COSTA MESA, Calif., Feb. 6, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- The CDMA Development Group (CDG) (www.cdg.org) announced today that the CDMA2000(r) industry is aggressively adopting and promoting WorldMode(tm) interstandard services, which support seamless roaming on CDMA and GSM systems and enable CDMA2000 customers to use their phones around the world. A number of CDMA2000 operators in Asia, North and Latin America, and Europe already offer the service and many others are in the process of implementing it. There are 11 WorldMode phones on the market offered by five device manufacturers and more will be introduced.
The CDG is working on a number of initiatives to accelerate the deployment of CDMA2000 roaming services and to expand the portfolio of WorldMode phones, including lower cost phones for developing markets.
"In order to provide true global roaming services today and in the future, operators have to offer products that enable access to voice and data services across multiple technologies and in a broad range of spectrum bands," said Perry LaForge, executive director of the CDG. "With WorldMode, CDMA2000 operators are offering their customers the greatest reach of voice and 3G data of any wireless technology in the world. Through the CDG's Global Handset Requirements for CDMA (GHRC) and technology leadership, these phones will now reach price points not even dreamed of as possible just a few years ago."
Interstandard roaming is the ability for wireless interoperability between two or more wireless networks. This is accomplished through a gateway on an operator's network which converts messages between ANSI-41 and MAP signaling protocols, and handsets that contain both GSM and CDMA subscriber identify information modules (SIM and R-UIM)
There are several multi-mode, multi-bands phones offered in the market today. GSM/CDMA2000 1X phones are available from Motorola (A840/A860); Samsung (SCH-A790/W109/A795/IP-A790); LG (W800 and W810); and Yulong Telecom (Coolpad 728). GSM/GPRS/CDMA2000 1X phones are available from Samsung (SCH-i819 and SCH-W379). GSM/GPRS/CDMA2000 1X and 1xEV-DO phones are available from Samsung (SCH-i830); LG (KW9200); and Amoi ((V810 and CMA8301).
Today, GSM/GPRS/CDMA2000 1X/1xEV-DO WorldMode phones operate in the 800/900/1800/1900 MHz frequency bands. In the future, WorldMode chipsets with enhanced functionality will enable CDMA2000 subscribers to use data services on 1X, 1xEV-DO, GPRS, EDGE, WCDMA and HSDPA systems and will operate in the 800/900/1800/1900/2100 MHz frequency bands.
The CDG's International Roaming Team (IRT) has published guidelines to facilitate implementation of international roaming in CDMA2000 systems, and the GHRC Team is working on common requirements for entry-level phones to support CDMA2000 1X and 1xEV-DO which will enable operators to aggregate their purchases and reduce the cost and time-to-market for these handsets. More information on WorldMode is available at www.cdg.org.
About CDMA2000
CDMA2000 is the most widely deployed 3G technology, with 143 CDMA2000 operators in 67 countries, including 29 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO systems. There are more than 200 million 3G CDMA2000 subscribers. CDMA2000 has become the technology of choice for cdmaOne(tm), TDMA, analog and Greenfield operators, and is deployed in the 450, 800, 1700, 1900 and 2100 MHz bands. More than 950 CDMA2000 devices are available on the market, including 162 1xEV-DO devices. More information on CDMA2000 is available on the CDG Web site at www.cdg.org.
About CDG
The CDMA Development Group is a trade association formed to foster the worldwide development, implementation and use of CDMA technologies. The more than 100 member companies of the CDG include many of the world's largest wireless carriers and equipment manufacturers. The primary activities of the CDG include development of CDMA features and services, public relations, education and seminars, regulatory affairs and international support. Currently, there are more than 500 individuals working within various CDG subcommittees on CDMA-related matters. For more information about the CDG, contact the CDG News Bureau at +1-714-540-1030, or visit the CDG Web site at www.cdg.org.
-- CDMA2000 is a registered trademark of the Telecommunications
Industry Association (TIA-USA)
-- cdmaOne is a trademark of the CDG