W-CDMA

W-CDMA (Wideband Code-Division Multiple Access), an ITU standard derived from Code-Division Multiple Access (CDMA), is officially known as IMT-2000 direct spread. W-CDMA is a third-generation (3G) mobile wireless technology that promises much higher data speeds to mobile and portable wireless devices than commonly offered in today's market.

W-CDMA can support mobile/portable voice, images, data, and video communications at up to 2 Mbps (local area access) or 384 Kbps (wide area access). The input signals are digitized and transmitted in coded, spread-spectrum mode over a broad range of frequencies. A 5 MHz-wide carrier is used, compared with 200 kHz-wide carrier for narrowband CDMA.

Read more about W-CDMA: - The CDMA Development Group has a Web site. - Qualcomm describes its radioOne dual-band GSM/GPRS with WCDMA (UMTS) chipset. - UMTS World offers additional information. - Ericsson describes its CDMA systems.

Do you have something to add to this definition? Let us know. Send your comments to techterms@whatis.com

Digg This!     StumbleUpon     Del.icio.us

RELATED CONTENT Cost-effective mobile connectivity As companies facing mounting mobile connectivity costs you need to make sense of the available mobile connectivity options and reduce costs before... Fixed-mobile convergence: Dual-mode versus cellular-only Fixed-mobile convergence can be achieved via either a cellular or dual-mode approach. Each approach has its pros and cons. Wireless rate negotiations: How to get the best deal Wireless negotiations require preparation. Companies must assemble the right team to assess their needs and form a bargaining strategy.

RELATED GLOSSARY TERMS Terms from Whatis.com − the technology online dictionary 1xRTT  (WhatIs.com) 1xRTT (Single-Carrier Radio Transmission Technology ) refers to any of several digital wireless communications standards that were developed to... fixed-mobile convergence  (SearchMobileComputing.com) Fixed-mobile convergence (FMC) is the trend towards seamless connectivity between fixed and wireless telecommunications networks... (Continued)