Mass Market UMTS 3G Handsets for the Americas

US : 3G Americas has recommended a set of common technical elements for operators and vendors for the production of 3G handsets in order to increase the access of customers in developing markets to 3G services.

Technical Recommendations for a Mass Market UMTS 3G Handset, published today defines the minimal requirements of and provides technical recommendations for an entry-level voice and data multi-media supported UMTS 3G (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System- Third Generation) device for the Americas, and offers a roadmap for the production of these UMTS 3G handsets for the region.

Operators and vendors from the organization's Board of Governors companies collaborated on the technical reference document for a dual purpose: to provide to the vendor community guidelines regarding operator requirements for entry-level 3G cellular terminals, and to present a statement from the vendor community on product capabilities now essential for 3G wireless voice and data services in the Western Hemisphere.

Chris Pearson, President of 3G Americas, stated, "The 3G Americas' technical recommendations offer a suggested feature set as a reference to vendors and operators in the area of economical 3G handsets. The information on core terminal needs will serve to drive common RF (radio frequency) and base-band development platforms, thereby reducing overall cost and complexity inherent to the launch of 3G services. Consequently, the increased availability of mass market, economical 3G handsets will allow customers in many areas of the Americas access to cutting-edge, high-speed wireless services, often for the first time."

UMTS networks improve spectral efficiency, lower operating costs, and increase data throughput, allowing a substantially increased range of services and applications to the enterprise or consumer customer. In the past, one of the principal barriers to widespread uptake of 3G services has been the relatively expensive cost of high-end 3G devices. With the publication of this document, it is the intention of 3G Americas to advance the development of 3G wireless terminals for the mass market, which will prompt the wider-scale deployment and conversion of operators' product portfolios from 2G to 3G. By focusing vendor innovation on core 3G phone requirements, operators worldwide, and especially in the Americas, may both reduce network costs and increase revenue by transitioning to a UMTS network.

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