RESTON, Va.-Sprint Nextel Corp. said it invested another $10 million into IPWireless Inc., which develops UMTS TD-CDMA network technology. Sprint Nextel initially invested $4 million in IPWireless in July.
Sprint Nextel is currently trialing IPWireless’ UMTS TD-CDMA technology in Washington, D.C. using its 2.5 GHz spectrum holdings. The technology supports broadband Internet access on laptops, desktops and handheld devices, as well as interactive multimedia services such as video streaming, online gaming, document collaboration and video conferencing.
“Sprint Nextel is committed to evaluating and supporting the best next generation technologies available to deliver cutting-edge services for our customers,” said Barry West, chief technology officer at Sprint Nextel. “We believe that UMTS TD-CDMA technology holds great promise as a next generation platform for operators globally, especially for both mobile broadband and mobile TV applications, and we are pleased to make this additional investment.”
IPWireless has raised more than $200 million since its founding in 1999.
In other IPWireless news, the company announced the launch of TDtv, a mobile TV solution that the company said can deliver media broadcasts in operators’ existing third-generation spectrum. The company said Sprint Nextel will run a trial of TDtv in the United States, while several operators in Europe should announce TDtv trials in their 1900 MHz 3G spectrum. IPMobile also plans to trial TDtv in Japan using the 2010 MHz spectrum it recently acquired.
IPWireless said TDtv combines its UMTS TD-CDMA technology with the Third Generation Partnership Project’s multimedia broadcast and multicast standard technology. IPWireless said TDtv will be available in other frequency bands, including the 2.5 GHz band.
“It would be a terrible irony if the next big opportunity in mobile services didn’t leverage 3G or put the mobile operators in control of the service offering,” said Chris Gilbert, chief executive officer of IPWireless. “We have received a tremendous reaction to TDtv from operators because they see the opportunity to deliver a fantastic mobile media service experience to customers and show regulators and investors that they are using and getting a return on their 3G spectrum.”
