Ericsson launches HSPA mobile broadband modules
Ericsson has introduced two HSPA mobile broadband modules, which will enable consumers to access connected handheld gaming devices, media players, personal navigation devices and tablets that utilize high speed mobile broadband. The Ericsson C5621gw and H5321gw modules enable a variety of connected devices on the market.
Ericsson is also welcoming developers to enable universal device connectivity and the company has been working with AT&T. The AT&T 3G Access Program is designed to offer enhanced consumer electronics and machine-to-machine device manufacturers high-performance 3G modules.
The C5621gw HSPA module will also be included in the programme. With embedded technologies, antennas and system performance are enhanced, providing high quality of service and low power consumption. In addition, the modules enable users to access data download speeds of up to 21Mbps and upload speeds of up to 5.76Mbps.
Designed to be embedded into any consumer electronic device, the H5321gw module will be available to customers within the global consumer electronics industry in September. The C5621gw will be available to customers in October. Both modules are based on ST-Ericsson’s Thor M5730 modem, which works both on WCDMA/HSPA+ and GSM/EDGE networks. Ericsson has approximately 100 design wins for notebooks and netbooks and 25 design wins for tablets, for modules based on the same chipset family from ST-Ericsson.
Togo Network selects Alcatel-Lucent for network expansion
Alcatel-Lucent has announced that it has been selected by Togo Cellulaire for an expansion and upgrade of its 2G/3G wireless network.
This network extension is a new phase of the multimillion Euro wireless broadband network transformation deal awarded last year by Alcatel-Lucent to extend Togo Cellulaire network capacity in GSM and to build the first 3G network in the country.
Alcatel-Lucent will be the sole supplier transforming Togo Cellulaire network with its end-to-end solution that will radically increase the operator GSM/EDGE network capacity and coverage and raise its 3G network to HPSA+ wireless capability, as well as provide new microwaves links to address the growing demand for advanced mobile high broadband services through an all-IP broadband network.
CAT grants permission to DTAC for commercial 3G service (Thailand)
CAT Telecom has given approval to DTAC to commercially launch 3G wireless broadband services in mid-March.
Telenor subsidiary DTAC, which offers services via a build-transfer-operate (BTO) concession with CAT, currently provides trial 3G W-CDMA/HSPA-based services in the 850MHz band.
Following two years of complaining that CAT had favored fellow BTO licensee True Move by permitting the latter to expand 3G trial coverage in December 2010 CAT’s board announced that DTAC could upgrade up to 1,220 base stations for pre-commercial 850MHz HSPA, up from an existing 36 sites.
Both this decision and the latest announcement are viewed from some quarters as an attempt to defuse criticism of CAT for January’s hastily arranged 14-year agreement with True Move to jointly market 3G HSPA-based services as part of True’s takeover of the ‘Hutch’ CDMA business (formed as a joint venture of CAT and Hong Kong’s Hutchison Telecom).
T-Mobile Czech now operates 6,711 BTS
T-Mobile Czech Republic has reportedly revealed its networks now comprise 6,711 base transceiver stations (BTS), thanks to the deployment of a BTS in its 5,000th location.
According to reports, T-Mobile’s base stations include a range of network technologies including GSM, GPRS, EDGE, UMTS TDD and UMTS FDD.
As per the company’s director of technology, Frank Meywerk, a significant number of BTS on its network are UMTS FDD-enabled with support for HSPA+, and in future will allow an easy implementation of LTE.
TD-SCDMA, China and GSM Lead RF Power Amplifier and Device Markets
Rapid Chinese TD-SCDMA rollouts and the often-maligned GSM/GPRS/EDGE equipment markets have benefited the base station RF power amplifier and RF power device markets. GSM/GPRS/EDGE RFPAs and devices are still shipping in the millions.
The Asia-Pacific region is presently accounting for more than 50% of the RF power semiconductor devices sold into the mobile wireless infrastructure segment. According to research director Lance Wilson, recent Chinese TD-SCDMA base station deployments have been massive, and have buoyed RF power vendors to a tremendous degree. The demand is expected to strengthen the market until at least sometime in 2011, and the Chinese deployments will probably only start to slow in 2012.
Wilson added that although LTE has not significantly impacted RF power amplifier and device sales in the near term, it is going to bolster RF power sales in the wireless infrastructure space from about 2011 on.
Wilson also notes that since the previous edition of ABI Research’s report on this market, there have been some modest changes in the breakdown of market share held by the leading RF power device vendors.
Global Revenue of WWAN on Hike
According to the market research firm iSuppli Corp, Global revenue from sales of Wireless Wide Area Networking (WWAN) modules for Machine-to-Machine (M2M) systems are set to rise nearly sevenfold from 2010 to 2014.
WWAN M2M modules are devices that allow pieces of equipment to communicate with one another wirelessly. Using technologies such as GRPS, EDGE, CDMA 2000 and UMTS/HSPA, M2M WWAN systems employ mobile cellular networks to transmit data and information.
The WWAN M2M module market will generate total revenue of US$1.0 billion in 2010, up by vigorous 26.4% from $813 million in 2009. By the end of 2014, revenue will hit $6.5 billion.
According to Francis Sideco, principal analyst for wireless research for iSuppli, Wireless Internet access for connecting people to each other or for connecting people to machines has exploded over the last decade, driven by the rise of mobile computing and smart phones. However, a new wireless Internet boom is shaping up in the M2M area. WWAN technologies increasingly are being used in M2M modules to enable new communication capabilities, in the process powering innovations and enhancing the efficiency of key markets like utilities and healthcare.
To date, the largest markets using WWAN M2M modules are wireless gateways and remote monitoring. However, healthcare is the fastest-growing vertical, with the market projected to consume 16.5 million units by 2014, up a colossal 155% from 2009. WWAN M2M modules also are used in many other sectors, including vehicle tracking, automotive infotainment, security, payment and ruggedized computers.
Sideco added that when WWAN technology is used in M2M applications, the results can be transformative. Just as the Industrial Revolution in the 18th century upended manual labor and made production more efficient by introducing machinery, present-day WWAN-based M2M modules confer a level of communication capabilities on systems never thought possible.
Verizon releases global mobile hotspot
Verizon has launched the first mobile hotspot to offer data service in more than 200 countries, and will also provide 3G speed to 120 of these countries.
The Fivespot comes with a built-in SIM card, and can handle up to five Wi-Fi devices at a time. It links to GSM networks as well as Verizon’s own Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) network. It also Supports standards include CDMA, WCDMA, HSDPA, HSUPA, GSM, GPRS and EDGE networks.
There are various different international price plans which are not very pocket friendly. The lowest-cost gives a 5GB allowance in the US and Canada plus 100MB in ‘select countries’, and costs US$129.99. There’s also a Global-Access Pay Per Use option for those who sign up for the company’s US$59.99 Mobile Broadband service plan in the US; data costs US$0.002 per KB in Canada, US$0.005 per KB in Mexico and US$0.02 per KB in more than 200 other destinations.
The Fivespot itself will be on sale for US$99.99 after a US$100 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement. Manufactured by ZTE, it measures about four inches by two by half an inch thick, and weighs less than three pounds.
Vodafone inks data roaming deal with MobilKom (Czech Republic,Austria)
Vodafone Czech Republic has signed a roaming deal with MobilKom for the CDMA network, which covers 75% of the population. Vodafone sells a ‘combo modem’ for laptops which automatically connects to the company’s W-CDMA network in areas with 3G coverage and in other areas searches for the CDMA network. Vodafone’s 3G network coverage currently stands at 30% of the population, with 95% covered by EDGE.
The world’s largest mobile communications operator, with a presence in 28 countries, 17 of which are European, and the MobilKom Austria group, present in four European countries, have agreed to an exclusive cooperation. The collaboration is based on the Partner Concept.
According to Boris Nemsic, CEO MobilKom Austria and COO Wireless Telekom Austria, the company is entering into a partnership agreement, which will allow it to integrate into a global partner network without giving up company’s independence. The two operators will immediately initiate a joint strategic product development program in certain business areas, which will add to the respective strengths. For the customers, this cooperation means that they are being offered the best of both the worlds. The cooperation does not entail an equity investment by either company; both partners will continue to operate as independent companies.
According to Heinz Sundt, CEO Telekom Austria AG, for the benefit of the shareholders, this cooperation ensures that MobilKom Austria will continue to provide an attractive contribution to the financial performance of the Telekom Austria Group.
Nokia 5250: Amazing beats, Amazing Deals
Nokia has launched a new handset this week, Nokia 5250. The device has 2.8 inch TFT resistive touchscreen with 16 million colors for a better display and comes with amazing sound quality with a 3.5 mm audio jack. The internal memory of the handset is 51 MB, enough to store your favorite tracks, videos and pictures. It can be extended up to 16 GB. It also features Bluetooth, USB, EDGE communication and a 2 MP camera. Its battery backup is as good as before – 450 hours in stand by and 7 hours and 40 minutes in talk time.
The phone is also available on deals. It is available on pay as you go deals which offer users the service of best networks of UK like Vodafone, Virgin, O2, Talk-Talk, Three, Orange, T-Mobile etc. and one do not have to sign any kind of contract in these kinds of deals. Payments in these deals are made before making calls and this will help in maintaining mobile expenses.
The other deal is Nokia 5252 SIM free deals which offer the handset without any SIM card insert, hence, users can use the network and change it whenever they want to which saves money from high roaming charges.
