BEDMINISTER, N.J.-Bell Atlantic Nynex Mobile will launch its Code Division Multiple Access service using the 13 kilobit-per-second vocoder for advanced voice quality.
A great deal of CDMA testing in the industry has been done with phones using the 8-kilobit vocoder. The CDMA Development Group of Irvine, Calif., said the 13-kilobit vocoder dramatically improves voice quality and is one reason why wireless providers have selected CDMA technology.
Several cellular operators, such as Ameritech Cellular, said they were waiting for the 13-kilobit vocoder before launching a commercial CDMA system.
Bell Atlantic Nynex Mobile’s equipment has been supplied by Lucent Technologies Inc. Beginning April 1, the company will provide 400 to 500 analog/CDMA phones to select small businesses and consumers in Trenton, N.J., and Bucks County, Pa. The phones are designed to scan for CDMA but default to analog outside of the CDMA service area, the company said.
“We’re convinced CDMA is ready for customers and see the Trenton system as the beginning of our commercial deployments,” said Dick Lynch, Bell Atlantic Nynex Mobile executive vice president and chief technology office.
Bell Atlantic Nynex Mobile is a partner with AirTouch Communications Inc. and U S West NewVector Group in a business trio designed to consolidate purchasing power and marketing strength. Construction of AirTouch’s CDMA system in Los Angeles is complete, but testing continues and the service still is not commercially available. U S West has built CDMA into its cellular system in the Seattle area and in Phoenix, and hopes to turn on commercial service this year.
