Verizon, Vodafone To Develop Dual-Mode Data Card [Archive]

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Janak Parekh

08-05-2003, 05:00 PM

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=74&ncid=1211&e=1&u=/cmp/20030805/tc_cmp/12808150' target='_blank'>http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tm...tc_cmp/12808150</a><br /><br /></div>Looks dual-mode (e.g., CDMA + GSM) technology is finally nearing reality, thanks to Vodafone's involvement as one of the major shareholders in Verizon Wireless.<br /><br />"The data card, to be based on Vodafone's Mobile Connect Card, will be marketed by Verizon Wireless via a license from Vodafone. The service would give business users the ability to access e-mail, the Net and corporate applications on their laptops when located within any of Vodafone's territories or in Verizon Wireless' U.S. network, and when traveling in Europe."<br /><br />Two problems: I can't begin to imagine with the roaming fees will be, and where's the CompactFlash version for my Pocket PC? (Well, that and the fact that no one has released a GSM/GPRS + CDMA + BT + WLAN Pocket PC yet... ;))

codesmith

08-05-2003, 05:05 PM

Yes, I have grown quite spoiled by T-Mobile's Unlimited Data....that would make it useable. Paying by the KB would get the card from getting any real use. Maybe they would bundle this with some sort of high usage plan.

racerx

08-05-2003, 05:16 PM

(Well, that and the fact that no one has released a GSM/GPRS + CDMA + BT + WLAN Pocket PC yet... ;))

I believe that Intermec has developed a Pocket PC based unit that comes close - you can choose your Wireless Provider as well as having Bluetooth and WiFi. Not sure if you can have both GSM/GPRS & CDMA/1xRTT in the same unit yet, but if you can't, give'em a few days and I'm sure they'll figure it out. :D

http://home.intermec.com/eprise/main/Intermec/Content/Products/Products_ShowDetail?section=Products&Product=CMPTR700COLOR&Category=CMPTR&Family=CMPTR2

sting0r

08-05-2003, 05:32 PM

Now all we need is a dual mode cell phone with GSM and CDMA in it with a SIM card. Then come november when the cell phone number portability regulation goes into effect we can switch between providers, keep the same cell phone and the same number :)

AKBishop

08-05-2003, 05:42 PM

(Well, that and the fact that no one has released a GSM/GPRS + CDMA + BT + WLAN Pocket PC yet... ;))

Don't forget about Zigbee.

Janak Parekh

08-05-2003, 05:48 PM

Don't forget about Zigbee.
Aieee! Let's try this again.

GSM 850/900/1800/1900 - GPRS, HSCSD
CDMA 800/1900/(Japan 2.4?) - 1xRTT, 1xEV-DO, 1xEV-DV
UMTS/WCDMA 2100
802.11 a/b/g
Bluetooth, UWB?
ZigBee
FM/AM (just for the hell of it)

Did I forget anything? (Don't tell me AMPS...)

--janak

freitasm

08-05-2003, 08:43 PM

Wait a minute. Read the article again. The data card (reviewed here (http://www.geekzone.co.nz/content.asp?contentid=717) a few months ago) is GPRS only.

The GSM/CDMA chip is still in the plans:

"The duo is also working on a GSM/CDMA (news - web sites) chipset that would give Verizon Wireless customers the ability to use their phones and phone numbers while traveling in Europe on the Vodafone footprint."

Don't go buying laptops just to use the card for CDMA because it's not a CDMA card :|

Janak Parekh

08-05-2003, 09:15 PM

Hmm. I'm confused too. :| Take a look at the official Verizon Wireless press release (http://news.verizonwireless.com/news/2003/08/pr2003-08-01.html) - and see if you can make heads or tails of exactly what they're doing. It seems like they have a multipronged approach, and it's not clear which is which. Obviously, we'll have to wait and see -- although they are definitely working on a dual-mode GPRS/1xRTT solution for the future.

--janak

freitasm

08-05-2003, 09:26 PM

Nah... They're just playing in both fields "Verizon CDMA x Vodafone GPRS". Not that products will converge. It's like Telstra in Australia. They run two networks, CDMA and GSM and never managed to get things integrated - and never will.

I think they're just pitching the fact that Verizon can cover the area you need with CDMA, and if you happens to be on GSM, Vodafone will do the job. Actually just marketing mumbo jumbo...

Janak Parekh

08-05-2003, 09:29 PM

You mean, it's all marketingspeak. :(

I'll see if I can dig out any other info, and if necessary I'll make a correction.

--janak

freitasm

08-05-2003, 10:40 PM

Well, they need some buzz to launch the Mobile Connect card.

I have one of these cards on my laptop, with a Vodafone developer SIM (50MB GPRS every month :mrgreen: ). It works very well, when I have the laptop with me. But usually I use my H3970 with Nokia 3650 as GPRS modem.

maximus

08-06-2003, 02:09 AM