Network Vendors Supporting Evolved EDGE

Last week, Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) press department did a good job announcing that they will support Evolved EDGE and double data speeds in GSM/EDGE based networks. Speculations started to go wild and the word iPhone was sometimes heard as well.

Well, by the time evolved EDGE hits the street the 2G iPhone will (hopefully) long be history. NSN says they will have it ready for operators by the end of this year. Which means that at best, we will see this available in some networks by mid- to end of 2009 at the earliest. Apple should have a 3G version of their phone by then, no? And besides, for those still having a 2G iPhone when evolved EDGE is available, they won't benefit as it requires more than a simple software update in the mobile.

Anyway, it's good to see that NSN is not the only vendor standing behind evolved EDGE. Others such as Ericsson and Nortel have announced their support (here and here) for about the same time frame long before.

Next, I am waiting for a word from mobile device vendors when they will support it. In the past they have supported features much earlier than they were available in life networks. DTM (Dual Transfer Mode, voice + packet data simultaneously) is a good example which Nokia already seems to support for ages now. I haven't seen a network yet, however, that supports it.

Comments

[Jukka Eklund]

What, DTM not supported? I have Mobile Web Server running all the time and can have a voice call and data open at the same time. This is in Finland, Elisa and Sonera networks. It doesn't always work, but most of the time.

[Martin]

Hi Jukka,

this would indeed be good news! Are you sure you are not in a 3G network when both things work simultaneously?

Cheers,
Martin

[Jukka Eklund]

Oops, I got confused, of course I am :) So DTM is for 2G, and nope I haven't seen that working.

[Mark]

There is a very interesting presentation by RIM here: http://www.iirusa.com/upload/wysiwyg/2007-U-Div/U2046/Whitepapers/IIR_U2046_Sharper_EDGE_Pecen.pdf
if anyone wants to find out more about the subject..