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News
Issue #2002 - 04 (January 2002)
(Updated Jan.
30, 2002)
TECHNOLOGY
Cingular Wireless Turns to Lucent
for Interoperability Software
Cingular Wireless, the
second-largest American carrier, has selected Lucent Technologies’
software to provide interoperability between its existing TDMA and
GSM networks.
The operator is currently in the process of switching its
networks across the country to GSM, but to ease the transition,
Cingular has turned to Lucent Internetworking Interoperability Function
(IIF) Gateway software to provide its customers seamless roaming
between its two incompatible networks.
The Gateway supports two-way interoperability between network
elements allowing information about mobile subscribers to be shared
between TDMA and GSM networks.
The software complies with GAIT standards: GAIT (GSM/ANSI-136
Interoperability Team) is an industry forum that developed
specifications for roaming between GSM and TDMA, also known as
ANSI-136.
Commenting on the selection, Joe McCarthy, sales vice president
at Lucent, said, " We’re pleased to be able to help Cingular
improve service and cut costs by creating stronger links between
their TDMA and GSM networks."
For more information: http://www.cingular.com
Mobileinfo Comments & Advisory: We
do not see one network standard for quite some time. Both GSM/GPRS and
1xRTT CDMA are becoming necessary intermediate steps to a single
standard in future. Therefore, it is important to have
interoperability software like the one Lucent is providing to
Cingular. We like the fact that is complying to GAIT standards. What
we would really like to see is multi-modal roaming and
interoperability between all dominant network standards. Apart from
technical interoperability, what comes in the way often are lack of
agreements between network operators. Do not hold your breadth for
that. Therefore, you must quiz your network provider - which networks
does a particular handset roam between. Can you imagine if your fixed
line telephone (POTS - plain old telephone set?) did not complete a
call just because the telephone operator in another country used a
different switch. When shall we get there with cellular? We intend to
continue to ask these questions.
Note: This news release may contain
forward-looking statements. Readers should take appropriate caution in
developing plans utilizing these products, services and technology
architectures. All trademarks used in this summary are
the property of their respective owners.
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