* Sprint’s market trial of technology that brings wireless to wireline
This week, we’ll take a look at two technology trials that bring the worlds of wireline and wireless together. Today, we’ll focus on a five-city market trial conducted by Sprint that offers a wireline replacement using Sprint’s wireless network.
Sprint’s offering uses a custom version of Telular’s Phonecell Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) fixed wireless terminal. The CDMA terminal connects wireline telephones, fax machines and analog modems to the Sprint cellular network, and features high voice quality and E-911 compliance.
To use the cellular network to replace wireline services, a consumer simply plugs the wireless terminal into an ordinary home phone jack, enabling devices connected to the same phone line to work through the wireless network.
The terminal has an RJ-11 interface and emulates the local phone company dial tone. The terminal offers services such as Caller ID, Call Waiting and Call Hold. It includes GPS positioning technology for E-911 Phase 2 compliance as well as TDD/TTY for the hearing and speech impaired.
The terminal will be available during the market trial through Sprint wireless retail stores in selected markets, including Charlotte, N.C.; Indianapolis; Minneapolis; Richmond, Va.; and San Antonio, Texas.
Next time, we’ll look across the Atlantic to see what British Telecom is doing about wireless-wireline convergence.
