In My Last Column, I Talked a Bit About 3G, and Especially the UMTS Alternative

In my last column, I talked a bit about 3G, and especially the UMTS alternative. Although it would be great to have a single, worldwide standard for 3G, differing engineering philosophies and (mostly) politics have kept this admirable objective from being realized. Interestingly, though, the other major implementation of 3G, CDMA2000, isn't all that different from UMTS. Both, after all, are based on Code-Division Multiple- Access (CDMA), which is a fascinating if somewhat counterintuitive technology and certainly the most important in cellular today.

CDMA is an implementation of Direct-Sequence Spread-Spectrum (DSSS) and radio technology that originally achieved prominence in military communications systems, and then in early wireless LANs. The idea in DSSS is simple -- instead of sending 0s and 1s over the air directly, we convert each 0 and 1 to a longer string of bits, which is the "code." This may appear to waste bandwidth, but the technique in fact improves reliability because damage to one or two bits during transmission need not require that the entire packet of data be resent. Rather, when the signal is de-spread by the receiver, we can use statistical techniques to guess what the original bit was. Using the right codes, we can often guess correctly (and we still use error-checking codes at the end of each packet, regardless).

Now, suppose we pick the codes that are orthogonal to one another, meaning that two properly designed orthogonal codes can actually exist in the same spectrum at the same time and not -- really! -- interfere with each other. We'd give one code to one user and another to a second user and so on, and then, assuming everyone transmits at the same power level relative to one another so that no one station drowns out the others – voila, the multiple-access technique CDMA.

CDMA2000 (you can, by the way, find a lot of information on this subject at http://www.cdg.org/), while basically the same in concept as UMTS, has one very important difference from UMTS -- it is designed to operate in a 1.25 MHz channel, the same as is used in the 2G CDMA standard, which is known as IS-95. This means that carriers need not rearrange their spectrum as the GSM community has had to do, and the rollout of CDMA is thus quite nondisruptive to the carriers' existing operations. There is, by the way, a 5 MHz version of CDMA2000, but it seems unlikely that this technology will be available anytime soon.

That's because, though more spectrum is always better in terms of capacity and throughput (the key drivers behind 3G to begin with), CDMA2000 operators (primarily Sprint and Verizon Wireless in the U.S.) are doing just fine with what's available today. The key CDMA2000 technology is called 1XRTT, and it's a replacement for IS-95, featuring improved spectral efficiency and higher data rates (40-60 Kbps is typical). But CDMA2000 also includes technology called 1xEV-DO, which stands for 1x Evolution, Data-Optimized (or Data-Only). The "x," by the way, is the number of individual radio carriers in the channel; the 5 MHz version of CDMA is called 3XRTT.

EV-DO (often just called "dee-oh") is very important because it allows downlink data rates of (in theory) up to 2.4 Mbps in the current Release 0. A new version of DO, Rev A, will be available next year, boosting downlink throughput to 3.1 Mbps and uplink speeds up to 1.8 Mbps. As always, realizable throughput will vary -- I assume you'll see no more than a third of these numbers, and usually a lot less. The carriers can't and won't guarantee throughput because they have no control over prevailing radio conditions, user traffic types and loads, network latency, and the many other factors that ultimately determine effective data rates.

There is a noticeable gap between HSDPA's peak of 14.4 Mbps and the 3.1 Mbps of EV- DO Rev A, and WiMAX's peak of about 75 Mbps. Not to be outdone, the CDMA2000 community has announced EV-DO (the "1x" is now gone) Rev B, which promises 73.5 Mbps peak downlink speeds via the aggregation of 15 1.25 MHz channels into a 20 MHz Rev B channel -- the same amount of spectrum WiMAX uses, and with similar results. A pre-emptive strike against WiMAX, or a service we'll probably have in a few years? It's too early to tell. Nevertheless, these numbers are amazing considering the 2.4 Kbps barely available when I started working wireless just 15 years ago. Push to talk

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Jump to: navigation, search Mobile communication standards

GSM / UMTS (3GPP) Family

GSM (2G)

 GPRS  EDGE (EGPRS) o EDGE Evolution  CSD

o HSCSD UMTS (3G)

 HSPA o HSDPA o HSUPA o HSPA+  UMTS-TDD o TD-CDMA o TD-SCDMA

 FOMA UMTS Rev. 8 (Pre-4G)

 LTE

 HSOPA (Super 3G)

CDMA (3GPP2) Family cdmaOne (2G) CDMA2000 (3G)

 EV-DO UMB (Pre-4G)

AMPS Family AMPS (1G)

 TACS / ETACS D-AMPS (2G)

Other Technologies Pre Cellular

 PTT  MTS  IMTS  AMTS  OLT  MTD  Autotel / PALM

 ARP 1G

 NMT  Hicap  CDPD  Mobitex

 DataTAC 2G  iDEN  PDC  CSD  PHS

 WiDEN Pre-4G

 iBurst  HIPERMAN  WiMAX  WiBro

 GAN (UMA)

Channel Access Methods

 FDMA o OFDMA  TDMA  SSMA

o CDMA

Frequency bands

 Cellular o GSM o UMTS o PCS

 SMR

Push-to-talk (PTT), also known as Press-to-Transmit, is a method of conversing on half-duplex communication lines, including two-way radio, using a momentary button to switch from voice reception mode to transmit mode. Contents

[hide]

 1 Conventional two-way radios  2 Current use in mobile telephony (PTT PoC)  3 See also

 4 References [edit] Conventional two-way radios

For commercial, family and amateur two-way radios, the PTT or pressel is a switch that is pressed when needing to transmit with the radio on the tuned frequency or channel. While the PTT button remains unpressed (or unkeyed), any radio traffic that is received on the selected channel or frequency is heard through the radio's speaker. Unless the radio supports full-duplex operation, received audio is usually muted while the PTT button is pressed. Simultaneous full-duplex transmission and reception on a radio is generally not supported unless either the transmit and receive frequencies have significant separation between the two frequencies, or two different antennas are used with enough distance between them, or a cavity filter is used, due to an effect known as desensing which cancels out received transmissions.

More recently, the PTT concept has been adopted by cellphone carriers as a way to instantaneously send transmissions to other users on the system, emulating walkie-talkie communications on a mobile phone network. [edit] Current use in mobile telephony (PTT PoC)

PTT PoC or Push to Talk over Cellular is a feature similar to walkie-talkie that is provided over a cellular phone network. A typical Push to Talk connection connects almost instantly. One significant advantage of PoC is allowing a single person to reach an active talk group at a button press, thus users no longer need to make several calls to coordinate with a group.

Push-to-talk calls are half duplex communications — while one person speaks, the other(s) listen(s). Traditional mobile phone networks and devices utilize full-duplex communications, allowing customers to call other persons on a mobile or land-line network and be able to simultaneously talk and hear the other party. Such communications require a connection to be started by dialing a phone number and the other party answering the call, and the connection remains active until either party ends the call or the connection is dropped due to signal loss or a network outage. Such a system does not allow for casual transmissions to be sent to other parties on the network without first dialing them up, as is provided by two-way radios. Full-duplex operation on mobile phone networks is made possible by using separate frequencies for transmission and reception.

Mobile Push-to-Talk service, offered by some mobile carriers, adds functionality for individual half-duplex transmissions to be sent to another party on the system without needing an existing connection to be already established. Since the system is half-duplex (utilizing a single frequency), only one user can transmit by PTT at a time; the other party is unable to transmit until the transmitting user unkeys their PTT button. Currently, PTT service is supported only between parties on the same mobile carrier service, and users with different carriers will be unable to transmit to each other by PTT. However, the advancement of this service will likely bring interconnectivity of PTT traffic between different networks in the near future.

In addition to mobile handsets, the Push-to-Talk service might be complemented with fixed PC applications acting as PTT clients connected to the mobile operator via secured Internet links. A specialized type of PC Client is a dispatcher, similar to a PC client but designed for heavy load dispatching. That is, coordinating many issues typically caused when managing large fleets from a dispatch center. In Spain, Telefonica has launched PTT offering with focus on dispatch orientated group communications, as has Push To Talk UK Ltd on it is YouPoC Service.

When used with GSM and CDMA networks, the PTT service commonly does not use up the regular airtime minutes that are available for general voice calls.

Nextel Communications introduced mobile push-to-talk in August 1993 using iDEN. The first system was turned on in Los Angeles with 134 sites and a capacity for 50,000 dispatch subscribers. The "MOTO Talk" feature by Nextel (called Beep-beep or chirp by teenagers[citation needed]) includes both on- and off-iDEN network walkie-talkie service for newer Motorola phone models. The off-iDEN-network handset-to-handset Direct-Talk feature works for a radius of up to six miles.

Sprint plans on implementing Qualcomm's QChat on their EV-DO Revision A network. QChat has connection times of less than a second, which brings it in line with Nextel's MOTO Talk connection speeds. This will in time replace their ReadyLink Push-to-Talk technology.

The Mobile Tornado, Motorola, Nokia, Ericsson, Siemens, Sonim, Wireless Technologies Finland, Wireless ZT, Clarity, etc. versions of PTT are based on 2.5G or 3G packet-switched networks and use SIP and RTP protocols. These particular versions of PTT are called Push to Talk over Cellular, which is abbreviated PoC.

The Open Mobile Alliance is defining PoC as part of the IP Multimedia Subsystem, and a first version of OMA PoC standard was finalized in first half of 2005. There are few full- fledged commercial deployments of OMA PoC. It is very unclear whether OMA PoC will be seriously launched in the European market.

A pre-standard version of PoC is also defined by the industry consortium made up of Motorola, Nokia, Ericsson, Siemens AG and AT&T Mobility with the aim of creating a commercial offering enabling interoperability between vendors.

Push To Talk Service providers by region Australia Telstra Optus Brazil - Claro

Canada Aliant, Bell Mobility, NorthernTel, SaskTel Mobility (known as 10-4 service - compatible with Sprint PCS ReadyLink[1])

Cyprus - Areeba

Europe - Orange

Egypt - Vodafone (Also available in Portugal)

Finland - Saunalahti

Germany - Talk-IP

Guatemala

Claro - Claro Directo

Hungary - T-Mobile Hungary

Hong Kong - 3 Hong Kong

India - Vodafone, Airtel, Idea, Tata Indicom Currently under dispute in the country. Not provided by any provider.

Israel - Orange , cellcom , pelephone

Italy - TIM

Malaysia - Maxis Communications

Maldives - Wataniya Maldives

Mexico - Telcel

New Zealand - Telecom New Zealand, Vodafone New Zealand

Nigeria - Visafone

Paraguay - Personal

Peru - Claro - Claro Directo

Poland - Plus GSM - business and pre-paid Portugal - Optimus, Vodafone (Also available in Egypt)

Russia - MegaFon

Saudi Arabia - Saudi Telecom Company , Mobily

In Slovakia, Ardaco developed SecurePTT solution for information and communication security area. Slovakia - Silentel SecurePTT, Ardaco

Spain - Telefonica , Vodafone

Sri Lanka - Dialog GSM The service has been disconnected.

Thailand - Advanced Info Service (AIS)

Turkey - Avea , Turkcell

United Arab Emirates - Etisalat

United Kingdom - Orange (Branded as "Talk now"), In UK, Push To Talk UK Ltd launched its YouPoC Service, specifically aimed at helping businesses and enterprises get the most out of wide area one to many communications: goto www.youpoc.net [1])

United States - Alltel , AT&T Mobility , Sprint ,Verizon Wireless

Ukraine life:) Kyivstar GSM

Uruguay - Ancel , Movistar , CTI Movil [edit] See also

UK is now covered by YouPoc (http://www.youpoc.net

 IP Multimedia Subsystem  IMPS

Reliance

3G CDMA2000

Third Generation (3G) is the term used to describe the latest generation of mobile services which provide advanced voice communications and high-speed data connectivity, including access to the Internet, mobile data applications and multimedia content. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU), working with industry standards bodies from around the world, has defined the technical requirements and standards as well as the use of spectrum for 3G systems under the IMT-2000 (International Mobile Telecommunications-2000) program.

The ITU requires that IMT-2000 (3G) networks, among other capabilities, deliver improved system capacity and spectrum efficiency over 2G systems and that they support data services at minimum transmission rates of 144 kbps in mobile (outdoor) and 2 Mbps in fixed (indoor) environments.

Based on these requirements, in 1999 the ITU approved five radio interface modes for IMT-2000 standards (Recommendation 1457). Three of the five approved standards (CDMA2000® , TD-SCDMA, WCDMA) are based on CDMA. CDMA2000 is also known by its ITU name, IMT-2000 CDMA Multi-Carrier (MC).

For more information on IMT-2000 (3G) click here.

The world's first 3G commercial system was launched by SK Telecom (South Korea) in October 2000 using CDMA2000 1X. By the end of 2006 there will be more than 430 million 3G users across all six continents, In Korea, Japan and North America there are already more 3G users than 2G subscribers, and globally the number of 3G subscribers is expected to surpass 2G in 2011, ten years since 3G’s inception and 5 years less than it took 2G to surpass 1G.

CDMA2000 Technologies

CDMA2000 represents a family of standards and includes:

 CDMA2000 1X  CDMA2000 1xEV-DO Technologies o CDMA2000 1xEV-DO Rel 0 o CDMA2000 1xEV-DO Rev A o CDMA2000 1xEV-DO Rev B  Ultra Mobile Broadband - UMB

CDMA2000 builds on the inherent advantages of CDMA technologies and introduces other enhancements, such as Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM and OFDMA), advanced control and signaling mechanisms, improved interference management techniques, end-to-end Quality of Service (QoS), and new antenna techniques such as Multiple Inputs Multiple Outputs (MIMO) and Space Division Multiple Access (SDMA) to increase data throughput rates and quality of service, while significantly improving network capacity and reducing delivery cost.

Key features of CDMA2000 are:

 Leading performance: CDMA2000 performance in terms of data-speeds, voice capacity and latencies continue to outperform in commercial deployments other comparable technologies  Efficient use of spectrum: CDMA2000 technologies offer the highest voice capacity and data throughput using the least amount of spectrum, lowering the cost of delivery for operators and delivering superior customer experience for the end users  Support for advanced mobile services: CDMA2000 1xEV-DO enables the delivery of a broad range of advanced services, such as high-performance VoIP, push-to-talk, video telephony, multimedia messaging, multicasting and multi- playing online gaming with richly rendered 3D graphics  All-IP – CDMA2000 technologies are compatible with IP and ready to support network convergence. Today, CDMA2000 operators that have deployed IP-based services enjoy more flexibility and higher bandwidth efficiencies, which translate into greater control and significant cost savings  Devices selection: CDMA2000 offers the broadest selection of devices and has a significant cost advantage compared to other 3G technologies to meet the diverse market needs around the world  Seamless evolution path : CDMA2000 has a solid and long-term evolution path which is built on the principle of backward and forward compatibility, in-band migration, and support of hybrid network configurations  Flexibility: CDMA2000 systems have been designed for urban as well as remote rural areas for fixed wireless, wireless local loop (WLL), limited mobility and full mobilility applications in multiple spectrum bands, including 450 MHz, 800 MHz, 1700 MHz, 1900Mhz and 2100 MHz

CDMA2000 Advantages

 Superior Voice Clarity  High-Speed Broadband Data Connectivity  Low End-to-End Latency  Increased Voice and Data Throughput Capacity  Time-to-Market Performance Advantage  Long-Term, Robust and Evolutionary Migration Path with Forward and Backward Compatibility  Differentiated Value-Added Services such as VoIP, PTT, Multicasting, Position Location, etc.  Flexible Network Architecture with connectivity to ANSI-41, GSM-MAP and IP- based Networks and flexible Backhaul Connectivity (see the text at the end – we can do that later)  Application, User and Flow-based Quality of Service (QoS)  Flexible Spectrum Allocations with Excellent Propagation Characteristics  Robust Link Budget for Extended Coverage and Increased Data Throughputs at the Cell Edge  Multi-mode, Multi-band, Global Roaming  Improved Security and Privacy  Lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)

3G Keywords :: 2G (Second Generation) :: 2.5G (Interim GSM Generation before 3G, after 2G - GPRS) :: GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) :: 3G (Third Generation) :: IMT-2000 (International Mobile Telecommunications 2000) :: UMTS (Universal Mobile Telephony System) :: CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) :: W-CDMA (Wideband CDMA) :: FOMA (Freedom of Mobile Multimedia Access) :: cdma2000 License Costs Country Issue Date In Billions Per Capita Finland 3/99 0 0 Spain 3/00 0.5 11.2 Britain 4/00 35.4 594.2 Japan 6/00 0 0 Netherland 7/00 2.5 158.9 Germany 8/00 46.1 566.9 Italy 10/00 10 174.2 Austria 11/00 0.7 86 Norway 11/00 0.9 20.5 S. Korea 12/00 3.3 69.6 Australia 3/01 1.2 30.3 Singapore 4/01 0.2 42.6

:: 3G Overview :: 3G Defined 3G (Third Generation) is a generic name for a set of mobile technologies set to be launched by the end of 2001 which use a host of high-tech infrastructure networks, handsets, base stations, switches and other equipment to allow mobiles to offer high-speed Internet access, data, video and CD-quality music services.

Data speeds in 3G networks should be show speeds of to up to 2 Megabits per second, an increase on current technology.

:: 2G/2.5G Defined GSM for example is a 2G technology. It uses TDMA technology, proving data speeds of 9.6kbps/14.4kbps. The packet radio upgrade to GSM, called GPRS, can have speeds of up to 114kbps. GPRS an interim technology towards 3G, and hence is known as 2.5G. GSM might go the same way as the older first generation (1G) NMT and AMPS networks in 8-15 years because of the use of newer and better UMTS technology (More on GSM) ; (More on GPRS)

:: CDMA (See our CDMA section) The new 3G services are almost all flavours of technolgies based on the generic name, CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access). CDMA is a digital wireless technology that allows multiple users to share radio frequencies at the same time without interfering with each other. A telephone or data call is assigned a unique code that distinguishes it from others and and since the signals hop among different frequencies.

Current 2G services using the original CDMA "IS-95" technology are know as cdmaOne. 3G services will use new high-speed versions of CDMA called W-CDMA, or its competing technology, cdma2000. (More on CDMA)

IMT-2000 In all, these technologies fall under the ITUs generic name of IMT-2000 (International Mobile Telecommunications 2000). But when the ITU tried to unify and standardise 3G technologies, no consensus was reached. There were thus five terrestrial standards developed as part of the IMT- 2000 program. Instead, depending on where in the world 3G will be implemented, the 3G standard will be based on CDMA variants cdma2000 or W-CDMA.

CDMA 3G Variants (in the IMT-2000 Family) The primary CDMA variants that will be used in IMT-2000 3G networks are W-CDMA (Wideband CDMA) and cdma2000, which are similar but not the same, so that W-CDMA handsets will not work with cdma2000 handsets and visa versa.

W-CDMA (Wideband CDMA) W-CDMA is the competitor to cdma2000 and one of two 3G standards that makes use of a wider spectrum than CDMA and therefore can transmit and receive information for faster and more efficiently. Co-developed by NTT DoCoMo, it is being backed by most European mobile operators and is expected to compete with cdma2000 to be the de facto 3G standard

UMTS (W-CDMA) In Europe, 3G W-CDMA networks are known as UMTS (Universal Mobile Telephony System) another name for w-CDMA/3G services. Governments in the region held UMTS auctions for 3G licences netting $108 billion in 2000.

FOMA (W-CDMA) Japanese giant NTT DoCoMo Inc brand name for 3G services is FOMA (Freedom of Mobile Multimedia Access). Based on the W-CDMA format, FOMA services for a limited number of users is to begin at the end of May, with full commercial services due in October 2001.

cdma2000 (See more on cdma2000) Then there is cdma2000, the other 3G standard. It is the upgarde to cdmaOne. It can use of a wider spectrum than CDMA and therefore can transmit and receive information faster and more efficiently, making fast Internet data, video, and CD-quality music transmission possible. There are however new cdma2000 variants called cdma2000 1X, 1X-EV-DV, 1X EV-DO, and cdma2000 3X. They deliver 3G services while occupying a very small amount of current spectrum (1.25 MHz per carrier) as opposed to UMTS which requires completely NEW spectrum (hence the auctions).

That is why cddma2000 is considered slightly more technologically advanced than the competing W-CDMA standard. CDMA2000 is not constrained to only the IMT band; it is defined to operate in existing cellular and PCS spectrum as well as IMT spectrum, thereby maximizing flexibility for operators. Cdma2000 is expected to be compatible with with CDMA and GSM/TDMA networks so that GSM networks can "overlay" a cdma2000 network over their GSM networks.more [more...]

More than 700 GSM mobile networks have been established in Europe, the North America, South America, Iceland, Asia, Africa and Australasia up untill now, woven together by international roaming agreements and a common bond called the "Memorandum of Understanding" (MoU) which defines the GSM standards and the different phases of its world-wide implementation.

1982 - The Beginning

 Nordic Telecom and Netherlands PTT propose to CEPT (Conference of European Post and Telecommunications) the development of a new digital cellular standard that would cope with the ever a burgeoning demands on European mobile networks.  The European Commission (EC) issues a directive which requires member states to reserve frequencies in the 900 MHz band for GSM to allow for roaming.

 Main GSM radio transmission techniques are chosen

 September - 13 operators and administrators from 12 areas in the CEPT GSM advisory group sign the charter GSM (Groupe Spéciale Mobile) MoU "Club" agreement, with a launch date of 1 July 1991.  The original French name was later changed to Global System for Mobile Communications, but the original GSM acronym stuck.  GSM spec drafted.

 The European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) defined GSM as the internationally accepted digital cellular telephony standard  GSM becomes an ETSI technical committee

 Phase 1 GSM 900 specifications are frozen  DCS adaptation starts  Validation systems implemented  First GSM World congress in Rome with 650 Participants

 First GSM spec demonstrated  DCS specifications are frozen  GSM World Congress Nice has 690 Participants

 January - First GSM network operator is Oy Radiolinja Ab in Finland  December 1992 - 13 networks on air in 7 areas  GSM World Congress Berlin - 630 Participants

 GSM demonstrated for the first time in Africa at Telkom '93 in Cape Town  Roaming agreements between several operators established  December 1993 - 32 networks on air in 18 areas  GSM World Congress Lisbon with 760 Participants  Telkom '93 held in Cape Town. First GSM systems shown.

 First GSM networks in Africa launched in South Africa  Phase 2 data/fax bearer services launched  Vodacom becomes first GSM network in the world to implement data/fax  GSM World Congress Athens with 780 Participants  December 1994 - 69 networks on air in 43 areas

 GSM MoU is formally registered as an Association registered in Switzerland - 156 members from 86 areas.  GSM World Congress Madrid with 1400 Participants  December 1995 117 networks on air in 69 areas  Fax, data and SMS roaming started  GSM phase 2 standardization is completed, including adaptation for PCS 1900 (PCS)  First PCS 1900 network live 'on air' in the USA  Telecom '95 Geneva - Nokia shows 33.6 kbps multimedia data via GSM  Namibia goes on-line  Ericsson 337 wins GSM phone of the year  US FCC auctions off PCS licenses

 GSM MoU is formally registered as an Association registered in Switzerland  December 1996 120 networks on air in 84 areas  GSM World Congress in Cannes  GSM MoU Plenary held in Atlanta GA, USA  8K SIM launched  Pre-Paid GSM SIM Cards launched  Bundled billing introduced in South Africa  Libya goes on-line  Option International launches world's first GSM/Fixed-line modem

 Zimbabwe goes live  GSM World Congress Cannes 21/2/97  Mozambique goes live  Iridium birds launched  First dual-band GSM 900-1900 phone launched by Bosch

 Botswana GSM goes live  GSM World Congress Cannes (2/98)  Vodacom Introduces Free VoiceMail  MTN Gets Uganda Tender  GSM SIM Cracked in USA  Over 2m GSM 1900 users  MTN Gets Rwanda Tender  MTN follows with free voicemail  Rwanda GSM Live  First HSCSD trials in Singapore  Vodacom launches Yebo!Net 10/98  Iridium Live 11/98  First GSM Africa Conference (11/98)  125m GSM 900/1800/1900 users worldwide (12/98)  Option International launches FirstFone  MTN launches CarryOver minutes 1999

 GSM Conference in Cannes 2/99  165m GSM 900/1800/1900 users worldwide  GPRS trials begin and USA and Scandanavia 1/99  WAP trials in France and Italy 1/99  CellExpo Africa 5/99  Eight Bidders for Third SA Cell License  GSM MoU Joins 3GPP  MTN SA Head of GSM MoU  First GPRS networks go live  Bluetooth specification v1.0 released

 GSM Conference in Cannes 3/2000  By 12/2000 480m GSM 900/1800/1900 users worldwide  First GPRS networks roll out  Mobey Forum Launched  MeT Forum Launched  Location Interoperability Forum Launched  First GPRS terminals seen  Nokia releases SmartMessaging spec  SyncML spec released

 GSM Conference in Cannes 2/2001  By 5/2001 500m GSM 900/1800/1900 users worldwide  16 billion SMS message sent in April 2001

 500 million people are GSM users (4/01)