First 3G Compliant Global Roaming Exchange Service in Japan

3G Coming, Ready or Not

While the UMTS (W-CDMA) landscape is changing daily, due to deployment
delays and handset issues, the transformation of many cdmaOne networks to
CDMA2000 1x is proceeding at a rapid pace, according to In-Stat/MDR.

"The evolution of a cdmaOne network to CDMA 1x is relatively simple since very few new elements are required," says Ray Jodoin, a Director with the
high-tech market research firm. "The primary hardware addition
is the PDSN, which is the CDMA 2000 equivalent to the UMTS
GGSN. Existing BTSs, BSCs, and MSCs require modification rather
than replacement."

In-Stat/MDR has also found that:

- No European carriers have committed to EDGE as an upgrade
path, but Nokia has announced that they will support any
deployment with a GSM/EDGE handset. This, however, should
not surprise anyone, since all base stations shipped for
more than one year are GSM/GPRS/EDGE capable. However,
the situation in the Americas, where no spectrum in the
2GHz band has been allocated, is different. AT&T
Wireless, Cingular, and T-Mobile have announced plans to
implement GSM/GPRS/EDGE upgrades within the existing
cellular frequencies, using Compact EDGE.

- While UMTS has borne the brunt of the recent gloom and
doom scenarios, it is actually being deployed, and
generating manufacturing revenue, at a reasonable rate.
It will continue to be deployed at an increasing rate as
handsets become available and coverage deadlines advance.
In Europe, the driving factor will not necessarily be a
"killer application," but quite probably will be the need
for more voice capacity to supplement the strained GSM
urban networks. While UMTS is often portrayed as
"expensive," the reality of the situation is that the
hardware cost-per-voice channel is less than one-half the
cost of GSM.

- There will be consolidation in the European UMTS arena.
In Germany, for example, with a penetration rate of more
than 65%, there is hardly room for six UMTS carriers in
addition to the four GSM incumbents. However, in spite of
the obvious need to consolidate, deployment will continue
at an accelerated rate next year, as the license holders
struggle to activate as large a revenue stream as
possible.

The report, "3G Infrastructure Deployment Update"
(#IN020334GW), covers the architecture and deployment of
CDMA2000, GSM/EDGE, and UMTS (W-CDMA). Current, trial, and
planned deployment for CDMA 1x and 1xEV-DO are tabulated and
UMTS deployment and projected revenue through the end of 2003
are forecast by carrier and by country.

TODAY'S PRESS RELEASES

Lucent Technologies has joined with Atos KPMG Consulting (AKC), Boston University, BP, Hewlett Packard (HP), INSEAD, London Business School and Sun Microsystems to form the 3G enterprise Alliance

Wireless entertainment publisher, iFone, tannounced a major expansion into the Asian market, signing a series of partnerships with key mobile operators.

Delta Telecom, a cellular operator in the northwest region of Russia, today announced the commercial launch of an advanced third-generation (3G) CDMA2000 1X network in the 450 MHz frequency band

Technology is always coming before market. China starts working with the next generation communications technology or 4G, although the 3G is far from reaching.

IPWireless announced it had secured over $27 million in additional funding from all of its major existing investors as well as an external strategic investor.

Motorola, one of the market leaders in the wireless handset industry will use ORGA's new IT3 Test Platform for the development and testing of its GSM and 3G mobile handsets.

QUALCOMM Incorporated announced that KTF, a leading South Korean wireless operator, has extended its contract to provide a wireless application service based on QUALCOMM's BREW solution

Cable & Wireless IDC announced that on December 20 it would provide the first 3G-compliant Global Roaming Exchange (GRX) service available in Japan to J-PHONE

Vodafone Sweden will not be appealing against the decision of the Swedish National Post and Telecom Agency (PTS) about leaving the terms and conditions applying to Vodafone Sweden's UMTS license unchanged.

Deals with the top mobile manufacturers have helped mobile solutions company Psion keep on track despite tough economic conditions in enterprise markets.

According to the agreement, Legend will develop, manufacture and roll out Chinese version handheld devices which adopt Palm OS platform.

3, the Italian mobile video company of the Hutchison Whampoa Group, meets car and motorbike fans at the 27th MOTOR SHOW, the Auto and Motorbike International Exhibition of Bologna.

3, the first mobile video company of the Italian market, today inaugurated in Milan its first store, in Piazzale Cordusio corner Via Broletto.

DoCoMo i-mode phones are now available for rental to Orange Hong Kong subscribers. Japan roamers can enjoy a broad range of local infotainment from i-mode

Forward Concepts has announced the publication of what is probably the definitive in-depth study of the market and technology of the worldwide cellular infrastructure.

he convergence of powerful next-generation networks, faster and smarter devices, and superior applications positions the emerging North American mobile Internet access market on the threshold of rapid future adoption and growth.

Many people only associate the market for premium mobile services with ringtones and logos, believing that there is little else out there that is making any money on mobile services for content owners.

Samsung announced the development of a new TFT LCD Driver IC. The new device features an industry first 260K real color depth and a one-chip design for small form factor and quality color shade