Wireless data walks the walk: Motorola, Qualcomm intro high-speed solutions at PCS

Like most wireless shows of past years, wireless data once again was the talk of PCS '98-but this time real products will soon be available.

Motorola introduced an IS-95b high-speed data solution, offering 64 kb/s data rates. The product should be commercially available in Asia in the fourth quarter of 1999 and in the U.S. the following quarter.

IS-95b will allow carriers to discover which data services customers want before deploying 3G, said Neal Campbell, director of product management for Motorola's cellular infrastructure group.

Motorola demonstrated live videoconferencing, which by using video compression technology, appears fluid even at 64 kb/s.

While many have criticized migratory steps toward high-speed code division multiple access data because they require carriers to combine channels, which uses capacity, Campbell said that may not be a problem. "Data and voice busy hours don't overlap," he said.

Qualcomm unveiled a high data rate wireless technology for cdmaOne networks, offering peak rates of higher than 1.5 Mb/s. The technology, in trials now, should be available within the next year, said Irwin Jacobs, chairman and CEO of Qualcomm.

Because the technology optimizes voice and data separately, service providers can use higher capacities for each application within the same network, he said. The technology is compatible with existing cdmaOne equipment, but users will need new high data rate-compatible phones.

Northern Telecom used the show to redefine itself as a company that will deliver the unified networks of the future. The unified network concept, which Nortel said is possible since its merger with Bay Networks, allows Nortel to provide infrastructure that will support data, voice, multimedia and Internet-based services.

The vendor is positioning its Passport 8300G wireless gateway for GSM network operators that want to upgrade their networks to allow higher speed data transport. "It's all about wireless [Internet protocol] and data," said John Vice, vice president and general manager of Nortel's TDMA business. "GPRS is likely going to be the point where you see the data applications in the wireless market going from vertical to horizontal applications."

-Sarah Schmelling contributed to this story.

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