If it can do web access and video games, what else could it do.
T-Mobil Approves Samsung GPRS Cell Phone, Using Agere Systems Technology, for Use in Its Network
FOR RELEASE MONDAY JUNE 11, 2001
Samsung GPRS Cell Phones Expected to be on the Market in Second Quarter
ALLENTOWN, Pa.- Germany-based T-Mobil, a subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom and one of the world's largest Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) wireless service providers, and Agere Systems (NYSE: AGR.A) have jointly announced that the Samsung General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) Class 8 cell phone, which uses Agere's semiconductor chips and software, has been approved and is operational within the T-Mobile network. This achievement means Samsung GPRS wireless handsets equipped with Agere's integrated circuit and system-level software solution can enable data rates within the T-Mobil network at up to 50 Kilobits per second (Kbit/s)-approximately five times faster than today's typical wireless handsets (9 Kbit/s). Ultimately, the GPRS service is expected to allow data connection at speeds up to 115 Kbit/s.
GPRS, a 2.5-generation wireless technology and a bridge to third-generation wireless technology, runs on packet-based technology that operates, with a simple software upgrade, on existing GSM networks. Emerging GPRS applications include Web browsing, e-banking, and video games.
The combination of T-Mobil's approval and Samsung's early market delivery of Class 8 GPRS cell phones means that consumers can soon access selected Internet services by purchasing a Samsung GPRS handset and a T-Mobil service agreement. Samsung expects the first of the company's GPRS handsets using Agere's chips and software to be on the market in this year's second quarter.
Weighing only 85 grams, the new Samsung Wireless Application Protocol and GPRS phone has been designed to be compact and light while also featuring a large high-resolution (128 x 128 pixel) graphic liquid crystal display screen with up to 10 lines of text and four tones of gray to provide photo-realism. The phone has a dedicated Internet key for direct access to the World Wide Web and a four-way directional navigation key to allow easy screen scrolling and movement of the cursor. In addition to offering Internet access, the Samsung SGH-Q100 phone offers Predictive Text Input (T9) as well as Personal Information Management, which includes a calendar, scheduler, and to-do lists.
"The combined Agere Systems and Samsung solution has overcome the hurdle of getting the handsets to interoperate with the wireless base stations," said Klaus Daffner, director of department terminals product marketing with T-Mobil. "It's one thing for a company to say they have chips and software for enabling GPRS services. It's quite another--and more impressive achievement--when a major service provider such as T-Mobil finds out that it works under real world network conditions."
"Getting to market fast with a GPRS Class 8 wireless handset solution has been made possible because of the productive working relationship between Agere Systems and Samsung," said Samsung Vice President Byun-duck Cho. "Consumers can truly start to experience the multitude of benefits attainable with wireless high-speed Internet functionality on their handsets."
"We have known all along as we have developed our GPRS technologies that proving they would work in cooperation with telecom service providers under network conditions would be the ultimate test," said Richard Lee, general manager of wireless mobile appliances with Agere Systems. "T-Mobil's approval of the Agere Systems and Samsung solution, after rigorously testing it, not only demonstrates that our Class 8 GPRS solution works. It also verifies its operation in testing by a major GSM operator earlier than others pursuing this market."
Manufacturers of GPRS, Internet-enabled wireless handsets can deliver their products to market faster using the Agere Systems high performance GPRS chips and software solution than by developing such products on their own.
The chips and software solution is based on Agere's extensive experience in wireless systems engineering. The solution's GPRS protocol stack and related software have been developed by Germany-based Optimay GmbH, an Agere subsidiary. Based on Agere's Sceptre( 3 system-on-a-chip technology that uses Agere's DSP16000 architecture, the solution integrates digital signal processor, microcontroller, and a host of analog and mixed signal functions into the baseband chip set. The solution uses Agere's highly-integrated power management chip to reduce overall component count. The solution also offers a module Full Type Approval to ensure conformance to various systems standards and specifications.
Agere Systems Inc., formerly the Microelectronics Group of Lucent Technologies, is the world leader in semiconductors for communications applications. Lucent has announced it intends to spin off Agere Systems as an independent company. Agere Systems offers integrated optoelectronics and integrated circuits solutions to help customers reduce the time and expense of developing new communications equipment. It also provides wireless computer networking solutions through its ORiNOCO product line. More information about Agere Systems is available from its Web site at www.agere.com.
T-Mobil (DeTeMobil Deutsche Telekom MobilNet GmbH) began operating as an independent company in 1993. A 100 percent subsidiary of T-Mobile International AG, T-Mobil has a workforce of 9,000 in one of the most dynamic growth markets in Germany. T-Mobil recorded revenues of around DM 9.8 billion in 1999, and its T-D1 network has more than 20.6 million users (as of mid-March 2001).
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., plays an important role in telecommuncations providing a wide variety of products and services and developing and manufacturing infrastructure systems for wireless and fixed networks as well as CDMA, GSM and PCS HHP. The company also provides optical fibers and access networks that would be the core of the information superhighway. CDMA systems and terminals, which Samsung developed and started servicing commercially since 1995, won high recognition worldwide for China, USA, Hong Kong, Russia, Asia, Australia and Latin America. Samsung's vision for this century is to continue to expand its leadership in the global communications market through its success in CDMA/GSM mobile systems and terminals, as well as 3G (third-generation) total solutions.
