The popularity of Internet Protocol (IP)-based wireless networks for voice and data has prompted several vendors to announced products to meet this new demand.
Motorola
Motorola Inc.’s Worldwide Data Solutions Division introduced an IP-based solution called Private DataTAC 2.0, a dedicated wireless data network that uses an IP networking interface with enhanced system security and a large system support. It is backward compatible with previous system releases, so existing customers can upgrade without needing to replace their systems.
Motorola is touting the solution’s ability to run any IP-based off-the-shelf application, standard IP message routing, software-based encryption and user-based authentication, seamless roaming and its FullVision Integrated Network Manager based on simple network management protocol for system monitoring and controlling.
“The explosive growth of the Internet in recent years demonstrates the power and potential of a standards-based approach to wireless connectivity,” said Greg Townsend, vice president and general manager of Motorola’s WDSD. “Now customers can have the benefits of a dedicated, robust wireless data network with the ability to retain system control, custom design for coverage and in-building penetration, as well as the integration of standards-based solution.”
Nortel
Northern Telecom Inc.’s President Matt Desch told cdmaOne proponents in June at the CDMA World Congress in Singapore that making IP work over wireless networks will resolve the technical barriers to a single third-generation standard.
“Subscribers are finding new ways to use the Internet to drive added value in their personal and professional lives,” he said. “The only thing missing is making it available to them anytime, anywhere … and the only solution that can make it happen is a wireless one.”
The company put its money where its mouth is by announcing its intention to acquire Bay Networks, a worldwide data networking player, for about US$9.1 billion. The combination is hoped to give Nortel the ability to develop and deliver IP-centric wired and wireless networks.
Ericsson
L.M. Ericsson, for its part, announced “GSM on the Net,” a new business system that plans to integrate Global System for Mobile communications and IP technology.
The GSM on the Net solution is based on one standards-based infrastructure for voice, data and video. Essentially, the company said it is giving customers their own mini GSM network by integrating a GSM network with a local area network/intranet environment.
Hughes
Hughes Network Systems Inc.’s Cellular Digital Packet Data network-AIReach-allows IP access to the intranet as well, which Hughes demonstrated at the Wireless Data Forum in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Shining a light on the motivation behind this attention on IP is a report by Ovum, an independent telecom and information technology analyst group, which predicts the global IP telephony service provider market will reach US$1 billion by 2005.
