Vodafone Germany introduces 4G LTE dongles with 7.2, 21 and 50 Mbps service

[pctech]

http://www.mobilenewscwp.co.uk/2010/12/vodafone-germany-intros-lte-service-and-pricing/

[Rik]

That will please mobile users.

[pctech]

Be interesting to see how long it'll be until it rolls out in the UK, O2 have apparently been trialling it in Slough around their HQ.

[Rik]

Why not for us, eh Mitch?

[pctech]

 

It'll be a couple of years before we get it up here as like always the mobile networks upgrade London and the M25 area first and then branch out as obviously bankers have large phone bills.

LTE is completely IP based so they have to upgrade the core network (where have I heard that before) whereas 3G was grafted onto a GSM core which is circuit switched.

So basically its like a change from the old TACS/ETACS analogue networks (remember the static noise) to digital.

[Gary]

It'll be a couple of years before we get it up here as like always the mobile networks upgrade London and the M25 area first and then branch out as obviously bankers have large phone bills.

LTE is completely IP based so they have to upgrade the core network (where have I heard that before) whereas 3G was grafted onto a GSM core which is circuit switched.

So basically its like a change from the old TACS/ETACS analogue networks (remember the static noise) to digital.

O2 will be so on top of that then, seeing as they never really bothered with 3G

[pctech]

I think voice and text has remained a money spinner for them so they haven't focussed as much on data, latest info is they have 22 million customers (which includes SIMs embedded into devices for machine 2 machine communications) which of course can use GPRS.

[Gary]

I think voice and text has remained a money spinner for them so they haven't focussed as much on data, latest info is they have 22 million customers (which includes SIMs embedded into devices for machine 2 machine communications) which of course can use GPRS.

That may sting them, Mitch if data carries on taking off and they get left behind though, Vodafone femtocells are a great idea, wish O2 did one, then I could get 3G in my home.

[pctech]

I think O2 tried and was not happy with the lack of hand off support which I think is a major gripe with the sure signal and there were quite a few teething issues with network integraton.

[Lance]

THe service isn't exactly cheap in Germany, is it. I'd hope that by the time it becomes mainstream here the prices will be significantly lower.

[Rik]

Ever the optimist.

[pctech]

When the network is built out the prices will fall as happened with GSM.

[pctech]

I do wonder who will be first to market though in the UK.

[Rik]

Logically, Vodafone, therefore I'm going with Orange.

[pctech]

I suspect it'll take Everything Everywhere a while to look at doing anything because they are going to be busy integrating T-mobile and Orange's systems.