demonstrate 3G and 4G Wireless Broadband at CTIA Wireless 2008

Alcatel-Lucent will showcase its leadership in the deployment of 3G and 4G wireless broadband services, mobile TV/video and other multimedia content, mobile backhaul and the evolution to all-IP networks at North America’s leading wireless telecommunications industry event, the Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association (CTIA) Wireless 2008 Trade Show and Exhibition, to be held from April 1 - 3 in Las Vegas.

“Based on current market dynamics, we believe there is room for the continued growth of 3G networks, in terms of the numbers of subscribers being supported and the kinds of innovative services that can be introduced,” said Cindy Christy, president of Alcatel-Lucent’s Americas region. “And as the next generation of services develops, operators need more than just broadband wireless access networks — they need a comprehensive solution that offers an end-to-end quality of experience for their subscribers. To make 4G a reality we believe it is critical that the industry as a whole works to ensure that there is a very rich ecosystem of technologies and vendors. At Alcatel-Lucent we are well positioned to bring together the software integration and management skills necessary to build a broadband business — not just a broadband network.”
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New In-Stat Service Launched, Initial Research Finds 3G/4G Deployments and Subscribers Growing Rapidly, 2G Technologies to Dominate Through 2012

High-tech market research firm In-Stat has launched a new research service to provide subscribers comprehensive deployment information for Mobile WiMAX, HSPA, EV-DO and future 4G technologies. The 3G/4G Deployment & Subscriber Tracker service provides detailed quarterly deployment information on HSPA, EV-DO and 802.16e WiMAX. Deployment information includes operator, infrastructure vendor, deployment date, as well as quarterly highlights and analysis. In addition, the service includes semi-annual 5-year forecasts of 3G/4G subscribers by wireless broadband technology and geographic region.

According to Daryl Schoolar, a Senior Analyst with In-Stat, “Access to this type of comprehensive data will allow marketing and sales management to track their growth and performance relative to their competitors. Product marketing and corporate strategy will be able to quantify business opportunities by regions and technology. This is especially important when a business looks to where it should invest its resources regarding wireless broadband.” The new service is backed by a team of analysts who have extensive expertise in the cellular and WiMAX space, at the device, carrier, and infrastructure levels.
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Alcatel-Lucent Launches 9900 Wireless Network Guardian for Mobile Broadband Network Management

By Jeff Orr, Editor
Mobile Broadband News

Alcatel-Lucent today announced the Alcatel-Lucent 9900 Wireless Network Guardian (WNG), the industry’s first mobile broadband network management solution. Alcatel-Lucent’s research found that all IP traffic should not be treated equally. Instead, the patterns and the consumption are analyzed enabling smarter decisions about application and network optimization.

The 9900 WNG looks at a wireless IP network differently than a wired IP network or even a wireless network that is not based on IP. “The increased use of mobile broadband applications and devices is impacting resources of operators now – creating a blind spot,” said Mike Schabel, General Manager for the 9900 WNG. The product addresses a gap in current mobile operator networks that could lead to network disruption as wireless network operators increasingly support new data services, devices, and applications based on Internet protocol.
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Mobile WiMAX Faces a Diminishing Time-to-Market Advantage, According to ABI Research

Service providers with the right spectrum, available capital, and access to enough sites to place base stations are in a great position to take advantage of WiMAX’s headstart on the 4G market. But LTE (Long-Term Evolution) and UMB (Ultra Mobile Broadband) are vying for 4G as well - and even though mobile WiMAX has a time-to-market advantage over LTE, delays in certifications by the WiMAX Forum (coupled with delays in network rollouts) could narrow that window of opportunity.

ABI Research is confident that UMB will not gain traction, as the true battle for 4G blossoms between mobile WiMAX and LTE.
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