Alcatel, Mitsubishi team up for UMTS solutions

Cannes – Alcatel has forged a cooperation with Mitsubishi Electric Telecom Europe (METE) to secure the availability of fully interoperable handsets with embedded video capabilities for early 3G/UMTS networks deployment, thus providing operators with full end-to-end solutions based on 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) standard.

This cooperation between Alcatel and METE brings together expertise and competence from both sides, improving the 3G end-to-end solution and foreseeing the launch of new business perspectives for the customers of both companies.

This collaboration offers full end-to-end solutions encompassing AMR voice call services, packet-based data services reaching 384 Kbps and videotelephony services based on circuit switched calls.

At the recent Cannes 3GSM World Congress, visitors were able to experience Internet browsing and download of movie clips in addition to videotelephony.

All these services were displayed on a Mitsubishi handset over live 3G/UMTS Alcatel network. Both companies made the demonstration as a preview before delivery to customers for experimentation.

Marc Rouanne, president of Alcatel Mobile Networks, said, "This partnership allows us to provide early end-to-end UMTS solutions to the market. We are delighted to work with Mitsubishi, and this first step shown at the 3GSM World Congress marks the beginning of a fruitful cooperation."