Deal could see Infineon chips inside Nokia handsets and modems
Mobile phone users are always craving
more speed from their mobile data and broadband connections. The huge
demand for data service thanks to smartphones, netbooks, and
notebooks equipped with 3G capability has carriers around the country
scurrying to keep up with demand.
With LTE on the horizon for 2010 and
2011, the buildup of the LTE product line and infrastructure is
increasingly important for providers. InformationWeek reports
that Infineon and Nokia are now collaborating
on LTE chips. The two firms are working together to ensure that
Infineon's LTE chips will work with Nokia 4G modems.
The
partnership also means that Infineon chips could end up powering
Nokia handsets and other devices that take advantage of LTE data
speeds. LTE data speeds are promised to be up to 100Mbps, much faster
than the data speeds that are available in America today. Verizon has
already stated that it plans to have LTE service in 30 markets by the
end of 2010.
Today the only 4G service that is available in
the U.S. is the WiMax offering from Sprint and Clearwire. WiMax is
rolled out in only a few select cities at this point, but the list of
served areas is growing. Sprint added five
new cities to its WiMax network earlier this month.
Other
than Sprint and Clearwire, the remainder of mobile carriers in the
U.S. are looking to LTE for their 4G service. LTE service is still a
long ways away, but Verizon has already promised that Seattle
and Boston would be the first two areas to get its LTE service.
AT&T is betting on LTE for its 4G
network and until it can roll the 4G service out in the U.S., it is
upping the speeds that its current network operates at with HSPA
7.2 service. The catch is that HSPA 7.2 requires a new handset to
operate.
"Young lady, in this house we obey the laws of thermodynamics!" -- Homer Simpson
|
Most Popular ArticlesReport: Apple to Debut iPad 3 During First Week of March February 10, 2012, 9:36 AM Nikon Announces 36.3MP D800, D800E D-SLRs February 7, 2012, 10:11 AM Quick Note: Acura Unveils Production Version of ILX Hybrid Sedan February 8, 2012, 9:10 AM Google's Motorola Mobility Purchase Approval Expected Next Week February 9, 2012, 3:02 PM AMD Concedes Die-Shrink Race to Intel, Considers ARM Cores February 6, 2012, 11:45 AM
|