AT&T/DoCoMo Deal For W-CDMA Deployment In U.S.

murky.waters writes "The specifics of several amendments to the original deal are spelled out in a news.com article: AT&T gets $6.2 billion from NTT DoCoMo, Japan's largest telecom, for deploying a third generation wireless network in four of the top fifty cell phone markets by December 31, 2004. The chosen few are San Francisco, Seattle, Dallas and San Diego. However, there's a city-swap provision to possibly include either Miami or Detroit for Dallas, Phoenix or Houston for San Diego. Last, AT&T could get out of the deal if they chose an alternate third generation technology."

Comments

I just want my cell phone to work as a phone

[Powercntrl]

As I write this, my cell phone is chirping to inform me that it is switching in and out of roaming mode. The reception at my home is horrible.

Every time I read an article about "next generation network features", I'm curious as to when they'll make the first generation feature - voice communication work better.

Maybe it's different in other parts of the country, but here in Lake Mary, FL, Sprint PCS and their suppose-ed "next generation network" is a bunch of features and fluff surrounded by unusable service.

I think I'm going to make my New Year's resolution to switch cell phone providers.

So what use is it?

[Captain Kirk]

I worked for a wireless Interent start-up. The problem was not the technology itself. Its that there are no real uses. I mean, who cares that you can stream video on your mobile phone? Who is dumb enough to pay for it?

IMO, Wi-fi has removed all the need for umts. The mobile phone operators should concentrate on making voice work better, especially in the US where coverage and incompatible networks are a joke.

Re:So what use is it?

[Yokaze]

> IMO, Wi-fi has removed all the need for umts

Really?
How do you do location based services with WiFi?
How do you realise payment, how identification?
How does roaming between different WiFi providers work?
How do you connect to the mobile partner, considering that IPv6 is still not widely deployed?
WiFi doesn't work when you move a little bit faster than walking.
How do you achieve a good WiFi coverage, especially in more rural areas. (Without prohibitive costs)
How many people are taking a notebook/laptop/pda with them and how many carry a mobile?

Once more, I'd say 3G and WiFi are orthogonal. They serve different needs.