Nokia Siemens rolling out EDGE Evolution in Q3: like EDGE with half the slow
While we first got wind of a EDGE Evolution rollout from Ericsson, Nokia Siemens isn't about to let one of those young upstart carrier equipment manufacturers steal its top-of-the-heap EDGE thunder, and has just announced the "launch" of its Dual Carrier EDGE software solution, marking the first steps of rolling out EDGE Evolution to the company's radio portfolio. The software upgrade doubles current EDGE speeds to 592kbps, and will be available from Q3 2008 onwards. Nokia Siemens won't stop there, though, EDGE is going to get another bump not too long after that to EGPRS 2, with download speeds of 1.2Mbps and uplink speeds up to 473kpbs. What's unclear at the moment is what existing phones (iPhone, we're looking at you) will be able to manage this with a firmware update, and which ones are going to be stuck in the past, but we're hoping for a good bit of the former.[Via GigaOM]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Josh @ Mar 27th 2008 11:52AM
The article mentions the "software upgrade" this requires...is that for both the backend infrastructure and consumer handsets? Or will a carrier's infrastructure require additional hardware, and the consumer handset require only a software update?
I ask because I'm wondering how likely it would be for a carrier such as AT&T to invest in this advancement for the sake of phones such as the iPhone (as mentioned). I'm assuming the cost of a hardware upgrade as opposed to simply licensing a software upgrade would sway carriers to ignore that this technology exists and move forward with 3G and 4G development.
Badonkadonk @ Mar 27th 2008 12:58PM
You actually have it backwards - this will be a software-only upgrade for the base stations and infrastructure, it will be a hardware upgrade to handsets. DLDC requires a second receive chain (like half-MIMO) to do this, and no current handsets in the market (or chipsets, for that matter) have this embedded. The EGPRS2 will also require hardware modifications to work. Latency reductions is definitely part of EDGE Evolution and can be done in SW only, so this is something that you might see rolled out into existing handsets.
Jannu @ Mar 27th 2008 12:49PM
Unless there's a revolution in latency, EDGE Evolution won't feel comparable to even 384 kbps WCDMA. Still better than no progress, of course.
Sam Winter @ Mar 27th 2008 5:43PM
I have an idea. How about AT&T catch up to the 21st century and ROLL OUT THEIR DAMN NATIONWIDE UMTS/HSPA SERVICE ALREADY! JESUS.. Verizon has had EVDO rev.A coverage all over America for years now!
God damn't! Iphone or good service, Iphone or good service, Iphone or good service, Iphone or good service, Iphone or good service, Iphone or good service, Iphone or good service, Iphone or good service, Iphone or good service, Iphone or good service,
youngcalihottie @ Mar 27th 2008 6:47PM
iService? :P
youngcalihottie @ Mar 27th 2008 6:47PM
lol...
"EDGE Evolution" = "Enhanced Data rates for Global System for Mobile communications Evolution Evolution"
i know we've already established this.
i still happen to think its funny.