Advanced Mobile Service Takes To The Sea

With CDMA2000 gradually rolling out across the earth, the major remaining territory " the sea " is finally slated to get the advanced mobile phone service, according to an announcement Wednesday by UTStarcom Inc. The networking firm said it is teaming up with SeaMobile Inc. to deploy the service to segments of the maritime industry.

At-sea wireless voice and data communications will be delivered by UTStarcom's MovingMedia 2000 unit in partnership with SeaMobile's Maritime Telecommunications Network division. The firms indicated that the cruise line industry will be a major customer of the service.

UTStarcom said the MovingMedia 2000 technology is designed to offer a smooth upgrade path as the 3G and 4G technology is improved, for instance, enabling customers to utilize CDMA2000 1XEV-DO RevA as it become available from developer Qualcomm.

"We believe the compact form factor, use of IP technology and ability to seamlessly work over satellite transmission mediums make UTStarcom's MovingMedia 2000 solution an ideal technology to provide wireless telecommunications service at sea," said Jack Mar, president of the CDMA division at UTStarcom, in a statement.

Previously SeaMobile signed a contract with Ericsson to supply equipment to enable the use of GSM-based mobile phone and wireless equipment.