If GSM plus TDMA equals GAIT, some software providers want to ensure that the calculus makes sense.
Last week, Schlumberger Sema and Sonera SmartTrust said they had received an order to provide a GAIT Over-The-Air solution for Cingular Wireless networks.
GAIT, which stands for GSM/ANSI 136 Interoperability Team, combines both GSM and TDMA networks to allow carriers with both technologies to enable their subscribers to roam to both networks without difficulty.
Major carriers and vendors already belong to the GAIT Forum and expect to roll out their networks by the end of the year. Cingular Wireless has been the torchbearer of the technology, which also serves as an interim arrangement as the wireless industry deals with the bumps on the way to the third generation of services.
The agreement integrates SchlumbergerSema GAIT short message service center, Cingular’s billing systems and SmartTrust’s GAIT OTA platform. Both SchlumbergerSema and SmartTrust said they anticipated Cingular Wireless in the GAIT forum to develop this interoperability standard.
Handset vendors are also looking to roll out GAIT phones for the network as TDMA-only or GSM-only phones, as well as phones that are compliant to both technologies, but do not meet the GAIT standard.
“With the Schlumberger Sema and SmartTrust Over-The Air solution for GAIT, Cingular has taken a major step toward offering subscribers the ultimate in mobility and convenience,” said Brad Brackhaug, general manager of Sonera SmartTrust U.S. Inc.
“In addition, the GAIT framework relies on the introduction of subscriber identity module cards in multi-mode GSM/TDMA devices. This opens the door for Cingular to offer a number of value-added services traditionally reserved for for GSM customers, including solutions for secure mobile commerce.”
