By Phil Redman, Gartner analystBy jumping out first in the market for next-generation 3G wireless service in North America, Verizon Wireless brings sharper attention to thedeveloping packet-data market.
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Verizon wisely positioned its service as an initial launch and qualifies itsclaims for coverage, speed and costs as it evolves the service toward fullavailability, scheduled for year-end 2002. This caution should help Verizon avoidthe kind of hype that surrounded Wireless Application Protocol services,which have yet to match market expectations.
In the wireless world, coverage drives adoption. Verizon is introducing its3G service in 20 percent of its network, covering 53 million points ofpresence. Gartner does not believe that this coverage is adequate for abusiness user--the market for the service. Therefore, businesses willlikely delay signing on until 2003, after they've had a chance to evaluatecoverage, more 3G devices become available and pricing becomes clearer.
Sprint PCS plans to launch its packet data services to match its voicecoverage by the middle of 2002, which makes its offering more useful formobile workers. Its advantages will be IP compatibility, reduced latency andhigher speeds--likely 40 to 50 kilobits per second, with bursts to 70 kbps, compared withGPRS, which offers 20 to 30 kbps today.
(For a related commentary on U.S. Federal Communications Commission liftingcaps on the amount of spectrum a wireless carrier can own, see gartner.com.)
Entire contents, Copyright © 2002 Gartner, Inc. All rights reserved. The information contained herein represents Gartner's initial commentary and analysis and has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable. Positions taken are subject to change as more information becomes available and further analysis is undertaken. Gartner disclaims all warranties as to the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information. Gartner shall have no liability for errors, omissions or inadequacies in the information contained herein or for interpretations thereof.