BlackBerry finally combines cellular, Wi-Fi--and adds UMA

Wireless in the Enterprise This newsletter is sponsored by Aerohive Networks The Next-Generation in WLAN Architecture A well respected industry analyst takes a detailed look at a new approach to wireless LANs that eliminates the need for WLAN controllers. This controversially approach promises cost and performance benefits. Get all of the details in this whitepaper today. Click here to download this special report. Network World's Wireless in the Enterprise Newsletter, 08/01/07 BlackBerry finally combines cellular, Wi-Fi—and adds UMA By Joanie Wexler Once upon a time, Research In Motion put a cellular phone connection in its renowned BlackBerry messaging handheld device. Then it put in a Wi-Fi connection – but took the cellular connection out. Now, for the have-your-cake-and-eat-it-too business crowd, the company has finally combined both cellular and 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi in a dual-mode quad-band device, the BlackBerry 8820. Officially, at press time, the device had yet to find a carrier to peddle it in the U.S., though reports are that AT&T will be offering it later this summer. The device supports a RIM-developed Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) client so that, theoretically, the device should be able to hand off calls from network to network without dropping a user’s call. T-Mobile is the only carrier thus far in the U.S. to offer a UMA service (it offers it in other countries, too). The carrier has informally indicated that it will try to get all dual-mode devices certified for use on its UMA service, which currently supports just two handsets, from Nokia and Samsung. So T-Mobile might be a contender for selling the new RIM dual-mode device. Get Up to Speed on the Latest in WLANs Easily stay on top of the latest developments and issues in WLAN technology, standards, security, telephony, management and more with Network World's latest Executive Guide, "Keeping Up With the Wireless Whirlwind." Click here to download! There’s a big “but” here, though. Early reports of AT&T’s intent to sell the device is that it will do so under an exclusive marketing partnership with RIM, which would seem to exclude T-Mobile from the party. Yet again, AT&T has been building out its IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) backbone to support fixed-mobile and mobile-to-mobile convergence, and has not stated an intent to support UMA for dual mode. The UMA client in a mobile device needs UMA-compatible equipment in the carrier network in order to complete the handoff. So what gives? How will the BlackBerry 8820 users be able to leverage the handoff capabilities? Time will tell. But it’s becoming clear that there are many questions to be ironed out in the whole dual-mode, FMC landscape.   What do you think? Post a comment on this newsletter

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Contact the author: Joanie Wexler is an independent networking technology writer/editor in California's Silicon Valley who has spent most of her career analyzing trends and news in the computer networking industry. She welcomes your comments on the articles published in this newsletter, as well as your ideas for future article topics. Reach her at joanie@jwexler.com. This newsletter is sponsored by Aerohive Networks The Next-Generation in WLAN Architecture A well respected industry analyst takes a detailed look at a new approach to wireless LANs that eliminates the need for WLAN controllers. This controversially approach promises cost and performance benefits. Get all of the details in this whitepaper today. Click here to download this special report. ARCHIVE Archive of the Wireless in the Enterprise Newsletter. BONUS FEATURE IT PRODUCT RESEARCH AT YOUR FINGERTIPS Get detailed information on thousands of products, conduct side-by-side comparisons and read product test and review results with Network World’s IT Buyer’s Guides. Find the best solution faster than ever with over 100 distinct categories across the security, storage, management, wireless, infrastructure and convergence markets. Click here for details. PRINT SUBSCRIPTIONS AVAILABLE You've got the technology snapshot of your choice delivered to your inbox each day. Extend your knowledge with a print subscription to the Network World newsweekly, Apply here today. International subscribers, click here. SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES To subscribe or unsubscribe to any Network World newsletter, change your e-mail address or contact us, click here. This message was sent to: networking.world@gmail.com. Please use this address when modifying your subscription. Advertising information: Write to Associate Publisher Online Susan Cardoza Network World, Inc., 118 Turnpike Road, Southborough, MA 01772 Copyright Network World, Inc., 2007