Lucent Technologies Powers Mobile Internet in Brazil

Strategic Insights -

Telefonica's cellular carriers in Brazil have been equipped with wireless internet capabilities, thanks to a new technology provided by Lucent Technologies. This innovation allows customers to access the internet and email using web-enabled "smart" handsets, with speeds up to 144 kilobits per second. The technology is based on Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) and will enable users to surf the internet, check weather forecasts, book flights, and make restaurant reservations, among other services.

Key Takeaways:

  • Lucent Technologies has provided mobile internet capabilities to Telefonica's cellular carriers in Brazil, enabling customers to access the internet and email using web-enabled "smart" handsets.
  • The technology is based on Lucent's market-leading CDMA network infrastructure, with a built-in capability of offering wireless internet access at rates up to 144 kilobits per second.
  • Telefonica subscribers in Brazil can now retrieve and answer email from their handsets, access internet information sources and e-commerce sites, and view dynamic content from multiple local-language portal sites.
  • Lucent provided hardware and software to the carrier, enabling the deployment of the new digital wireless data transmission technology.
  • The use of WAP protocol allows access to the current internet and converts standard internet files created in HTML into simplified text that can be displayed on the cell phone screen.
  • Wireless use continues to grow at a pace exceeding 20 percent annually, with more than 100 million business and individual users of mobile phones in the Americas alone.
  • Latin American cellular subscribers will reach 40 million in the year 2000, with roughly half of them in Brazil.
  • Most new handsets contain microbrowsers, which allow users to interact with remote internet sources and applications, and view simple graphics.
  • Manufacturers expect to ship over 10 million new phones that will support mobile internet applications this year.
  • Telefonica, S.A. offers wireless services to over 22 million mobile subscribers in Europe, Latin America, and North Africa.
  • Lucent Technologies designs and delivers systems, software, silicon, and services for next-generation communications networks for service providers and enterprises.

Statistics:

  • Lucent provided hardware and software to the carrier, enabling the deployment of the new digital wireless data transmission technology.
  • The technology offers wireless internet access at rates up to 144 kilobits per second.
  • More than 100 million business and individual users of mobile phones in the Americas alone.
  • Wireless use continues to grow at a pace exceeding 20 percent annually.
  • Latin American cellular subscribers will reach 40 million in the year 2000.
  • Manufacturers expect to ship over 10 million new phones that will support mobile internet applications this year.

Sources:

  • Business Wire: Lucent Technologies Powers Mobile Internet in Brazil (May 22, 2000)
  • Lucent Technologies: About Lucent Technologies (http://www.lucent.com)
  • Telefonica Celular: About Telefonica Celular (http://www.telefonicacelular.com.br)
  • Telefonica: About Telefonica (http://www.telefonica.es)