Ericsson demonstrates dual-mode capability between GSM, WCDMA

Ericsson said it has demonstrated the first live calls with seamless handover between GSM and W-CDMA technology.

Ericsson performed the demonstration for Telia and Hi3G, Hutchison Whampoa’s third-generation business, using Sony Ericsson test units based on Ericsson’s commercial platform, Ericsson said.

“Other vendors need to do this,” said Lars Nilsson, Ericsson’s manager of strategic marketing. “We are clearly the first in the industry to show that this works, and we’ve done it on our platform with Sony Ericsson developed handsets.”

3G licensees in Europe are clamoring for such dual-mode capability because their initial rollouts of W-CDMA networks will not be ubiquitous. They need to use their vast GSM/GPRS networks to bolster coverage. However, a question mark lingers as to when most vendors will begin introducing commercial handsets and network infrastructure capable of operating on both W-CDMA networks and GSM/GPRS networks. It’s a subject vendors have become evasive about.

The infrastructure would be ready by the time 3G operators roll out their networks, Nilsson said. Sony Ericsson has said commercial handsets should be ready by the first half of 2003.

Analysts recently pressed Nokia during its third-quarter interim conference call about the timing of availability for dual-mode equipment. Nokia executives said the company would reveal more detailed plans when it announces its financial results for the third quarter.