COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.-Omnipoint Corp. has licensed its composite Code Division Multiple Access/Time Division Multiple Access technology to JRC International Inc. to produce personal communications services handsets.
Omnipoint said its CDMA/TDMA PCS technology has been approved by U.S. standards bodies as Interim Standard-661. The company was awarded a pioneer’s preference PCS license for the New York major trading area by the Federal Communications Commission for developing the technology.
“This agreement with JRC is a key step in assembling a team of world class manufacturers that are fulfilling the promise of this unique technology,” said Omnipoint President Doug Smith. Northern Telecom Ltd. will provide turnkey PCS networks based on IS-661.
Under the agreement, JRC will assist Omnipoint in developing a first-generation handset that will be available in the second quarter of 1996. A second-generation handset designed by JRC will be produced in late 1996.
“Our relationship with Omnipoint puts JRC on the fast track for entry into the PCS market,” said JRC President Dave McDowell. “By combining our cellular expertise with Omnipoint’s innovative air-interface protocol, we are certain we will be able to deliver a quality product that meets the needs of the operators and the end users. We are also pursuing products to take advantage of the considerable data capabilities of IS-661 based systems,” he said.
