Nortel, Sierra demonstrate VoIP over 3G

Nortel Networks and Sierra Wireless today said they have performed successful tests of voice over IP between their product lines, Nortel’s new CMDA 1X EV-DO revision A base station and a pre-commercial Sierra PC card.

Rev. A technologies promises to be the first with low latency, QoS requirements and both uplink and downlink capacity to support end-to-end VoIP, and thus the first cellular technology intended to run entirely IP. Both Verizon Wireless and Sprint have committed to trials and eventually launches of this next stage in CDMA evolution, overlaying the technology over their current EV-DO networks.

In November, Motorola unveiled its own Rev. A platform demonstrating live VoIP calls at the 3G World Congress in Hong Kong, and in August Verizon Wireless said it had completed VoIP lab tests with Lucent Technologies’ Rev. A technology. At CTIA Wireless last year, Nortel also announced planned technology trials with Verizon Wireless.