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Intel Developing Cellular Internet Chip

yoey writes "Brief article at The Marker states, "The chip will enable laptop users to connect directly to cellular networks without the need of a modem in the same way that PCs in a local network connect with each other. [The] solution will enable laptop users to use cellular communication networks as if they were a local communications network. Intel will thus be able to realize an old company dream - the development of a computer enabling users to be connected, any time and any place, to the Internet."

158 comments

  1. Hasn't this already been done.. by dag2001 · · Score: 1

    Intel will thus be able to realize an old company dream - the development of a computer enabling users to be connected, any time and any place, to the Internet.

    .. with 802.11b (or whatever) wireless connections?

    1. Re:Hasn't this already been done.. by IIOIOOIOO · · Score: 1

      I assume that they intend to use the existing cellular network to move packets around, greatly increasing the range of such connections. Have no doubt though, this kind of connection will be FAR from free.

    2. Re:Hasn't this already been done.. by Filarion · · Score: 1

      No, using existing cellular airwaves.

      --
      --[Nothing important]--
    3. Re:Hasn't this already been done.. by dag2001 · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      Yes, of course - an Intel version, only propietary.

    4. Re:Hasn't this already been done.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why hasnt this been modded down. Its not 802.11b jackass its cellular. This means it will work anywhere your cellphone works not anywhere you are within range of an 802.11b access point. Try reading a little more.

    5. Re:Hasn't this already been done.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    6. Re:Hasn't this already been done.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Your snotty k-rad kiddie attitude is why Linux will never succeed on the desktop.

  2. How much is the fun going to cost you? by Filarion · · Score: 1

    Now the interesting question is, how much will this cost the enduser? I can't imagine there being a lot of bandwidth on cellular networks, so access is going to cost quite a bit.

    --
    --[Nothing important]--
    1. Re:How much is the fun going to cost you? by darien · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I would imagine it will be charged like GPRS, on a per-packet basis, since it looks like it will work exactly the same way. Obviously, though, you wouldn't be stuck having to run WAP micro-browsers on tiny screens: you'd be running a "real" computer, so you could run the real IE6 or whatever. Or, better still, Opera or Mozilla - cos if you think unrequested pop-ups are annoying now, wait until you're being charged per byte you receive!

      As for the actual rates, there's obviously no way of predicting, but I imagine they'll be very high at first, because businesses will be willing to pay serious money for this. Just imagine - the whole sales force out on the road being constantly connected (via VPN I imagine) to the company network. No more waiting until a sales rep can come into the office to pick up the latest 40Mb chunk of sales data; his computer could just suck it up in real time as he drives up the M6.

    2. Re:How much is the fun going to cost you? by Filarion · · Score: 1

      Now the really interesting thing will be having my laptop with a built-in UMTS chip. Of course, prices are going to be horrendous, but the possibilities would be fantastic.

      --
      --[Nothing important]--
    3. Re:How much is the fun going to cost you? by TexNex · · Score: 1
      What they are probably trying to do is something akin to DoCoMo, in Japan, but with laptops. Intel may branch out into Cell market with it. Here are some articles on what DoCoMo is doing.
  3. Just great... by Proaxiom · · Score: 0, Offtopic
    Now we'll have to listen to politicians and journalists rant on and on about why surfing the Internet and driving shouldn't be allowed at the same time.

    Just when I was hoping those cell phone folks might be shutting up soon.

    1. Re:Just great... by finity · · Score: 1

      Why don't we just take away all our freedoms while we're at it? That whole free speech thing was overrated anyway. Talking at all should be illegal.
      Why should people be allowed to own guns anyway? I think (and I'm being serious now) the original reason the founding fathers put that whole guns thing in the constitution is because if our government becomes corrupt, we need to be able to overthrow it, and you can't overthrow a corrupt government without guns. It seems to me that even if our government won't turn into that for a long time (if at all), that's a damn good reason to be allowed to have a gun.

  4. What kind of port? by cryptochrome · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Will this come with an Cat5-10bT ethernet adapter, or a usb connection, or what? Depending on your laptop you might have trouble hooking up.

    --

    ---If you can't trust a nerd, who can you trust?

    1. Re:What kind of port? by Osiris+Ani · · Score: 1
      Will this come with an Cat5-10bT ethernet adapter, or a usb connection, or what?

      It's a processor; not a computer. It can come with whatever land-based connectivity hardware features the computer manufacturer chooses to incorporate.

      Try reading the article next time.

    2. Re:What kind of port? by cryptochrome · · Score: 2

      I did read the article - which is why I'm asking the question they didn't answer. Sure it could be any port, but if you're in the market for a cell phone what options will you have? Will it be a standard feature, to drive adoption of the service, or only available on pricier models of phones? What kind of dongle will you include to connect it? If they use USB, will they bother to write drivers for linux or mac? How will you make those drivers available to the user if you do? What if the laptop doesn't have an ethernet port? What about PDAs? 802.11b so you don't need a dongle at all?

      This isn't a question for the manufacturers - it's a question for the end users, phone manufacturers, and service providers.

      --

      ---If you can't trust a nerd, who can you trust?

    3. Re:What kind of port? by einstein · · Score: 1

      uh. it will be a chip in the computer. it won't be a thingie in a cell phone. (though I suppose it could be) there won't be any "attachment"
      ---

    4. Re:What kind of port? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Christ - how is this 'interesting'?? Mod this idiot down.

      >>Depending on your laptop you might have
      >>trouble hooking up.

      again... *READ* *THE* *DAMN* *ARTICLE*.

      There are no ports...... no phones..... no dongles.... no nothing.

      IT'S A CHIP.

      YOU PUT THE CHIP ON YOUR MOTHERBOARD, IT GIVES YOU CELLULAR CONNECTIVITY. Do you have to plug your cellular phone into something so you can talk? No - it has CHIPS inside it that do that. Guess what intel is working on.... same thing but for a PC......

      I don't know how simpler it can be made for you.

      What kind of port were you expecting? So you could plug it into your ass?

      ugh. it's moron day.

  5. Scale by SilentChris · · Score: 3, Insightful
    *Weighs scale*

    Always-on cellular connection at slow bandwidth, vs. always-on 802.11 connection, provided we have thousands of free nodes so we can roam city to city, always having an internet connection (and not having to pay by the minute). Hmm...

    1. Re:Scale by Gaijin42 · · Score: 2

      If "free" nodes like you want are ubiquitous, the bandwidth each node provider pays for (their cable, t1, dsl etc) prices will start to go up rather sharply. In the end, you will probably pay the same. TANSTAAFL.

      If on the other hand, you want to make a LAN that goes everywhere, and eveyrone runs their webservers on the LAN rather than the internet, then you will gain all the functionality, because you aren't connecting to anything other than yourselves, and the infrastructure costs are distributed across all nodes.

      This would be a competitor to the internet though, not free access to the internet.

    2. Re:Scale by Takeel · · Score: 1
      Always-on cellular connection at slow bandwidth, vs. always-on 802.11 connection, provided we have thousands of free nodes so we can roam city to city, always having an internet connection (and not having to pay by the minute). Hmm...

      Infrastructure that's already in place, vs. spending a *lot* of money to add an entirely new infrastructure...

      Hmm.

    3. Re:Scale by GodInHell · · Score: 1

      Just because the leach user dosen't pay by the minute does not mean that someone isn't paying for their service. Either the node provider, his ISP, or their connection company.

      Any way you cut it, we have to push for state backed network-by-air systems like Daley here in chicago has been talking about lately.

      -GiH

    4. Re:Scale by eniacpx · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      WDEAEEKWTRLASF?
      (Why does everyone assume everyone else knows what the really long acronyms stand for?)

    5. Re:Scale by Gaijin42 · · Score: 2

      TANSTAAFL
      There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch :)

      sorry, fairly common in the econ world :)

    6. Re:Scale by aminorex · · Score: 1

      Actually, since the infrastructure costs are being
      offloaded from the ISPs in this scenario, the
      costs should go down. The offloaded part is
      done at consumer-commodity economies of
      scale.

      --
      -I like my women like I like my tea: green-
    7. Re:Scale by jo42 · · Score: 1
      Except the ISPs that the wireless access points pool into using real genuine wire. After all, you want wider access than to your roommates mostly stolen MP3 music collection.

      Why is the Linux kernel such a mess, crick here.

  6. Not 802.11b... by GuyZero · · Score: 1

    It sounds more like some sort of ethernet inetrface or some other high-level "web-tone" interface that would provide direct tcp/ip connectivity from the end user's point-of-view.

    The big drag with using cell phones for internet connectivity now is that you need a separate ISP to dial up to... blah. This sounds much cooler.

    1. Re:Not 802.11b... by KayEyeDoubleDee · · Score: 1

      The first thought that occurred to me was: Who is going to be the ISP? The cellular provider probably.

  7. Somebody's afraid by TheRain · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Sounds like some cellular company feels threatened by the thought of small wireless networks springing up all over the place. It seems to me that there is no real advantage to having cellular capability built into the processor than having the card except that it would cause people to choose it over wireless networking. Having it in a card provides the same functionality.

    If the service is cheap, though, why not?

    --
    Please help! I'm stuck inside my virtual reality headset!
    1. Re:Somebody's afraid by SaDan · · Score: 3, Insightful

      At least it will give people a choice between 802.11b networks and a fairly established cellular network.

      Some people might be able to function just fine with 802.11b, some might prefer using the cellular system. Some might need both.

      Choice is good.

    2. Re:Somebody's afraid by natslovR · · Score: 1

      Or maybe they feel that businesses would be prepared to pay to access a reliable national 'wireless' network rather than having to rely on drips-and-drabs access depending on how good the free wireless community network is in the town you happen to be in at the moment.

  8. Monopoly? by a3d0a3m · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    If intel conveniently places their cellular network chip on every board they produce, I wonder how conveniently they can partner/setup their own service provider across the USA and make it very convenient for people to use their service and very inconvenient to try and use a third party service?
    Also, is this going to be one of those cell phone technologies that we never see in USA and only europe?

    adam

    1. Re:Monopoly? by DrSpin · · Score: 1
      Its a fairly safe bet it won't be targeted at Europe. No one here would be able to afford the line rental, AND it costs us more to call the house next door than it costs you to call us from across the atlantic.

      Here in the UK, we have fully working broadband, with 80% coverage, but no one can afford it! (175 subscribers at last count).

    2. Re:Monopoly? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      my ass intel does not want or need to set up an isp they dont care who the hell provided the service as long as you use their chip it would be like 3com allowing you to only use their modems to connect to their isp instead of AOL or what ever... 3com dosent what the added problems of an isp nor does intel

  9. I'm So Excited! by Thakandar2 · · Score: 1

    Now, where can I read something on it specifically? The article seemed to be much more of a financial report than a tech article, which leads me to believe this is in very early designs, and will take a long time to run from conceptual designs to an actual integrations.

    On another note, will this let me eventually take my Palm and DoS all the cell phones in the general area of the movie theater? Just a thought...

  10. Some Restrictions Apply. by saintlupus · · Score: 5, Funny

    Intel will thus be able to realize an old * company dream ** - the development of a computer enabling users to be connected, any time and any place, to the Internet. ***

    *by "old," we mean last quarter.

    **by "dream," we mean product.

    ***by "Internet," we mean AOL/TW Extra-Fun Super-Happy content network.

    --saint

    1. Re:Some Restrictions Apply. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      errata:

      by "Internet", we mean a really bad remake of "Pong" that can be played between 2 cell phones within 5' of each other.

    2. Re:Some Restrictions Apply. by Faux_Pseudo · · Score: 2
      ***by "Internet," we mean AOL/TW Extra-Fun Super-Happy content network.

      You mean ***by "Internet," we mean AOL/TW Extra-Fun Super-Happy shopping network.

  11. Come on by Wind_Walker · · Score: 3, Funny
    Who would want a cellular phone that you have to attach a heatsink to?

    Although I guess the open-air environment of cell phones would make air circulation a breeze (pun intended)

    (ok, one more) Would dropping my cell phone into a toilet be counted as "water-cooling"?

    1. Re:Come on by warpSpeed · · Score: 1


      Ok, imagine a cluster of these chips? No really, if you stood to close, would it be considered a cancer cluster?

      ~Sean

  12. That's just silly. by Guppy06 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    So Intel is trying to give me the same functionality I get when I plug my cell phone into my laptop, but for the price of two cellular accounts instead of just one? I'll pass, thanks.

  13. Just a way to sell more GHz by Mick+D. · · Score: 1

    So, since the cellular network around the US is slower than molasses at the north pole, this will be the incentive for faster CPU's.

    The faster you can compress and decompress data the faster the network seems. I'll bet 10 years from now 50% of the processing by that brand spanking new Itanium 9 will be in compression and decompression over 56K cell networks.

    --

    Is this the end yet?...How 'bout now...how 'bout now...how 'bout now?
    1. Re:Just a way to sell more GHz by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Data can be compressed no more than the total entropy of the data. Faster processors will never solve the problem of a lack of bandwidth.

  14. This could make celluar phone makers nervous. by aao-brad · · Score: 1, Redundant

    Think about it. A laptop that can access the cellular networks. It would only be a matter of time before the laptop manufacturers build in a "hands-free" phone attachment.

    Newer PDAs could have the chip installed standard, and have a mic and speaker... instant cell phone.

    --
    "What kind of chip you got in there, a Dorito?" - Weird Al Yankovic
  15. Will it contain the new manditory location device? by Unknown+Poltroon · · Score: 2, Interesting

    THe one thats being built into cellphones? I ALWAYS want the athorities to know where i and my laptop are.

    --
    All Troll + "offtopic" mods are meta moderated as "Unfair", because you abused the system.
  16. Anywhere?? by MysteryMilk · · Score: 1

    "Intel will thus be able to realize an old company dream - the development of a computer enabling users to be connected, any time and any place, to the Internet." Any place except for Downey. California's cell phone black hole.

    --
    ~~ Scott If animals aren't supposed to be good for you, why are they made of meat?
  17. Can you say ..ScRIPZ Kid33z Dr3AM ? by CDWert · · Score: 3, Funny

    I know this is a technolgy implementation from a chip side. That said can you imagin what fun screwing with people would be at this level of connectivity, gives a whole new meaning to Ghost in the machine. Everyone connected everwhere.....I will change my Job Occupation to farmer and wait for the 50 megaton nuke in the atmosphere to create and EMP thatll take everyone offline. Can you Imagine how many more posers at Starbucks this'll create, if impleneted on a wide scale ?

    Not to mention all the Geniuses in Govt, thinking they have the most important job in the free world and insisting they need to be connected all the time, this is the Armageddon , I can see it now.

    This is pretty nifty , but until they integrate it directly to a proccesor an memory in the same package, ....Just Imagine you could have a Beowulf cluster in your pocket,...lol

    *Note, If you take me seriously you need more of some alkaloid, nicotene, caffiene, etc.

    --
    Sig went tro...aahemmm.....fishing........
  18. Always available by t0ph3rus · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Intel will thus be able to realize an old * company dream ** - the development of a computer enabling users to be connected, any time and any place, to the Internet.

    Great!!! and now my company will realize an old dream of having me available 24X7. There is such a thing as being too connected. Even though it is a pretty cool and useful concept.

  19. Market Fluff Alert, Must Be Micro$haft. by Erris · · Score: 2, Insightful
    [The] solution will enable laptop users to use cellular communication networks as if they were a local communications network. Intel will thus be able to realize an old company dream - the development of a computer enabling users to be connected, any time and any place, to the Internet.

    When I see shine on language like that, I know that M$ or some other huckester is behind what's being talked about and it won't live up the hype. The word Enable is usually the biggest tip. What's wrong with direct language and specs? You know something along the lines of, "Intel designed the new chip to provide NetBios over WhateverRadioThingy with a 3 mile radius of communications. Several companies are planning to build a grid comunications network in several major cities, BLAH BLAH." That would be informative, and then people would know what to expect rather than excited and ready to spend more money.

    Buzzzz, how hateful it is. It brings back memories -twitch- of VB endoctrination videos I was encouraged to watch for a job once. It dronned on about, "Totally new approaches to programing." and "Iteractive methods rather than proceedural methods." while building a dinky little database front end Mr. Potatoe Head style.

    --
    DMCA, Hollings, Palladium. What might have sounded like paranoia is now common sense.
    1. Re:Market Fluff Alert, Must Be Micro$haft. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      Yea. But can you imagine Mr Potatohead designing databases in Fortran?

      VB is cooler than an Intel CPU!

    2. Re:Market Fluff Alert, Must Be Micro$haft. by mlsemon2 · · Score: 1

      Yeah, I was thinking of the Pentium III ads, in which the Internet was supposed to go much faster just because I upgraded my processor. I was thinking, "What, did they bundle DSL on-chip to replace my 56k modem?" Someone within Intel must have made the same joke and was taken seriously by management.

    3. Re:Market Fluff Alert, Must Be Micro$haft. by Glytch · · Score: 2

      Insert your favourite "[x] is cooler than an Intel CPU" joke here.

  20. Xscale and 3G GPRS ? what are you raveing about ? by johnjones · · Score: 2

    this is the biggest load of B** I have seen

    you can archive this now just 3G using an up to date ARM processor like XScale and connecting it to a 3G network

    you can pull down broadcast quality video in real time and get you emails SMS chat rooms and all the rest its NOT exactly NEW

    wake up AMD building a MIPS chip is news !!!

    regards

    john jones

    2002-02-06 10:57:47 AMD now a makes a MIPS processor (articles,amd) (rejected)

  21. No modem? Come on, now. by crgrace · · Score: 2, Insightful


    The chip will enable laptop users to connect directly to cellular networks without the need of a modem in the same way that PCs in a local network connect with each other


    Give me a break. If it is wireless, I guarantee that there is modulation and demodulation involved. That means MODEM! The news here is that it is supposedly a monolithic solution and so it does in a chip what before was done on a board.

    This reminds me of an argument I had once with an "expert" who tried to explain to me that a cable modem wasn't really a modem. Sheesh.

  22. cellular CPU's, huh? by cats-paw · · Score: 5, Informative

    By far the most complex part of a cell phone is the RF design. Saying you have a CPU which allows cell phone connections is meaningless marketing drivel. Intel will NOT be putting the RF into their CPU in our lifetimes.

    Look at how small cell phones are right now. It's completely conceivable that you could simply put everything you need in a PCMCIA card or a USB attachment widget. Especially for laptops what's so un-portable about that ?

    The problem with internet cellular connections is that the DSP's and operating firmware in cell phones are competely dedicated to moving voice-data. They expect voice-data at both ends. If you take an oldish cell phone (still digital) it is simply not aware, and cannot be made aware, that you just want to pass pure data.

    Wait it gets worse. The cell-site expects everything to be voice data too. You have to go in and replace the firmware in the DSP's and controllers in the phones AND the cell sites to make this all work.

    Now that we've had some hindsight on this issue, the correct design decision is to move data with QOS. Then you see how much BW you have available for voice data and design your codec appropriately.

    Basically that's why there is now something called 3G.

    This is the silliest press release I've seen in a long time.

    --
    Absolute statements are never true
    1. Re:cellular CPU's, huh? by bartok · · Score: 1

      There's only one problem to you whole post: the article doesn't say they're gonna put this in the CPU at all. There are all kinds of chips, like the chipset on a motherboard.

      Quote:
      "CCDi is already developing a cellular communications chip that will be incorporated in future Intel chip sets
      "

    2. Re:cellular CPU's, huh? by jfisherwa · · Score: 1

      > Intel will NOT be putting the RF into their CPU in our lifetimes.

      On what basis can you make that claim?

      On the fact that there are several system-on-chip designs out there already?

      Or maybe the fact that there are already single-chip RF ICs?

      Why do you suppose they couldn't be integrated?

      Give it another 6 years and we'll have Pentium 8 system-on-chip, always connected to the Internet and wireless LAN, 1gb RAM, 60gb storage, multimedia-station-in-your-pocket that will blast DooM 5 directly into your retina at 60fps. Oh, and the entire thing will be the size of a silver dollar that clips onto your shirt collar and will come as a prize cereal boxes. (okay, maybe not that quite yet.)

      In review, do you perhaps feel a little premature in making such a claim?

      Jason

    3. Re:cellular CPU's, huh? by aminorex · · Score: 1

      Tap-tap. Clue stick here.

      The article didn't say anything about the chip
      in question being a CPU.

      And yes, you can get CDPD/GSM modems in a
      PCMCIA factor already. People don't buy
      them because they cost too much to leave on.

      I spend $105/month for DSL because it's always
      on. I'd rather pay the same money for 1/8 the
      bandwidth, but portable -- but I'm not given that
      option by the per-minute charges of cellcos.

      --
      -I like my women like I like my tea: green-
    4. Re:cellular CPU's, huh? by jquirke · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Most GSM networks can already carry data at 9.6kilobits, 14.4kilobits, or 43.2kilobits (using time-slot combining - HSCSCD). Some networks have GPRS extensions which allow packet switching at 40kilobits.

      In other words, the networks have no problem with data.

    5. Re:cellular CPU's, huh? by FrankDrebin · · Score: 1

      By far the most complex part of a cell phone is the RF design.

      This is utterly false. Hundreds, if not thousands of shops can churn out a good RF design for a phone. But only a handful can do the chipsets. Look at 2G CDMA... there's only 3-4 sources total worldwide. Not to mention the firmware that runs on the thing. Have you even looked at the standards? The RF specs make up a tiny fraction, where the protocol specs are thousands of pages. All those Qualcomm engineers are not working on RF design (or Eudora bug fixes)... 2G/2.5G/3G is all about complex signal processing and protocol engineering!

      The problem with internet cellular connections is that the DSP's and operating firmware in cell phones are competely dedicated to moving voice-data.

      This is misleading at best. You say it yourself voice-data and digital. Even many analog phones can run CDPD, and all modern 2G digital phones do circuit-switched data.

      This is the silliest press release I've seen in a long time.

      OK, I'll give you this one.

      --
      Anybody want a peanut?
    6. Re:cellular CPU's, huh? by cats-paw · · Score: 2
      This is utterly false.

      Really ? And how many cell phone RF designs have you done ?

      Hundreds, if not thousands of shops can churn out a good RF design for a phone.

      If you are trying to say that the RF design is not difficult because there are lots of RF chipset available, that's like saying Athlon 1GHz MB design is easy because there are lots of Athlons and MB chipsets available.

      Making a cellular RF design work is one thing, getting it to work so that it meets the VERY demanding specs of the system providers for millions of units is quite another. once your codec is done and in the DSP, you're done.

      This is misleading at best. You say it yourself voice-data and digital. Even many analog phones can run CDPD, and all modern 2G digital phones do circuit-switched data.

      I don't have time to read verse from IS-136. The fact is that the data is organized and dedicated to moving data for a vselp codec NOT as simply data. Any system which would move pure data would have to be implemented directly into the DSP's handling the codec function.

      Running CDPD on analog phones is a kluge. It works and that's about all you can say for it. As for 2G phones, I specifically mentioned OLDER digital phones in my post. I believe that the newer phones do have provisions for data, but this still doesn't change the fact that firmware changes were/are required to support this.

      All those Qualcomm engineers are not working on RF design (or Eudora bug fixes)... 2G/2.5G/3G is all about complex signal processing and protocol engineering!

      That's a good point, protocol design and codec design is complex. But it's easier to test and it's easier to put into production.

      --
      Absolute statements are never true
  23. Not at all. by FreeLinux · · Score: 1

    This would make the cell phone networks VERY happy. Presently you have a cell phone with a 1000 minute plan. That's a lot of chitchat for the money and it may well last you all month. Now, with Intel's plan, you're laptop is connected to the cell network "always on", just like when you are making a call on your phone. Now, instead of the 1000 minutes lasting all month your laptop eats them up in two days. That means you have to buy more minutes from the cell networks. They win!! Big time!!!

    1. Re:Not at all. by aao-brad · · Score: 1

      I agree, but I was looking at it from the cellular hardware aspect. I know the cell companies would LOVE this kind of thing...

      --
      "What kind of chip you got in there, a Dorito?" - Weird Al Yankovic
    2. Re:Not at all. by blacksmith · · Score: 1

      Now, instead of the 1000 minutes lasting all month your laptop eats them up in two days. That means you have to buy more minutes from the cell networks.
      True, except this would almost certainly be charged as GPRS or some other packet service (EDGE, 3G, etc). So, it would be charged by the amount of data you used, not the amount of time you were connected to the network.

  24. None by brunes69 · · Score: 3, Informative

    This seems to be a modem chip that will, though probably have an external option, will mainly be installed inside notebooks.

  25. Tumors and my jewels????? by t0ph3rus · · Score: 1

    Cell phones supposedly cause tumors. Well this doesn't make me feel to good considering my laptop ussualy sits on top of where the majority of us do our real thinking!!

    1. Re:Tumors and my jewels????? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      Don't worry: cell phones are quite safe so long as you dont shove them up your a**.

      OTOH, if americans are in the habit of using microwave ovens to dry their cats, I suppose its impossible to imagine what they might do with a cellphone!

    2. Re:Tumors and my jewels????? by t0ph3rus · · Score: 1

      I don't know if cell phones are that safe. Over in the UK there is currently a lot of buzz in the news about cell phones and health. Even if mobiles don't cause tumors, they still give me a headache. However, the headache is probably caused by the coworker at the other end. Either way it can't be good for me

  26. Re:No modem? Come on, now. by Casca · · Score: 1

    There is a fundamental difference between an analog modem and a device that sends digital data like a cable-modem or isdn router. Sheesh.

    --
    Casca
  27. Any time, any place? by BlueFall · · Score: 1

    Now if I could only get my cell phone to work any time, any place...

  28. Road Warrior by DeadBugs · · Score: 2

    I can't wait to see the look on the other drivers faces as I try and drive while talking on my LapTop.

    --
    http://www.kubuntu.org/
  29. Re:Will it contain the new manditory location devi by Takeel · · Score: 1

    Yeah. Watch out for black helicopters when you're surfing pr0n wirelessly.

  30. Great by geoffeg · · Score: 2, Funny

    Now everytime I switch cell phone providers I'll have to buy a new laptop to work with the providers network! :)

  31. TI already did it....Palm to use it by hirschma · · Score: 1

    TI's OMAP chip does this today. Yawwwn.

    Info here...

  32. DoS Cell Phones by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "C-Guard is one of a handful of cell phone jammers commercially available today."

    http://www.newhousenews.com/archive/story1a09220 0. html

  33. outlawed before it gets started? by Em+Emalb · · Score: 3, Funny

    Some states have a hands free cell phone policy. I can see a bunch of techno-wannabees out there DRIVING and trying to IM each other. Can you say crash? And not just the blue screen kind...

    leet_loser_1: dude, hold up, I just got into an
    accident :(

    leet_loser_2: bummer :(

    One benefit I can see would be if people actually pulled over when they are lost, looking for a place to eat, etc. Other than that, I don't see much.

    --
    Sent from your iPad.
    1. Re:outlawed before it gets started? by ekrout · · Score: 2

      Ever hear of voice recognition? (pun intended)

      --

      If you celebrate Xmas, befriend me (538
    2. Re:outlawed before it gets started? by jfisherwa · · Score: 1

      Not if they use voice over IP over cellular. ;)

      Man, imagine how cool it would be if we could actually TALK on our cell phones instead of type! I can't wait for 3G!

    3. Re:outlawed before it gets started? by dozing · · Score: 1
      I can see a bunch of techno-wannabees out there DRIVING and trying to IM each other. Can you say crash?

      We're already there with SMS. (btw I just upgraded to a new cell service which gives me two way messaging. I never thought being able to send an email from my cell phone would be so great. Plus tetris. Even for a geek I was overwhelmed with some of the stuff on my new phone/service)

      --
      Dozings.com -- Its kinda funny... If you're as crazy as me.
  34. But the upside is... by mblase · · Score: 3, Insightful

    ...you can get on a cellular network almost anywhere, while 802.11 is still occasional at best. The idea isn't to deploy the best product, but the most useful one.

  35. Current cell phones do this by EMIce · · Score: 1

    Current digital cell phones allow direct serial connection to the network with a phone company provided ip. It doesn't use slip or ppp directly, instead the phone emulates a modem so your dialer thinks it's connecting to an isp via the plain old telephone system. So what's the big advance? speed? At 19200 bps, serial is all you need.

  36. First generation chip? by yonnage · · Score: 1

    Lets just hope it can divide :P

  37. Re:No modem? Come on, now. by geekoid · · Score: 3, Funny

    no no, the whole system will be analog, really. ;)

    --
    The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
  38. Re:No modem? Come on, now. by jfengel · · Score: 2, Informative

    Yeah, there's modulation and demodulation involved. And it's already built into your cell phone. Why should you have to add another layer on top of it?

    The second generation of cellular phone networking is already in place, and is already digital and packetized. Layering protocols on that would be much more efficient that turning bits into sound, sound back into bits, and then into waves, and back.

  39. Re:No modem? Come on, now. by EMIce · · Score: 2, Informative

    Yes, but with your typical modem you must modulate onto audible frequencies, there is a big difference. Audible frequencies can't carry as much data as higher ones. Although current cell phones already modulate data directly onto the higher frequncies they use - for internet access too, ask your provider - but for some reason they still say the speed limit is 19200bps. Presumably because so many other users are sharing that high bandwidth.

  40. CPDP by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Maybe it is just me, but are they just putting CPDP on the chipset? After metricom went under I had to start to use the CPDP network to get wireless access. It only has a max speed of 19.2kbps, and it rarely gets that. Granted this article didn't go into detail, but unless there is some major improvement to the cellular network I don't see this being very successful.

  41. your welcome by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    your welcome

  42. You're�Welcome!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    In¦fact¦if¦it¦wasnt¦for¦losers¦like¦you¦each¦day¦I ¦wouldnt¦feel¦so¦good¦knowing¦my¦life¦is¦great!¦Th ank¦you!

  43. Oh great.. by jabber01 · · Score: 3, Funny

    You know, with GSM this might not be such a bad idea.. But as it is, I'd need a laptop for Sprint, another for Verizon, another still for Cingular... Boy! This is sure to be good for the economy..

    --

    The REAL jabber has the user id: 13196
    What you do today will cost you a day of your life

    1. Re:Oh great.. by f00zbll · · Score: 1

      There actually is a 3G standard called CDMASTDMA (code division multiple access synchronis time division multiple access), which was developed by a group of scientists in china I remember correctly. The only problem, I haven't heard much information about either nokia, ericcson or qualcomm going ahead with it. It seems like the dream of having a phone that works in every network around the world is still a long ways off.

  44. Re:Will it contain the new manditory location devi by Unknown+Poltroon · · Score: 1

    Thats whyi always look at the source code for the jpegs instead of the pictures. Lets see the black helicopetrs tempest systems figure out what im looking at.

    --
    All Troll + "offtopic" mods are meta moderated as "Unfair", because you abused the system.
  45. Great! by Neutropia_1 · · Score: 1

    Now instead of getting "network busy" signals on my sprint PCS (the all digital from the ground up - yet lacking capacity to support its user base) phone - I'll be getting them on my laptop.

    Seriously, I don't know how they plan on pulling this off without a massive upgrade in infrastructure - unless they team up with a cellular provider that already has most of the coverage in the US (verizon, sprint, etc). I don't know about you but I already experience the growing pains of my CSP (cellular service provider). Who else out there hasn't had the experience of dropped calls, busy signals, and vertiable cellular "black holes," where service doesn't even exist?

    I say that before they even THINK about doing something like this that they have a plan in place to isolate the computer service from the handset service. Otherwise all of the spoiled 12 and 13 year olds out there won't be able to chat away all night long on their very own cell phones due to log-jammed cell switches.....

    Just my $.02

  46. Its�been�a�long�time.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    gettin¦from¦there¦to¦here...
    but¦you¦know¦what?¦u¦suck

  47. "old company dream" by Boone^ · · Score: 2

    Guess that sums up the technological advances of our age.. an "old company dream" such as this can't be more than 6-8 years old, can it?

    As the tech train keeps accelerating, the time delta between the introduction of a technology to public adoption (not just geek adoption) will get smaller and smaller.

  48. Re:No modem? Come on, now. by crgrace · · Score: 1

    There is a fundamental difference between an analog modem and a device that sends digital data like a cable-modem or isdn router. Sheesh.

    Sure, they are different, but they are both modems, and they use some form of modulation (time or frequency domain) to send digital data over an analog channel. All modern modems (including 56k, cable, etc.) are mixed-signal devices including an analog front-end along with digital processing. We haven't had purely analog modems since the 1200 bps days. Sheesh.

  49. Re:Will it contain the new manditory location devi by -eddy · · Score: 2, Funny

    Hmmm... Location specific SPAM and popup windows.

    'Hello consumer! we noticed you are near McDonalds on 7th and main. Here is a 25 cents off of a Big Mac and Coke coupon!'

    -eddy

  50. IPv6 by Blue+Lozenge · · Score: 1

    I hope that technology like this will further increase the demand for IPv6. Needless to say, it's long overdue.

  51. Probably decently useless by kawaichan · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Yeah, it's kind of weird, but I doubt seeing the true usefulness of a intergrated cell unit in a CPU. I mean, is the chip going to support all the network or just one? so are yout tell me that instead of using those space for better performance or leaving it out to save power and cost, my laptop's cell would only work in NA.

    But they might ultimately intergrate 802.11 into the CPU that would really make this community WLAN thing fly, imagine every device has 802.11, oh yeah.

    --

    kawai
  52. Mobile Hip-Hub by iamcadaver · · Score: 1
    I still think the bluetooth personal wireless broadband hub is the right way for the industry to go. Hell, everything should go that way.

    I first read about it here on /, if anyone else is interested: a central wireless device that is 'personalized' for you, then all your myriad little devices communicate through it. Phone, PDA, laptop, mp3, radio, pager, gps, whatever, uses the connection provided via the hub.

    Make it an OpenSpec. I don't care if my little hub is 3com or Nokia, and it shouldn't matter, either.

    Of course, this is not the Capitalist Way. There is no sharing anymore, everyone will want thier own recurring revenue stream for thier little device, and we all will suffer for it.

    --
    Before I part with'em: two pennies weigh ~4.996+/-0.014g, have a zinc core, and the face of Lincoln. You can keep 'em.
  53. Dedicated laptop "cellphones" are old news. by Greger47 · · Score: 1

    Both Nokia and Ericsson have been selling PC cards that give you instant GSM access for years now.

    For example the Nokia CardPhone 2.0

    Bulding the chip and antenna directly into the laptop is a trivial matter of engineering.

  54. Oh joy by MoneyT · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Because we all know how gosh durned reliable cell phones are for simple voice, now we're goign to trust the same technology with our data.

    Not to mention the hell this will cause with cellular service. Just imagine, thousands of kiddies downloading porn in the mean time, some poor soul in an accident is trying to call for help and he's getting "Thank you for using the Verizon/AOL cell service, all our lines are busy right now but you will be notified as sonn as one opens up.

    No, the reason cell phones and the cell laptop connections work currently is because the actual numbr of people on the system at any given time is relatively low compared to the number of users. THis will kill our systems the same way 9/11 killed the cell service when everyone was calling everyone else to find out who was hurt.

    --
    T Money
    World Domination with a plastic spoon since 1984
  55. 3G...so what by drwho · · Score: 1

    It looks as though it's just another 3G wireless chip. I don't see what the big deal is. This article is devoid of any useful information. Except for Palestinians and other Enemies of Israel. The Mossad might be able to trigger a cellphone to blow up. At the very least, I'll expect Mossad will sabotage the crypto.

  56. An IDEA by clinko · · Score: 2

    Here's an idea... Ok, what if we just put the equiv. of wireless hubs in all cell phones. The internet would be where the phones are. That's where the people would be. Clouds of internet access would float around with the population. Such a kool idea!

  57. How is this different... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    How is this different than me taking my Nokia 6185 and plugging it into my palm pilot, laptop, or desktop pc?

    Right now I have a cable with one end that plugs into my Nokia, and the other end is a standard 9 pin serial. All I need is an ISP to "dial-up" to.

  58. Pbbt. by Scoria · · Score: 1

    While I haven't read the article, I've ascertained that the cellular chip is embedded into the motherboard from the comments on this thread.

    Let's hope that there aren't any security vulnerabilities built into the hardware.

    --
    Do you like German cars?
  59. Not here by Peter+Simpson · · Score: 1

    Israel, I believe uses GSM. Which means they have GPRS (General Packet Radio System) service. UNLIKE here in the US, where most of us assumed (before we read the article) this was happening.

    People in Europe are WAY ahead of us in having a cellular phone network that they can actually use.
    In the US, it's going to be a while longer...

  60. Slight problem by f00zbll · · Score: 1
    I took a look at intel's site about it and the chipset they are building is based on TDMA (time division multiple access) which uses the same algorith as GSM. The only problem is it won't work for a large number of people. TDMA and GSM have a hard capacity limit, which is considerably lower than CDMA. CDMA also has a capacity limit, so another type of technology is needed. Here is a link to an article

    What that technology will be is beyond me, but a TDMA based solution isn't going to provide enough bandwidth and capacity to meet the needs of laptop users because they will expect LAN speeds and reliability.

  61. How is this different from CDPD? (used now) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    CDPD (Cellular Digital Packet Data) (look it up on google) is a protocol for doing exatcly what the article says: sending data over the cellular network which was constructed largely for voice communications. No modem is really involved, in the sense that you talk digital to the cell tower, no analog signal which is GSM compressed, etc etc. This is supposedly the way many wireless networks work NOW!

    This article seems like largely a cheerleading piece for Intel's Israel division, and I get the feeling the reporter doesn't exactly understand what the product in question is.

    Does anybody know what "third generation cellular products" are? This is apparently what Intel Israel sells best.

    Xylantiel (can't find my password)

  62. Yeah, its called CDPD by mi · · Score: 1
    Verizon has been offering this for ages now. It is slow (like a 19.2 modem, I think), but that's the most CDDA network can do, supposedly. Always on, permanent IP address.

    With Verizon's new network (3G) it will, probably get faster eventually.

    What's the big deal? That it is Intel making the hardware (and pushing the smaller guys out in the process)?

    May be, Intel will offer open-source drivers for this hardware, though. Because Verizon only claims to support Windows and Mac (surprise!) with the hardware it offers from some obscure vendors.

    --
    In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
  63. I can do this now... by erc · · Score: 1

    It's called a Novatel Merlin PCMCIA wireless modem - plug it into my laptop and I'm good to go - anywhere, any time. It ever works with Linux! What's the big deal over Intel's stuff?

    --
    -- Ed Carp, N7EKG erc@pobox.com PGP KeyID: 0x0BD32C9B What I'm up to: http://intuitives.mine.nu
  64. RJ-45 on cellphones by LinuxHam · · Score: 2

    While Bluetooth is a much cooler alternative, I've been waiting for the longest time for cellphones to get RJ45 ethernet jacks, complete with IP connectivity that "just works" and DHCP servers built-in to the phones.

    --
    Intelligent Life on Earth
  65. Re:Will it contain the new manditory location devi by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Umm. Nothing is being "built in" to cellphones for location services. As long as your phone is just turned on, they can find your position via the base station antennas.

    It's nothing new either, that's how Mitnick was found.

  66. Intel SUCKS by evilpaul13 · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Well they do the fucking losers.

    1. Re:Intel SUCKS by aminorex · · Score: 1

      I think you mean the fucking winners.

      Yeah, but do they suck hard enough? If they
      don't suck hard enough, the bits won't come
      as fast as I want.

      --
      -I like my women like I like my tea: green-
  67. This is nothing new. by Combuchan · · Score: 1
    My Nokia 5190 (issued by VoiceStream, a GSM network) attaches to a machine with a MBUS->RS232 cable that you can buy on ebay for $10. Once connected, the phone acts as a modem with a Hayes-compatible AT command set.


    VoiceStream, despite their inherent evilness, (I'm still waiting for my deposit back 18 months later) has already one-upped this with GPRS. See a previous /. story.

    --
    "[T]he single essential element on which all discoveries will be dependent is human freedom." -- Barry Goldwater
  68. Not exactly revolutionary by grahamsz · · Score: 2

    Well this chip apparently works with any cellular network - which surely implies that it must be some sort of "modem". Assuming that they factor out analogue nets (which i thought died out in the early 90s until i reached the usa) then the only technology that will work will be creating an ISDN connection to an ISP - hardly revolutionary.

    It's more likely some 2.5G or 3G packet based system but again it's not revolutionary. Nokia and Motorola have both demo'd phones that support these things and if they can fit them in a tiny handset then surely intel fitting them into laptop is hardly noteworthy.

    However if they actually have a chip that in itself communicates with a base station without the need for an external antenna then they really have got something cool - but i doubt that.

  69. This isn't really a huge step by SONET · · Score: 2, Informative

    I connect to the Internet from my laptop using the infrared port on my Nokia 8290 phone. The phone acts as a modem. With Voicestream, you can use your plan minutes with this feature. Unfortunately I'm with Cingular, so I pay $5 extra per month and $.15/minute when I use the service (it also comes with a fax number). Thats for a blazing 9600 baud. Other networks offer similar functionality, some with more bandwidth (AT&T offers 19Kb and SprintPCS offers 14Kb if i remember correctly).

    That may seem expensive, but when you're trapped somewhere with no Internet connection and need to SSH to a box NOW, the price becomes worth it. It has allowed me to go camping and the like when normally I wouldn't have been able to.

    I could see where it could get complicated with billing issues for the product Intel is going to offer, unless they have service agreements with all the cellular service providers and you pay Intel for the service. I wish Intel luck on this one, as data services range such a great deal in price from one cellular provider to another.

    I guess it will be nice for some people to have it integrated into their laptops (and it will make for a nice opportunity for laptop makers to have another area to profit), but again I don't see it as a huge leap like they seem to be making it out to be - I'm essentially doing the same thing right now.

    --SONET

    --
    Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do. --Benjamin Franklin
  70. CDPD $40/month - 20 mbps by fredness · · Score: 1

    If it is CDPD then this is nothing new, just more integrated. I was using CDPD modem on the train, in airports all around the nation, and even on top of Mt. Tamalpais in bay area to make SF dinner reservations. Unlimited use rate was $40/month through verizon which eventuall I dropped because I couldn't justify the cost for casual use.

    1. Re:CDPD $40/month - 20 mbps by aminorex · · Score: 1

      I don't know how you could use it "all around the
      nation" when they basically only cover SF,
      Chicago and BosWash.

      http://www.verizonwireless.com/images/mobileip/s vc _availability/us_availability.gif
      .

      --
      -I like my women like I like my tea: green-
  71. CDMA2000 1XRTT and CDMA2000 EV-DO by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    CDMA2000 1XRTT (Verizon is selected market now and nation wide end of this) and Sprint (nation wide this summer/fall) gives you a peak rate of 144Kbps and avg. 40,60-80kbs.

    When EV-DO comes out, later this year and early next year, you will get a peak rate of 2.4Mbps.

    Koreans is already enjoying CDMA2000 1xRTT and will actually have EV-DO for the soccer world cup this April/May.

  72. Intel invented everything and wants royalties NOW by abraxas · · Score: 2, Insightful

    It's strange that Intel's PR department has any credibility when they make these kinds of claims.

    There are a number of problems with this recent claim:

    1) CDPD (Cellular Digital Packet Data) is well deployed and delivers all the functions Intel is touting in their new design line.

    2) The division of Intel that used to be the company DSPC produces a series of TDMA single chip solutions which are pretty cool but largely irrelevant as all USA TDMA providers are now moving to GSM and CDMA due to TDMA's poor voice quality and data hostility.

    3) DSPC's questionably meritable claim to fame was the integration of an Intel ARM core with TDMA and handset related functions. www.dspc.com Since these are both low power cores, they make a fairly good fit. A laptop CPU core on the other hand is power hungry, noise producing, and is subject to high levels of design churn which make it uniqely unfit for this kind of core integration.

    Added to all of this is the quote by the DCPC staffer pointing out that they are largely a P4 fab which points to Intel buying them for obscured reasons and putting their fabs to use.

    This sounds like a classic case of an Intel PR monkey being told to say something about how darned important DSCP's technology is and how wise Intel was for making this purchase. They clearly failed to understand the core value of DSPC and gathered quotes by confused Intel executives to create a compelling story that like most things out of Intel's PR department, fail to make any sense when examined.

  73. Re:Scale (Off Topic) by kiwipeso · · Score: 0

    And for those of us who speak english: There is such a thing as a free lunch.
    TISATASAFL

    I hereby predict that someone will find the code for GSM maintenance use of the network.

    This means free cellular use of the digital cellphone networks the chips use.

    --
    - Kaos games and encryption systems developer
  74. http://www.whois.net/search.cgi2?str=goatse by kiwipeso · · Score: 0

    Search Term: goatse
    Matches Found: 21

    New search: Search(advanced search)
    1. analgoatsex.com whois record / website
    2. boergoatseller.com whois record / website
    3. gaygoatsex.com whois record / website
    4. goatse.com whois record / website
    goatse.net whois record / website
    goatse.org whois record / website
    5. goatse2.com whois record / website
    6. goatsearch.com whois record / website
    7. goatsebsd.com whois record / website
    8. goatseckz.com whois record / website
    9. goatseclan.net whois record / website
    10. goatsecx.com whois record / website status: on-hold
    goatsecx.net whois record / website status: on-hold
    goatsecx.org whois record / website status: on-hold
    11. goatsed.com whois record / website
    12. goatsedance.com whois record / website
    13. goatsemen.com whois record / website
    14. goatsender.com whois record / website
    15. goatsex.com whois record / website
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    16. goatsexlover.com whois record / website
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    17. goatsexradio.com whois record / website
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    18. goatseye.com whois record / website
    19. guidetogoatsex.com whois record / website
    20. scapegoatseerpoetwarrior.com whois record / website
    21. twogoatsentertainment.com whois record / website

    --
    - Kaos games and encryption systems developer
  75. Re:Intel invented everything and wants royalties N by Animats · · Score: 2

    Agreed. Certainly you can put a cellular radio network interface into a laptop. After all, you can get them in handhelds already.

  76. Re: 20 mbps unliley - corrected URL by EMIce · · Score: 2

    That link appears dead, try this one. It's only available in major metropolitan areas it seems - that's too bad, something like this will need wide availability before it really begins to take off. 20mbps sounds high too, that's 2 megabytes/sec. No one offers that kind of service to my knowledge. Verizon's site posts about an express service at 144 Kbps, but nothing faster is mentioned.

  77. Been there, done that by LeftOfCentre · · Score: 1

    What is so amazing about this? My cell phone is already connected 24H to the internet via GPRS, all I would need to do is hook up a computer and it too would be online.

  78. Nope by LeftOfCentre · · Score: 1

    I get 5 MB of data in my subscription regardless of how long I stay connected (I normally am always online). For each MB I download to my phone that exceeds what's included, I pay a certain extra fee. AFAIK, this is how all GPRS services work so I think your fears are unfounded.

    1. Re:Nope by jo42 · · Score: 1

      And here in Canada they charge you $0.10 CDN for every e-mail that you send. Ever try sending e-mail on a forkin' cell phone? Who thought of this stupidity anyway?

    2. Re:Nope by LeftOfCentre · · Score: 1

      I did actually, by using a WAP-mail service of my cellular subscription provider. Worked neatly. As of yet I haven't been able to get the phone's own POP3 client to work. :/

  79. Already done... by Slashamatic · · Score: 1
    GSM telephones only use digital, PCM in time divisioned slots. There is no modem in the phone. If you make a data call, the link goes from your computer to a bank of modems at the air-time provider's office. The link just provides error-recovery.

    Same issue with CDMA, it is a digital standard. I don't understand what Intel are doing or even claiming.

    It is possible to drive a GSM phone from a PCs processor, (a kind of digital Win-Modem), but I don't know of anyone doing it because all telephone instruments have the necessary logic already there as well as a processor and software.

  80. Already exists? by Mwongozi · · Score: 2

    How is this any different from this, other than the fact that it won't use up a slot?

  81. Re:Scale (Off Topic) by Gaijin42 · · Score: 2

    The bad gramar was intentional, and when you corrected it, you reversed the meaning of my acronym.

    If someone breaks the code, that doesn't mean free service, it means theft of service, and theft in this case means actual loss of revenue (as opposed to piracy losses or "free cable" which doesnt actually cost the company anything) since we are bandwidth limited currently (the freeloaders would be taking up space that would be used by paying customers) This means actual criminal charges, and big money law suits.

  82. So, now I have a ..... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Laptop that can talk on a cellphone network to others that have a laptop that can talk on a cellphone network at a grand total of 9.6k (unless you have a proprietary network protocol) and no cable running to a cell phone with a softmodem that dials up an ISP using proprietary software, et al, blah, blah,....

    I really need a cellphone the size of a laptop.

    Moore's Law in exponential reverse...

  83. Re:Hasn't this already been done... by jo42 · · Score: 1
    Just smeggin', forkin' great, now we will all have cancer for sure. Pffht! on this dumb-arse idea and all the other poop being excreted by corporations to part us with more of our money.

    You'll find me hiking the Grand Canyon.

  84. Re:No modem? Come on, now. by Guy+Harris · · Score: 2
    There is a fundamental difference between an analog modem and a device that sends digital data like a cable-modem or isdn router. Sheesh.

    Sure, they are different, but they are both modems, and they use some form of modulation (time or frequency domain) to send digital data over an analog channel.

    Well, the ITU Telecommunication Terminology Database defines "modulation" as A process by which a quantity which characterizes an oscillation or wave follows the variations of a signal or of another oscillation or wave.", which sounds like a signal being imposed on a carrier wave.

    BRI ISDN lines, however, use no carrier signal; instead, the voltage on the line, as I remember, directly indicates one of 00, 01, 10, and 11, so it's not a "modem" in the sense of something that modulates a carrier wave with a digital signal and demodulates the carrier wave to extract a digital signal.

    DSL modems, however, do send signals over a carrier wave and extract signals from a carrier wave, as I remember. I don't know what scheme cable modems use, but they may also modulate a carrier signal.

    All modern modems (including 56k, cable, etc.) are mixed-signal devices including an analog front-end along with digital processing.

    Yes, but that has nothing to do with whether the digital signal is modulated atop a carrier wave or not.

  85. Re:Scale (Off Topic) by kiwipeso · · Score: 0

    One of my old friends is a data manager for VodaPhone NZ, free GSM data would not cost them anything they would notice.
    BTW, VodaPhone staff have free VodaPhone use anywhere in the world and this makes money for the company by convienience alone.

    I think you'll find they wouldn't give a shit about someone getting $20 out of the network each month.
    sorry about the delayed reply, I have been in the middle of nowhere since friday and only got back today.

    --
    - Kaos games and encryption systems developer
  86. Re:Scale (Off Topic) by Gaijin42 · · Score: 2

    A single users bandwidth, of course, they wouldnt miss that. Your whole town leaching? That will get noticed :)

    I could probably steal a penny from your house every day too. Does that make it okay?

  87. Re:Scale (Off Topic) by kiwipeso · · Score: 0

    Voda is mainly a student or executives network in NZ, a few uni classes could get away with it.

    Good luck trying to steal 1 a day, New Zealand doesn't have single cent coins.

    --
    - Kaos games and encryption systems developer