The consuming public is quick to latch on to more high-profile technologies and features in new mobile phones. Things like Visual Voicemail, multi-touch support, integrated GPS, and overall handset performance usually draw more than their fair share of the lime-light. But, there’s a lot to be said for more behind-the-scenes developments in mobile technology – the actual technical breakthroughs that drive innovation in the mobile space.
To that end, Samsung has just announced that it will use Sandbridge Technologies’ software-switched radios in future Samsung handsets. The new radios can be hot-programmed (without needing to shut down) to work with CDMA, GSM, WiMAX, and LTE networks – allowing future Samsung handsets to roam the world without worrying about finding a compatible wireless network. It’s an accepted fact these days that WiMAX handsets likely won’t work on LTE networks, and vice versa. But, not for long. Look for these new programmable radios will usher in a new age where mobile phones aren’t tied to the specific network standards –
Unfortunately, frequency support will be hard-wired and can’t be programmed. Frequency support is a function of physical hardware dimensions, and, unlike Sandbridge Technologies’ programmable radios, can’t be readily modified through simple software changes.
It should be interesting to see what Samsung does with their newly license programmable radio technology. The thought of a truly global smartphone with high-speed wireless data access anywhere in the world really gets our mouths watering.
[Via: MobileBurn]