If there were any doubts that the new Chinese TD-SCDMA would make it they now disappear with the news that Microsoft and Dell have teamed up with China’s Datang Mobile to develop a range of products based on the new Chinese 3G standard, TD-SCDMA. This standard is sort of available now in a limited sense — but by the end of the year will be common throughout China.
This major announcement for TD-SCDMA, almost, in a sense, guarantees it is going to make it.
Datang Mobile will collaborate with Dell China on the bundled sale of Dell’s laptop computers and Datang Mobile’s TD-SCDMA 3G mobile data card. Several models of Dell computers will come with the 3G cards built in — although no one is forecasting when that will happen.
The TD-SCDMA Industry Alliance has already forcast 14% penetration (note we are not talking coverage here, we are talking market percentage) of the TD-SCDMA standard in China.
China Mobile is widely expected to be required to build a nationwide TD-SCDMA when it is eventually awarded a 3G license. Trials of the network are already underway though in eight cities consisting of some 18,000 base stations. The next step will for other countries to take it up. This is likely simply because it is being offered at infinitely lower prices than the world’s competing 3G systems.
True, China did not honestly fulfill its Olympic promise of having total 3G coverage available by the Olympics. But 3G as TD-SCDMA IS available if you have the right handset and it will be a serious standard which will transform the mobile industry in China.
Source: Cellular News