Cellular And Wifi Networks Join Forces To Close Wireless Coverage Gap

At the Cellular Technology and Internet Association's Spring show here, new products and strategy plans supported the idea of mobile devices that can transition from one network to another seamlessly. The idea would be to allow end users to move freely between cellular, 802.11b WiFi, and other networks without having to adjust complex network setting or restart the operating system.

During a show press conference, AT&T Wireless CTO Rod Nelson said AT&T Wireless, like other carriers, is considering how to incorporate WiFi into its wireless offerings. The carrier's options are to become an operator or to form a relationship with one or more operators, he said.

"We're looking into it," said Nelson. "I can't say what form that will take specifically"

John Stanton, chairman of Voicestream Wireless and chairman and CEO of Western Wireless, was more direct in that company's plans for WiFi coverage. Stanton said Voicestream will look to combine service with T-Mobile, the company's WiFi operator. T-Mobile was formed after Voicestream acquired the assets of troubled MobileStar, which provides WiFi service in Starbucks coffeehouses and other public locations.

The need for more spectrum coupled with the cost associated with network deployment leaves carriers with gaps in its high-speed coverage, he said.

"It's an opportunity for us to leverage our existing environment but it doesn't change the fundamental need for licensed services," he said. "I view WiFi, if you will, to be 3G with training wheels."

Like Voicestream, a number of providers are looking to aggregate use of WiFi hot spots across the country. The most prominent among them is Boingo Wireless, a start-up founded by Earthlink creator and Chairman Sky Dayton.

Dayton said Boingo's service, which counts Sprint PCS as an investor, will be bundled into Hewlett-Packard laptops and Go America will sell access to Boingo hot spots to its corporate customers.

Go America also said at the show it plans to aggregate other WiFi operators, adding the high-speed network to its existing wireless data aggregation service. Go America is negotiating with operators of 2.5G networks as well, a spokeswoman said. If the service provider is successful, customers could roam between a number of disparate networks across the country, provided their mobile device contained hardware to connect to each network technology.

On the hardware side, Nokia unveiled a PC Card modem that supports Global Packet Radio Service (GPRS) and WiFi. The Nokia D311 provides connection speeds of up to 40.2 Kbps on GPRS networks--such as those provided by AT&T Wireless, Cingular Wireless and Voicestream Wireless--and up to 11 Mbps expected when used with WiFi networks. The modem is expected to ship in the third quarter but is still awaiting FCC authorization, according to Nokia.

In addition, PDAs with dual-radios built-in are expected to be available later this year, said several attendees who were familiar with device manufacturing plans.

Wifi is getting so much attention in the United States because carriers have been slow to roll out next-generation networks here, experts said. To date all the carriers have unveiled 2.5G networks, falling short of the promised third-generation networks, or 3G, which would provide data speeds fast enough to provide rich streaming videos and similar services wirelessly.

The 2.5 networks still provide faster service, GPRS can provide transfers up to about 40 Kbps and CDMA's next-generation networks average above 56 Kbps, but most carriers have yet to announce a full U.S. roll-out, leaving many cities without service. Sprint PCS has said it will roll out its 2.5 network nationwide this summer, but at press time had yet to specify a launch date.

That lack of high-speed coverage is leaving corporate customers hungry for high-speed wireless access, said Richard Siber, a partner at Accenture.

"Security is No. 1," he said. "Coverage, ubiquity and quality of service all fall under No. 2. The enterprise wants something that is high-speed, not unsecure, not unspotty."

Although Larry Mittag, vice president and chief technologist at mobile integrator Stellcom, believes there is little profit for integrators who want to help operators deploy the low-cost 802.11b networks, he said the high-speed networks will benefit clients who need access.

"The opportunity is really for the customers," he said.

In order for roaming between different networks to take place, however, much work must be done. Billing systems must be integrated and software must be created to smoothly transition a device from one network to another.

Several companies are working on such capabilities, including the CTIA, Microsoft and Intel.

In an interview with CRN, Mike Wehrs, director of technology and standards for Microsoft's mobility division, said the capabilities should be available in Windows before the end of the year, with a Pocket PC update following after. Wehrs said third-party providers will likely provide a similar solution for the Pocket PC within the next nine to 12 months.