Sprint PCS rolls out telemetry services

NEW ORLEANS - Sprint PCS last week announced PCS telemetry services that are designed to offer users flexible machine-to-machine data options.

The offerings, which were launched at the CTIA Wireless 2003 conference, will let users remotely monitor a utility meter or a fleet of trucks, or download point-of-sale (POS) transactions over Sprint's wireless network.

The service will run over Sprint PCS' national Code Division Multiple Access wireless network. And while telemetry applications typically use low bandwidth, Sprint PCS' service will support applications that require more bandwidth. The carrier's digital network supports data transmissions of up to 56K bit/sec and up to 70K bit/sec when compression algorithms are used.

Sprint PCS also is looking to offer users an alternative to Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD) services from companies such as AT&T Wireless and BellSouth, says Ryan Slack, director of business marketing at Sprint PCS. These services eventually will be phased out as these carriers continue to upgrade their networks to support 2.5G and 3G technologies. CDPD maxes out at about 14.4K bit/sec, while full 3G networks will support mobile data transmissions of up to 144K bit/sec.