US : IPWireless introduced its Mobile Broadband Gateway today, a slim, pocket-sized device that integrates very high-speed packet-based UMTS TDD, WiFi and Bluetooth to give users their own personal, secure, and fully mobile hotspot. Developed as the first project of the recently announced TDD Design Center, the Mobile Broadband Gateway will be available to operators during the second quarter, allowing them to offer a whole new type of always-on access service for subscribers.

The battery-powered Mobile Broadband Gateway creates a personal, secure hotspot that provides seamless wireless broadband access to all of an individual’s connected devices, from laptops, to PDAs, to WiFi or Bluetooth phones. Rather than having to look for a hotspot or wait until they are in the home or office to connect to a WiFi access point, subscribers will be able to leverage the WiFi or Bluetooth connectivity in their devices to get connected anywhere in coverage of a UMTS TDD broadband network. Beyond traditional data connectivity, the Mobile Broadband Gateway will also allow the next generation of consumer electronics to stay connected where the individual wants to download a new song, send a multi-mega pixel digital photo, or play a multi player game. The new gateway leverages the fact that consumer electronics manufacturers are utilizing lower cost WiFi chipsets for always-on connectivity in products from music players to digital cameras to gaming devices.

The Mobile Broadband Gateway supports 802.11b/g and Bluetooth 1.2 with Enhanced Data Rate for wireless local device connection, and uses UMTS TDD, the 3GPP standard designed for high-speed packet based data, for backhaul. Like all UMTS TDD devices, the Mobile Broadband Gateway currently supports downlink data rates of up to 3Mbps with up to 1Mbps on the uplink. The device is also completely mobile supporting high-speed handover at faster than vehicular speeds within the wide coverage area. An internal Lithium-Ion battery combined with the low power requirements for UMTS TDD provides for extended operation, and the device can charge in its cradle when at home or in the office. The Mobile Broadband Gateway has a USB connection for easy setup, and SIM/USIM capabilities or username with password ensure security and authentication. The device will be made available for all spectrum bands from 450MHz to 3600MHz where TD-CDMA or UMTS TDD solutions are available.

“Everyone loves the experience of using a WiFi connected device in their home, office, or hotspot. The Mobile Broadband Gateway delivers on the vision of WiFi everywhere, but in a way that is secure and simple for the subscriber and makes economic sense for the operator,” said Chris Gilbert, chief executive officer, IPWireless. “This is a device that will change the way we think about having all of our devices connected wherever we are.”

The Mobile Broadband Gateway is the first device developed by the TDD Design Center, the partnership between Teleca, IPWireless, and WSI. The device adds a new layer of services that UMTS TDD operators can offer on their networks, complementing the voice and data services already enabled by PCMCIA Cards, a range of residential gateways, plug-and-play modems, and mobile VoIP handsets. IPWireless will work with its device partners to commercialize various forms of the Mobile Broadband Gateway for operators.

UMTS TDD, a global standard for very high-speed packet based access that can be used by operators and manufacturers worldwide, has emerged as a leading standard for mobile broadband, with commercial deployments in countries around the world including Australia, Germany, Malaysia, New Zealand, Portugal, South Africa, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States. UMTS TDD networks have the highest average sector capacity, the strongest cell edge performance, and the lowest cost per megabit of any standards-based mobile technology. The commercially proven system includes a complete network infrastructure, pocket-sized wireless modems, gateways, and PC cards (PCMCIA) for laptops and PDAs. In addition, major equipment makers are developing a variety of network infrastructure solutions and end user devices, including mobile voice over IP handsets and Compact Flash Cards, with IPWireless-licensed TD-CDMA chipsets embedded.

Data Application Suite Selected to Enhance Datang's TD-SCDMA Solution