The success of GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) has prompted a number of telecommunications service providers in South Africa to introduce its spin-off, EDGE (enhanced data rates for GSM evolution) across their networks.
With this in mind, Duxbury Networking has launched three EDGE modems that it says open the doors for more innovative - and significantly cheaper - communications options.
The Duxbury PCMCIA EDGE Modem is targeted at laptop applications and is said to be three times faster than other GPRS options. Speed advantages are also features of the Duxbury USB EDGE Modem for mobile and desktop applications and the Serial EDGE Modem for fixed location applications.
EDGE, formerly called GSM384, allows a maximum bit rate of 48kbps per timeslot or 384Kkbps. Even higher speeds may be possible, according to Duxbury Networking MD Graham Duxbury.
"GPRS subscribers with EDGE-capable modems will benefit from data speeds with theoretical maximums of up to 448kbps, providing eight channels - at 56kbps each - can be used simultaneously," he says.
"EDGE technology is seen as an attractive high-speed wireless option for modem manufacturers looking to advance the user experience for data applications, such as video streaming and real-time audio, from previous generations."
Duxbury`s EDGE modems are able to offer four-channel functionality with a theoretical maximum data rate of 224kbps.
Specifications
* Quad-Band GSM 850/900/1800/1900 M
* EDGE (E-GPRS) Multislot class 10
* GPRS Multislot class 12
* GSM release 99
Output power:
*. class 4 (2 W) for EGSM850
*. class 4 (2 W) for EGSM900
*. class 1 (1 W) for GSM1800
*. class 1 (1 W) for GSM1900
* AT commands Hayes GSM 07.05 and GSM 07.07
* AT commands for RIL compatibility (RIL/NDIS)
* TCP/IP stack access via AT commands
* SIM application toolkit (SAT Release 99)
Ambient temperature:
* 30 oC + 65 oC
* Auto switch-off at +75 oC
Drivers
* NDIS/RIL software for Microsoft Windows Mobile-based devices
Specification for fax:
Group 3, class 1
Specifications for data EDGE (E-GPRS):
* Multislot class 10
* Modulation and coding scheme MCS 1 9
* Mobile station class B
Specifications for data (GPRS):
* Multislot class 12
* Full PBCCH support
* Mobile station class B
* Coding scheme 1 4
Specifications for SMS:
* Via GSM or GPRS
* Point-to-point MO and MT
* Text and PDU mode
* SMS cell broadcast
Specifications for voice:
* Half rate (HR)
* Full rate (FR)
* Enhanced full rate (EFR)
* Adaptive multi rate (AMR)
Basic handsfree operation:
*. Echo cancellation
* Noise reduction
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