AirPrime and Sprint Developing 3G Springboard Phone

Posted By: Jeremy Hannon Saturday, March 24, 2001 8:27:25 AM

AirPrime, Inc., a leading provider of CDMA wireless voice and data products to the OEM market, has successfully completed field testing approvals for the SB3000, a 3G (Third-Generation packet-switching technology) cdma2000 1x-ready wireless voice/data module for the Handspring Visor. The tests were made in cooperation with Sprint PCS. AirPrime will provide SB3000 modules to its lead OEM partners for evaluation and application development during the second quarter of this year. The modules will be branded and sold by AirPrime's OEM customers.

The SB3000 Springboard incorporates QUALCOMM's newest MSM5105 integrated circuit and system software, which sampled in December of last year. The MSM5105 solution supports 3G cdma2000 1x data rates of 144 kbps and is backward compatible with IS-95A/B at data rates of 14.4/64 kbps today. When wireless carriers upgrade their networks, beginning in early 2002, data rates of 144 kbps are expected to become available. Because the SB3000 incorporates 3G 1x chip technology, users will be able to gracefully transition to higher wireless data speeds on their Handspring Visor and enjoy a rich wireless Internet browsing experience without having to purchase additional hardware.

"By working closely with Sprint PCS and QUALCOMM, AirPrime has developed a product that not only delivers leading edge wireless connectivity for people using Handspring (NASDAQ: HAND) Visors today, but also takes advantage of Sprint's advanced 3G 1x network as soon as it is available," said Mark Steele, AirPrime's Senior Vice President of Product and Program Management.

"Delivering an upgradeable 3G 1x wireless platform is important as we demand more from future, converged mobile devices and services," said John Garcia, Senior Vice President for Sales and Distribution for Sprint PCS. "These tests are the first involving the QUALCOMM MSM5105 chip and the first step in delivering a device like the SB3000 that is sure to be a part of Sprint PCS' expanding data connectivity solutions." "We are extremely pleased to see the fast progress made by AirPrime and Sprint PCS with our new MSM5105 integrated circuit and system software," said Johan Lodenius, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Product Management for QUALCOMM CDMA Technologies. "In little more than two months from first samples and software, the AirPrime team has successfully integrated our latest 3G 1x technology into the SB3000 and made a significant step towards commercialization on the nationwide Sprint PCS network." The completion of the tests is a significant milestone and positions AirPrime as one the first companies to supply a 3G 1x-capable wireless data module to the OEM computing market. AirPrime's focus on CDMA-based technology allows it to rapidly innovate and help its OEM customers reach the market in less time.

CDMA is the fastest growing and most popular wireless air interface in North America. Current IS95A networks support 14.4 kbps while IS95B networks in Asia support 64 kbps. Future deployments of CDMA 3G technology (cdma2000 1x, cdma2000 1xEV) will support data speeds from 144 kbps to 2.4 Mbps. Analysts expect that wireless data subscribers will surpass one billion by 2005 as the world continues to migrate toward 3G technology.

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How soon?

I.M. Anonymous @ 3/25/2001 11:57:35 PM #
I'm really looking forward a CDMA Visorphone on my VDX with 144Kbps wireless data. Anytime soon?

RE: How soon?
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/27/2001 1:59:03 PM #
144kbps will require CDMA-2000, and the competing incompatable standard wCDMA is the expansion path for ATTWS and most GSM carriers.

Well, it would be nice to reduce our five North American standards (AMPS, CDMAOne, GSM, iDEN and TDMA) to three (AMPS, CDMA2000 and wCDMA) but given what passes for the US FCC, I personally doubt it will happen soon.

Stay tuned to http://palmwireless.cjb.net for more information.

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