Orange launches HTC Desire in UK
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: The much anticipated HTC Desire has been launched by Orange as the next Android device to be ranged by the company in the UK. The device will be available across all Orange consumer retail and business channels this spring and will be free on selected consumer pay monthly and business price plans.
HTC Desire comes equipped for users to make the most out of the internet and it is created for those wanting an optimized mobile customer experience. Superfast Qualcomm Snapdragon 1GHz processor is one of the features of the device and users will also be able to access great Orange services direct from the home screen, including Orange’s own sat-nav product, Orange Maps, as well as Orange TV, Photography, Games and Orange Windows Live.
According to Francois Mahieu, Director of Devices, Orange UK, the company is really pleased to be working with HTC to bring the latest Android 2.1 device to market and the Desire is a truly powerful handset which will allow consumers to get to grips with all the things they love about the internet.
China Telecom, KDDI, Verizon join GSMA
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: GSMA has been given a membership to China Telecom, KDDI and Verizon Wireless after they committed to deploy commercial services based on LTE. All the three companies are CDMA operator and will begin commercial deployments of LTE as early as 2010.
Qualcomm has also joined the GSMA as an associate member.
Vodafone, Verizon join hands to boost M2M services
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: With an aim to simplify the remote management and monitoring of devices spread across European and US networks, Vodafone, Verizon Wireless and nPhase, a Verizon Wireless and Qualcomm joint venture, have announced to form an alliance.
Increased demand for M2M services on mobile networks across Europe and North America over the coming years is expected by the members of this alliance. It will become easy for the customers of Verizon Wireless and Vodafone to activate, monitor and pay for devices that are deployed across both European (GSM) and USA (CDMA) networks.
Besides, the move will enable firms to centrally manage and control the process of rolling out M2M devices across many countries. According to Steve Pazol, president of nPhase, business alliance removes many of the complexities by building on the tremendous capabilities and reach of Vodafone and Verizon Wireless to offer a single standard interface, and provide pre-certified global devices that can support both CDMA and GSM networks.
HP Android netbook to be offered by Telefonica
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: In an exclusive deal, HP’s netbook Compaq AirLife 100will be offered by Telefonica in the spring in selected countries. 1-inch diagonal screen, a full keyboard, 16 GB solid state internal storage, SD card slot, Android operating system and customized touch interface are some of the exclusive features of the device.
New ‘tabbed’ touch browser experience, a simple mechanism for zooming web pages, and a touch-optimized media suite and shortcut menu are also featured in the HP customized interface.
There are various other features, like 3G access, Wi-Fi connectivity, VGA webcam, up to 12 hours of battery life in active, GPS capabilities, preinstalled NDrive navigation software, and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon QSD8250 chipset platform making the device very exclusive.
Qualcomm’s case stayed in Japanese court
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Enforcement of Japan Fair Trade Commission’s (JFTC) cease and desist order related to Qualcomm’s license agreements with Japanese manufacturers has been stayed by the Tokyo High Court.
Until the JFTC issues its final decision following the hearing and has a full evidentiary hearing on the merits of the order, the stay will continue.
Last year, it was alleged that Japanese licensees were forced by Qualcomm to accept cross-license provisions without compensation, and to accept a provision under which the Japanese licensees agreed not to assert their essential patents against other licensees that had agreed to a similar provision.
The first hearing before the JFTC is scheduled to be held on February 17, 2010 may continue for several years.
Optus to acquire Qualcomm’s 3G spectrum (Australia)
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: In order to have more capacity to meet strong demand for data services, further third generation mobile spectrum will be bought by Singapore Telecommunications Ltd. unit Optus from Qualcomm Inc.
Licenses of 10 MHz of paired spectrum will be acquired by Optus under the deals which in turn will double its 2100 MHz paired spectrum holdings in Australian capital cities to 20 MHz from 10 MHz.
The new 3G spectrum will be used to support retail and wholesale customer demand for Optus’ increasing range of data services. The deal is subject to approval from Australia’s Foreign Investments Review Board and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
According to Andrew Buay, managing director of Optus Products and Delivery, it is very important that Government finalize three major spectrum policy decisions which will shape the future of the mobile industry in Australia, that is the allocation of the digital dividend for mobile broadband services; the allocation of 2.5 GHz spectrum for mobile broadband services; and greater certainty regarding the cost and timing of the renewal of expiring 3G spectrum licenses
Vodafone Portugal to launch 43Mbps mobile broadband by year-end
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Deployment of HSPA+ Release 8 technology will be completed by Vodafone Portugal across its network by May 2010 with an aim to commercially launch the upgrade by year-end. The announcement was made after the successful demonstration of peak download speeds of 43Mbps, while claiming that upload speeds of up to 11Mbps will be available.
Currently, the deployment is carried out in partnership with Qualcomm and Ericsson. Although the completion of the up gradation is expected to be in the second quarter of 2010, the first compatible USB devices will be commercially available only until year-end 2010. The launch of the first handset can extend up to mid-2011.
HSPA+ platforms tested by Huawei & Qualcomm
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: One of the industry’s first interoperability tests on dual carrier HSPA+ (High Speed Packet Access Plus) technology has been successfully completed by Huawei along with Qualcomm. The test reached a peak downlink data rate of 42Mb/s.
Mobile Data Modem MDM8220 chipsets of Qualcomm and HSPA+ platform of Huawei were used in this interoperability test. Two or more carriers could be used by Huawei’s HSPA+ solution to transmit data which results in the downlink data rate of 42Mb/s and which the company says also enhances spectral efficiency and provides capacity gains of up to 20%.
According to Wan Biao, President of Wireless, Huawei, achieving higher speeds is a constant pursuit for customers and their subscribers. As a customer-centric company, Huawei is dedicated to developing innovative technology and cost-effective solutions and services.
TSMC, Qualcomm join hands to develop 28nm Process Technology
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) along with Qualcomm is working on 28 nanometer (nm) process technology which is an advanced process node. More features would be integrated into smaller chips with a high level of cost efficiency through this process, thus, accelerating the expansion of wireless into new market segments.
According to Jason Chen, vice president of Worldwide Sales and Marketing, 28nm platform supports the high-performance, low-power products that deliver next-generation experiences. Both the companies worked on 65nm and 45nm technologies and will continue their partnership on low-power, low-leakage 28nm designs for high-volume manufacturing.
Besides, the company is also working on high-k metal gate (HKMG) 28HP and silicon oxynitride (SiON) 28LP technologies.
