This just shows how big a mess the US networks are in.
You can get good coverage in over 90% of the rest of the world just by having a simple GSM/WCDMA phone - Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia, Japan, Australasia etc, just with 900MHz GSM and 2100 MHz WCDMA.
The networks and the FCC are entirely responsible for this mess of wireless "standards" and bizarre frequencies, the people paying the cost are the American consumer.
Ever wondered why Nokia doesn't offer their latest and greatest phones on whatever oddball frequency AT&T or Cingular are using? It's because they don't want to spend extra development money on a small slice of the global market for a limited number of customers.
Evan Powell
· 2 years ago
Doesn't wi-fi get you part of the way there? And if it is close enough, and will benefit from 'ethernet economics', PLUS inherently has advantages for intra enterprise wireless, maybe that's the future we should all bet on?
Jason Devitt
· 2 years ago
Evan,
Define part of the way. I am trying to get from 90% coverage with carrier A to 99% coverage using A+B+C+D. As open WiFi networks are only available in densely populated urban areas where cellular coverage tends to be very good anyway, WiFi doesn't really help at all. It can help to lower my phone bill at home and at work, but that's not the point here.
And I still need the carrier's permission to run a dual-mode WiFi /cellular handset on their network.
Thanks for the comment Jason
Charlie Guy
· 2 years ago
Great article in CNET today! We are working on a solution to use dual mode smartphones in classrooms & have been very frustrated by the wireless carriers' indifference to the cause of access for our country's have-not students to broadband. Please see our article on Digital Learning Apartheid. Would to to speak to you on how your approach in public education could open up a whole untapped market. Thanks you, Charlie Guy 727-894-5959 St Pete, FL
Dan W
· 2 years ago
A quick thought on fixed mobile convergence: Why dont mobile phones support DECT? None of this fancy using voip over home wifi malarky but simply use the cordless phone base stations & landline already in the house. Simple, works.
All Comments
You can get good coverage in over 90% of the rest of the world just by having a simple GSM/WCDMA phone - Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia, Japan, Australasia etc, just with 900MHz GSM and 2100 MHz WCDMA.
The networks and the FCC are entirely responsible for this mess of wireless "standards" and bizarre frequencies, the people paying the cost are the American consumer.
Ever wondered why Nokia doesn't offer their latest and greatest phones on whatever oddball frequency AT&T or Cingular are using? It's because they don't want to spend extra development money on a small slice of the global market for a limited number of customers.
Define part of the way. I am trying to get from 90% coverage with carrier A to 99% coverage using A+B+C+D. As open WiFi networks are only available in densely populated urban areas where cellular coverage tends to be very good anyway, WiFi doesn't really help at all. It can help to lower my phone bill at home and at work, but that's not the point here.
And I still need the carrier's permission to run a dual-mode WiFi /cellular handset on their network.
Thanks for the comment
Jason
Thanks you,
Charlie Guy 727-894-5959 St Pete, FL