Loads of GSM850 Handsets Due Shortly

Some of the industry's largest GSM/GPRS operators and manufacturers have announced there will be an abundant variety of terminals available for USA cell phone networks interested in adopting GSM/GPRS technology for 850MHz networks, accelerating the adoption of the GSM wireless technology throughout the Americas.

While meeting with industry analysts at the CTIA Wireless I.T. & Internet 2002 conference in Las Vegas, 3G Americas, a wireless industry association representing GSM carriers and vendors, emphasized that the introduction of the GSM technology in the 850 MHz spectrum band is successfully on track and that affordable terminals are already available for use on those networks. 3G Americas stressed that GSM carriers using the 850 MHz band should expect to see a steady stream of new multi-band terminals for use in their markets and in other countries around the world. Speaking on behalf of 3G Americas, Chris Pearson, Executive Vice President commented, "These products will effectively open the major segment of the Americas market to GSM because of the dominance of 850 MHz spectrum band throughout the region."

He cited commitments from major operators to introduce their first GSM terminals incorporating 850 this month and to have half a dozen models on the shelves for the holiday season. Cingular Wireless' Vice President for Supply Chain, Frank Boyer, has stated, "All our current suppliers are committed to supplying dozens of new models throughout 2003." AT&T Wireless' Mike Bamburak, Vice President for Technology Development added, "Several of our affiliates are in the process of deploying GSM/GPRS networks, and manufacturers are already delivering affordable multi-band phones that work across several frequencies, including 850 MHz. This is why the scale of GSM makes sense for equipment manufacturers, carriers, and developers. The days of single band wireless phones are over."

Also voicing a commitment to GSM terminals for the 850 MHz band, Bert Klein, Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Mobile Phones unit, NAFTA region, within Siemens Information and Communication Mobile LLC, states "We are committed to the North American market and have formed strategic relationships with all major GSM carriers in order to meet their needs for dual-band GSM technology," He added "To illustrate our commitment, Siemens intends to introduce four new mobile phones in the United States during the next six months featuring dual-band GSM 850/1900 MHz."

Pearson summarized that "these terminals will play an important role in GSM subscriber growth in the Americas, already standing at 35 percent per year, according to EMC, and will contribute directly to GSM's rise to become the leading wireless technology in Latin America in 2007 as forecast by Pyramid Research." The bottom line, he noted, is that "the operators who succeed in next generation services will be those who can readily adapt to the shifting value chain brought by mobile Internet. GSM is available in more than 178 countries and more than 220 GPRS wireless data networks are in place. Operators in the Americas now have the same tools as the global GSM community to maximize both their immediate performance and next generation wireless opportunities"'"

Posted to the site on 16th October 2002