Robert Levy
07-09-2003, 08:14 PM
<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.cingular.com/about/latest_news/03_06_30' target='_blank'>http://www.cingular.com/about/latest_news/03_06_30</a><br /><br /></div>This is over a week old, but we didn't have a website back then and it's well worth the read so what the heck... <br /><br />"Cingular Wireless announced the world's first commercial deployment of wireless services using Enhanced Datarate for Global Evolution (EDGE) technology. Cingular's initial EDGE service offering is in its Indianapolis market, with subsequent deployments expected later in the year."<br /><br />EDGE is the technology expected to finally enable 3G services on GSM networks. The linked news release describes it as <i>"a software enhancement for Cingular's General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) data network that can support peak data rates up to 170 kilobits per second with average data rates of 75-135 Kbps."</i><br /><br />"In the future, EDGE will enable Cingular to offer more products and services that take advantage of EDGE's higher speed - including audio and video, higher resolution photos, and more robust email and corporate data access."<br /><br />To take advantage of EDGE, you simply need an EDGE-enabled device. Other devices will still function normally since EDGE is backwards compatible with GPRS.<br /><br />Roger Entner, an analyst with the Yankee Group, explains that "by putting the right infrastructure into place now, the company is well positioned to deploy EDGE services strategically, when EDGE devices are available and customers are ready to adopt high-speed data services." This is a great move for Cingular and I really hope we see a Smartphone in the US soon that can take advantage of it.