A pretty big landmark for lovers of CDMA and LTE networks (that'd be Verizon, for sure) occurred recently. LG and Nortel completed the first data handoff between LTE and CDMA networks, and they did so in a way that is standards-compliant. That's kinda important for the obvious reasons.

In geek speak:

The test by LG and Nortel successfully demonstrated the feasibility of idle mode handover between CDMA and LTE and active mode handover from LTE to CDMA leveraging device assisted, network controlled functionality. The demonstration was conducted over 700MHz spectrum using Nortel CDMA Evolved High-Rate Packet Data (eHRPD) 1xEV-DO and Nortel LTE solution with LG’s dual-mode CDMA-LTE M13 terminal. The M13 terminal is a test device created with commercial grade components that will form the basis for a consumer device which is expected to be available in 2010.

Newswire via Engadget Mobile

Sprint this morning announced a seven-year, $5 billion deal that hands responsibility for its network over to Ericsson, which certainly has been around the block once or twice. So as we're seeing the launch of new Windows phones on Sprint, the bullet points of what it means:

• Sprint retains full ownership and control of its network assets, and solely owns network strategy and investment decisions.
• Customers will continue to work directly with Sprint employees as their primary contact, as Sprint retains full control of the customer experience, customer technical support and services review.
• Sprint retains technology and vendor selections.
• Ericsson assumes responsibility for the day-to-day services, provisioning and maintenance for the Sprint-owned CDMA, iDEN and wireline networks.

That from the full press release, which you can also find after the break. Also of note is that some 6,000 employees will be transferred to Ericsson's control.

Dieter's done some additional analysis over at PreCentral.net (Sprint, of course, is the Palm Pre's only carrier at the moment), and that's where things get really interesting. The long and the short of it is that we may see a stronger network from Sprint in the future. And there may will have been something to the rumors of Sprint flirting with LTE technology and not just WIMAX for its 4G network.

And we're in full agreement with Dieter in that this makes Sprint even more of a middle man — remember that it spun off its WIMAX business to Clearwire and also sold a bunch of its towers and then leased them back. So Sprint's cutting a lot of its operating costs, while at the same time becoming less of a traditional carrier.

Stay tuned, folks. Things could get interesting in the coming months.

Read the rest of this entry »

In a conference call late Wednesday, Verizon Wireless announced that it's shifting the planned rollout of its 4G LTE network to the second half of 2010, with national coverage in 2013 and complete coverage in 2015.

From Electronista:

Initially slated for early 2010, the Long Term Evolution (LTE) network is now said by wireless chief Lowell McAdam to be fully commercial for the second half of that year in 20 to 30 markets.

Also noted is that Verizon is scaling back its baseline speed to between 8Mbps and 12Mbps on average, which still should be faster than Sprint's upcoming WiMax network. But the near-term consideration is that as AT&T boosts its 3G network to HSPA+, Verizon and its EVDO Rev. A are going to be slower than its GSM competition.

And in other news ... We're still waiting on that promised GPS unlock. And, no, we haven't forgotten.

We've made mention that Verizon was working on its LTE network earlier this year, and now it appears the big V is releasing network specifications so hardware developers can start designing phones capable of using the 4G network.

The specifications provide guidelines for both access and data transport for LTE-capable devices. A web conference will be hosted by Verizon on May 13 to discuss the specifications in more detail.

The company plans a commercial roll-out of LTE starting in 2010. LTE trials have the 4G network generating 60Mbps real-world speed (about 30x faster than a good 3G connection). Along with Verizon, AT&T is planning for a 4G network in 2011.

Via PhoneScoop.com and Electronista

Sprint, champion of WiMax and a former backer of XOHM (which has become Clearwire), may be hedging its 4G bets.

Reports GigaOm:

Sources in the telecommunications world have been telling me that Sprint is testing Long Term Evolution, or LTE, equipment, which seems a bit odd given Sprint’s cheerleading for WiMAX and 51 percent stake in Clearwire, which is building out a nationwide WiMAX network.

GigaOm got this response back:

As a prudent Technology Development organization we are always collecting competitive information about various technologies/equipment to monitor and assess the competitive landscape and any potential impacts to Sprint’s plans.

Sure. But there's testing, and then there's testing. We're still way early into the LTE/WiMAX battle, and we're nowhere near being able to even begin declaring a winner. (That, and there are zero mainstream phones on either service right now.) So maybe Sprint's poking its toes in the LTE pool, and maybe it's not. Let's finish getting 3G built out and under everyone's belts first, shall we?

Let the LTE/4G race begin! We've reported that AT&T is planning to have LTE service by 2011, but it looks like Verizon may get there first. Verizon Wireless Chief Technical Officer Dick Lynch, in a presentation at Mobile World Congress, announced that Verizon is committed to equipping two U.S. cities with Long Term Evolution (LTE) data networks by the end of 2009. Characterized as "pre-commercial deployments," the LTE networks would be a precursor to full commercial deployment slated for 2010 that would include 25-30 cities. It's anybody's guess which two U.S. cities will be the test sites, but LTE tests have been performed by Verizon in several cities including Minneapolis, Columbus (Ohio), and New Jersey. 

No word if AT&T has adjusted its projections in response to Verizon's announcement. If Verizon is successful in deploying the 4G service later this year, it may give them an advantage over AT&T. Then again, the timetable for devices capable of handling 4G is a lot more sketchy than the timetable for having the service available. Some projections don't see the 4G devices hitting the market until 2011. If this is the case, AT&T's timeline mirrors device development. Verizon may be leading a race for a data network very few, if any, consumers will be able to use.

[Read: ARS Technica]

During all the excitement of the 2009 Mobile World Congress, AT&T has quietly acknowledged that it should have a fully ready Long Term Evolution (LTE) network in 2011. AT&T has pledged in the past to introduce the 4G Network in 2010 but, according to Senior Architecture VP Kris Rinne, will see the first phase limited to trials in 2010, with commercial services available the following year. This will put AT&T's 4G Network about a year behind Verizon's 4G network, which is for trials later this year with commercial services planned for 2010.

AT&T doesn't seem too worried about Verizon's time line, maintaining that it can rely on HSPA+ and have the advanced 3G networks reach 20Mbps sometime later this year through software upgrades. The LTE network theoretically is at least five times as fast in downloads, about 100Mbps and has a lower latency that should make multi-layer games, VoIP, and two way calling more practical than on 3G networks.

Speaking of time lines, it's probably safe to say that Apple's future plans for the iPhone could well be a factor here. On the other hand, it's entirely possible that AT&T has no idea what Apple's plans are.

[Read: Electonista.com]

Samsung apparently isn't fond of dealing with Qualcomm's patent hassles anymore, or perhaps they've been spooked by how difficult it is to write video drivers for Qualcomm's chipsets, or perhaps they just don't like Qualcomm's LTE roadmap, or maybe it's just the stated reason from EETimes [via mobile burn]: they're unhappy with how much the royalties cost.

Whatever the reason, it looks like Samsung is going it alone for the chips that power their phone, opting to develop them in-house instead of using Qualcomm or Broadcom chips. It also appears that LG may follow suit.

While we're generally happy to see more competition, we do have a bit of a concern about compatibility and standards here. Sure, Samsung will likely drive down costs and speed up development of their handsets with this move. We just hope that Samsung, Qualcomm, Broadcom, Infineon, and the other players in this 4G chips space can agree on some common standards that will make life easier for other shops that can't make their own chips and also easier for carriers to approve handsets more quickly. The last thing we want is redux of the all-out patent war we have been witnessing with the 3G chipsets.

What say you? Smart move by Samsung?

Qualcomm wants to stay ahead of the game or at least with the changing times and as a result they have decided to cancel development of Ultra Mobile Broadband products and focus on LTE instead. Long Term Evolution will be playing a major part in the way we use our mobile devices in the future to feed our internet needs. Big guns like AT&T and Verizon have already joined the club.

Sampling for the new multi-mode chips are already in action meaning we might see some devices, if not the network itseof, in 2009. Slap these new chips in some hot devices coupled with a 20 Meg connection and you have yourself one powerful combination. The future looks bright for our mobile devices and with WiMAX coming in, we might just have broadband speeds on our mobiles sooner than we thought. Great job Qualcomm. Guess this means that it's time to start agitating for 5G, innit?