3G/mobile broadband industry news from the UMTS Forum
08 January 2010
The Global Certification Forum is on schedule to release an LTE device certification scheme before the end of 2010 – in time for a wave of commercial LTE networks going live in late 2010. Designed to give operators confidence in the interoperability of LTE devices across different networks, GCF’s unified scheme will embrace both FDD and TDD versions of LTE.
US laptop maker Lenovo has unveiled a unique 3G-enabled hybrid laptop, the IdeaPad U1, which combines a netbook and a multitouch slate tablet. It features a detachable screen which doubles as the tablet with WiFi and 3G connectivity.When the device is in its traditional clamshell netbook mode, it is powered by Windows 7 operating system on an Intel Core 2 Duo SU processor. When the multitouch screen is removed to become an independent tablet unit, it features Lenovo’s customized Linux-based Skylight operating system, running on Qualcomm's 1 Ghz ARM Snapdragon chip.
Google has launched its first mobile phone, branded the Nexus One, which is manufactured by Taiwan’s smartphone maker HTC. Featuring HSPA 7.2 Mbps connectivity, the Nexus One runs on Android 2.1 operating system and is powered by Qualcomm’s 1GHz ARM Snapdragon chipset. Initially, the SIM-free unlocked device will be available from the Google web store in the US for US$529 or starting at US$179 on a two-year contract from T-Mobile USA. In the near future, the Nexus One will be offered by Verizon Wireless in the US and Vodafone in Europe.
Orange has announced plans to launch a new mobile High Definition (HD) Voice service for its UK customers, with full nationwide rollout expected later this year. Mobile HD Voice provides a superior customer experience for voice calls in the UK. HD Voice uses the WB-AMR (Wideband Adaptive Multi-Rate) speech codec, which provides excellent audio quality due to a wider speech bandwidth of 50–7000 Hz compared to the current narrowband speech codec of 300–3400 Hz. The WB-AMR delivers significantly enhanced sound quality whilst using the same network resources.
Saudi Arabia’s Mobily had one million mobile broadband subscribers at the end of 2009. The number includes customers using either an HSPA-enabled USB modem or handset on any of Mobily's three mobile broadband bundles: a 1 GB bundle at a monthly fee of SAR100 (US$26.67), a 5 GB bundle at SAR200 and an unlimited bundle for SAR350. Mobily’s HSPA network covers 80% of the Kingdom’s population. The operator commercially launched its HSPA network in May 2007.
ZTE has been contracted by KPN and its subsidiary E-Plus to supply HSPA+ network equipment in Belgium and Germany. ZTE will support both operators in the planned expansion and technical upgrade of their Belgian (KPN Orange) and German mobile networks (E-Plus) over the next three years. The development will enable the operators to roll out mobile broadband data services at speeds up to 21.6 Mbps at a lower cost.
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