Network firms join mobile makers for slice of 3G pie

date: 12th December 2000

A number of companies have made deals with mobile device makers to capture a larger chunk of the third-generation (3G) and Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) mobile data market, when services become available.

In November, Ericsson said it would focus on building a stake in the 3G market, and last week revealed it would set up a firm with Juniper Networks to bridge the gap between wireless networks and IP backbones. The new, as yet unnamed company will rely on Ericsson's mobile computing technology and Juniper's IP routing experience. They will invest $50m in the project.

Meanwhile, Lucent Technologies and Matsushita Communication said they would test the interoperability of 3G wireless solutions. The companies are to examine the compatibility of 3G UMTS mobile terminals with Lucent's network infrastructure. If this proves a success, Matsushita's multimode GSM/GPRS/UMTS 3G mobile terminals will allow corporate users to stay connected by switching between cellular networks. The terminals should also support a variety of business and multimedia applications on the move, including email, Web browsing, imaging and even video conferencing.

Joe Daly, Lucent's managing director of strategic alliances, said it had relations with other clients and device providers, including Siemens, Samsung and Kyocera, and that the addition of Matsushita would further strengthen the company's position.

Daly added that although Lucent was already testing 3G technologies, the firm had no Matsushita terminals to work with. However, he said, products would be available by the time UMTS is rolled out in 2001.

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