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Lucent successfully demonstrates seamless roaming between WiFi and
3G UMTS wireless networks
September 19, 2002
Lucent Technologies today announced the successful seamless handoff
of a wireless data call from a WiFi or wireless local area network
(WLAN) to a 3G UMTS network, enabling mobile laptop users to browse
the Internet while roaming between the two network types with no
interruption in the session.
Using Lucent's 3G UMTS network equipment, and a laptop PC equipped
with a UMTS test mobile phone, a Proxim ORINOCO 802.11 WLAN card
and ipUnplugged's Roaming Gateway client/server software, users
were able to initiate a secure Internet session on an 802.11 WLAN
or a 3G UMTS network, and maintain it while moving from one network
to the other.
The successful testing incorporated a key standard established
by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), Mobile IP, that enables
seamless inter-technology handoffs between 802.11 and 3G technologies,
which are essential to maintaining "always-on" high-speed mobile
Internet connections. This technique is made possible by a unique
mobile network architecture developed by Bell Labs.
"Lucent is strongly focused on giving UMTS network operators the
end-to-end solutions they need to offer attractive new services
to business customers," said Bruce Dale, vice-president for UMTS
product and offer realization for Lucent's Mobility Solutions Group.
These capabilities have tremendous applicability today in the enterprise
marketplace, particularly for workers that need to access substantial
volumes of information while on the move. For instance, this technique
would allow an IT field service engineer to begin downloading large
files -- such as technical schematics -- from a wireless LAN at
his dispatch center, and continue to receive this information while
en-route to a service call, cutting response times substantially
and making the travel time between locations more productive.
This 3G and WLAN seamless roaming capability is an integral element
of Lucent's recently introduced portfolio of end-to-end wireless
data solutions that will allow business customers to access essential
applications -- such as e-mail, company databases and internal Web
applications -- behind corporate firewalls via 3G UMTS and CDMA2000
wireless networks. Lucent's Secure Mobile Data Solutions for Enterprises
portfolio will enable mobile professionals to use their laptop PCs
or PDAs to access all the applications they normally use, with the
same level of security and performance they typically enjoy in their
office. The end-to-end offer also addresses the need for combined
billing for services on the 802.11 WLAN and 3G UMTS and CDMA2000
networks, and simultaneous one-time provisioning of users on both
types of networks.
Lucent also has demonstrated seamless roaming capabilities between
WiFi and 3G CDMA2000 wireless networks.
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3G Motorola A920
