Uncovering data's payoff

摘要

The cellular data industry is estimated to be taking in about $60 million a month in revenues, approximately 3% of the total cellular billing. Even if data services never make money, they have to be pursued to preserve the current voice business. There are 4 categories of cellular data service: 1. circuit-switched (CS) data, 2. packet-switched services, 3. control channel data, and 4. short message services (SMS). There are 3 general ways in which to improve the performance of CS data: 1. modem controller enhancements, 2. modem data pump enhancements, and 3. radio integration. Unlike analog CS data, where the speed of the connection is determined by the quality of the connection, digital CS data rates are defined by standard. The only packet-switched data service used by the cellular industry today is CDPD. SMS applications are predominantly one-way, although full-duplex capability exists.