Phone Scoop reports that Sprint Nextel gave its timeline for new technologies and devices at a recent investor conference.
- The carrier said it expects to launch a dual mode iDEN / CDMA handset in October of this year. The phone will use iDEN for PTT and CDMA for voice and data calls.
- In the second half of this year Sprint will also launch a dual mode service with its cable partners. Initially they will launch CDMA / Wi-Fi phones that will allow subscribers to use their cable broadband connection and a Wi-Fi access point to make phone calls.
- INext year they intend to extend the capabilities to integrate home media into the handsets.
- ISprint expects to commercially launch EV-DO Revision A in the first quarter of 2007 and offer PTT over the network (including iDEN – CDMA cross network connections) in early 2008.
- In the second quarter of this year, Sprint will also make a decision on which 4G wireless broadband technology the carrier will launch on its 2.5 GHz spectrum.
Nortel and Sierra Wireless made the industry’s first phone call using EV-DO Revision A wireless technology. This milestone is needed to power wireless services such as push-to-talk, push-to-video, VoIP and interactive gaming. EV-DO Rev A significantly boosts upstream speed, enabling the Data Only (DO) service to carry VoIP voice calls.
The companies completed over the air tests using Sierra Wireless AirCard 595 data cards, Sierra Wireless MC5725 PCI Express Mini Card embedded modules, and EV-DO Revision A equipment from Nortel.
Nortel has provided EV-DO equipment to 18 of the 29 operators worldwide including Verizon Wireless and Sprint in the United States.
Sprint has been toying with TDtv for mobile television, developed by IP Wireless. It can use cellular frequencies to broadcast mobile television, but there are no devices that use it yet.
