MILPITAS, Calif.-Both LG Electronics Co. Ltd. and Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. announced plans to build dual-mode devices that will be able to roam from GSM and GPRS networks to unlicensed networks like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The companies said they will use Unlicensed Mobile Access technology from Kineto Wireless Inc. for such products.
“We choose to partner with Kineto as they are a clear leader in providing UMA Technology,” said Skott Ahn, executive vice president of research and development for LG. “Collaborating with Kineto Wireless will help us to deliver world-class UMA-enabled dual-mode mobile phones to meet the rapidly growing demand from mobile operators around the globe.”
LG and Samsung join Nokia Corp. and Motorola Inc. in using Kineto’s UMA technology for roaming between licensed and unlicensed networks. The technology supports roaming and handoffs between cellular networks and public and private unlicensed wireless networks.
Indeed, the potential for such fixed-mobile convergence is significant. According to research and consulting firm Strategy Analytics, 7 percent of U.S. voice telephony users will use fixed-mobile products by 2010.
