CDPD: Evaluation
n based on widespread system, AMPS
n provides reasonable data rate at variable cost (12 to 19
cents/US per kilobyte of data)
n Available (at end of 1997) in US (166 “regions”, Canada (30
sites in Alberta, 2 in BC), Ecuador (4 cities), Indonesia (trial
in Jakarta), Mexico (2 cities), and New Zealand (trial in 4
cities)
n What does the future hold?
Andrew Tanenbaum: “use is growing rapidly”
Ulysses Black: whether CDPD will be the technology of choice for
wireless data remains to be seen
Bob Egan, DEC: CDPD will become competitor to packet radio
systems such as ARDIS or MOBITEX in short term, but will be only
interim solution until digital cellular radio is available