Thursday, 1 March 2007

Samsung Showcases Mobile WiMAX with Sprint-Nextel 4G Partners

Samsung, a provider of telecommunications network systems and handsets, demonstrates its Mobile WiMAX technology and services for the first time in Europe at 3GSM World Congress 2007 in Barcelona, Spain. Following Samsung and Sprint-Nextel’s partnership in August...

Samsung, a provider of telecommunications network systems and handsets, demonstrates its Mobile WiMAX technology and services for the first time in Europe at 3GSM World Congress 2007 in Barcelona, Spain.

Following Samsung and Sprint-Nextel’s partnership in August of 2006 to collaborate on the US carrier’s major 4G wireless initiative, which will adopt the Mobile WiMAX (IEEE 802.16e TDD OFDMA) technology standard, Samsung will showcase the latest in mobile convergence devices ready for Mobile WIMAX.

Sprint’s partners in the 4G wireless broadband initiative, Samsung, Intel, Motorola, and Nokia, will share a booth under the theme of 'WiMAX is here!'.

Samsung’s new Mobile WiMAX devices include the SPH-P9000 and SPH-M8100. The P9000 is a true Mobile WiMAX convergence device, which enables wireless broadband access and voice communications, while the M8100 is the first commercially available Mobile WiMAX PDA device. The connectivity capabilities of the new Mobile WiMAX technology will be exclusively showcased through the use of a USB dongle during the demonstrations, meaning users can access Mobile WiMAX and HSDPA services by connecting the USB dongle to a lap top, the company said.

As a pioneer in Mobile WiMAX technology, Samsung has conducted numerous trials with various partners across the world. Currently, seven trials are underway, with more planned for 2007. At the annual Samsung 4G Forum in August 2006, a successful demonstration illustrated the performance capabilities of Mobile WiMAX and proved that it can be migrated to 4G with data transmission speeds of 100Mbps achieved on a moving bus and access speeds of 3.5Gbps achieved under stationary conditions, the company added.

This technology was commercialised in South Korea in May 2006 and Samsung now provides Mobile WiMAX network solutions to various service providers in North and South America and Asia. The SPH-P9000 and M8100 will be launched in South Korea in the first half of 2007. No plans have been made yet for their introduction overseas, the company continued.