Alcatel Shanghai Bell Conducts First 3G Multimedia Call

Alcatel Shanghai Bell has conducted the first mobile voice, data and video communications in the open in China. These communications, the first in China outside a laboratory environment were conducted today on a live, end-to-end UMTS system installed at Alcatel Shanghai Bell's 3G Reality Centre.

Picture shows Mr. Wu Jichuan, Minister of MII and Mr. Serge Tchuruk, Chairman and CEO of Alcatel attend the Alcatel Shanghai Bell Opening in June last year.

The 3G multimedia call was conducted on two 3G handsets in Shanghai, between the Alcatel Shanghai Bell 3G Reality Centre in Lu Jiazui Financial and Trade Zone and another site in Zhang Jiang High-tech Park, about 15 km away from the Centre. The call was carried over 3G base stations outdoors. Mr Chen Lixin, Alcatel Shanghai Bell Vice President for mobile networks activities, made the call to officials from relevant government officials at the remote site. This call reinforces Alcatel Shanghai Bell¡¯s position as the 3G leader in China.

¡"We are proud to be the first to show today that 3G multimedia calls work in the open in China "said Andrew Young, President of Alcatel Shanghai Bell. ¡°Instead of voice and simple data calls, 3G offers great potential for end-users because of the high bandwidths available for wireless multimedia applications.

"Today's call proves that Alcatel Shanghai Bell has a 3G network already operational in China which can support the full range of 3G applications over great distances, even in the open. We are happy to have helped make 3G a reality, and are already conducting research into 4G in our Research & Innovation centre right here in Shanghai".

The UMTS infrastructure network carries not only voice communications in circuit mode but also allows the transfer of data and high-speed video images in packet mode, in full compliance with W-CDMA 3GPP standards. These successful communications demonstrate Alcatel's UMTS solution is ready for commercial deployment.

As an integral part of Alcatel's worldwide 3G Reality Centre program, the Alcatel Shanghai Bell 3G Reality Centre has conducted numerous on-site tests, which have confirmed the high quality and stability of Alcatel¡¯s Evolium™ UMTS infrastructure in the area of high-speed data and video transmission. Whether it is for videophony calls between two 3G handsets, surfing the Internet (Web browsing), having on-line access to information, images or videos (video streaming and downloading), or for transmitting video images from a remote Webcam. The Alcatel 3G/UMTS pilot network provides data rates of up to 384 kbit/s.

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