AT&T Wireless' EDGE Promises Faster Service

EDGE, or Enhanced Data Rates for Global Evolution, promises average data speeds between 100 to 130 kbps, twice as fast as other national mobile wireless networks and up to three times faster than traditional wired dial-up services, said Zeglis.

The new service, said Zeglis, is part of a concerted effort to begin to replace an early, audacious wireless vision and over-the-top-hype by providing mobile employees with a "real" wireless connection that is fast enough for workers to access online the same applications they have in their office.

"In three years," said Zeglis, "We have taken wireless from 5 kbps to 10 kbps to 100 kbps to 130 kbps, and that's just begins to make it simpler for people to be as productive when they are on the go as they are in their home or office."

Zeglis also introduced the new Sony-Ericsson GC-82 modem card, which he said provides average download connections of 100 kbps to 130 kpbs, with speed bursts of up to 200 kbps when used on the AT&T EDGE network. AT&T is making the service available to business customers for about $149.

EDGE service is now available nationally to customers in areas served by the AT&T Wireless GSM/GPRS Next Generation network, which includes about 215 million people, the company said.

Zeglis also introduced what he dubbed an EDGE Ecosystem of chipset and computer makers to applications developers and device manufacturers aimed at developing complete wireless solutions that address speed, coverage, applications and security features for the enterprise market.

Members of that ecosystem include IBM, Cisco Systems, Microsoft, Broadcom, Sony Ericsson, Hewlett-Packard, Checkpoint, Nortel Networks, Research In Motion, Motorola and palmOne. Zeglis named Cap Gemini Ernst & Young as one large systems integrator signed on to fold EDGE into its systems integration solutions.

Zeglis said the only way to move forward is to collaborate with other wireless industry and market leaders to develop an open wireless ecosystem built on true interoperability for multiple devices.

"The future is big enough for all of us," said Zeglis. "But we need to develop interoperable features and applications that work wherever and whenever."