The spec, EV-DO Revision B will support a maximum theoretical downlink throughput of 73.5 Mbps, although actual speeds are expected to be far lower, the group said in a statement. It will be based on OFDM technology similar to that used for wireless broadband technologies like WiMAX and will have far lower latency than current cellular data technologies, the group said in a statement. The "B" standard will also support simultaneous voice and data sessions.
The lower latency will enable better support for applications such as voice over IP.
A number of CDMA cellular operators, including Verizon Wireless and Sprint in the U.S., are deploying first-generation 1xEV-DO networks, which provide typical speeds of about 500 Kbps. This technology has been commercially available to carriers since 2002.
Sometime in the next several months, carriers are expected to start upgrading to EV-DO Revision A, which will provide typical data speeds that are two to three times the speeds of 1xEV-DO. While the specification for Revision B is expected in the coming months, however, the group said it didn't expect carriers to upgrade to that technology until 2008.