Mobile World Congress

The annual Mobile World Congress - formerly known as 3GSM - is intended to highlight the latest trends in mobile technology and services. It runs from 11-14 February in Barcelona, this year, and is organised by the GSMA (GSM Association).

The congress brings together mobile operators, equipment vendors as well as industry figures, and topics covered range from the evolution of HSPA technologies, mobile broadband, instant messaging and Pay-Buy-Mobile (PBM), which effectively puts a credit or debit card in a user's mobile.

GSMA Mobile World Congress 2008 - Latest News

Wednesday 13 February 2008

Orange backs Mobile Linux move in handsets
Orange joins the LiMo Foundation which is bidding to support and accelerate the rollout of Linux in the mobile phone industry.

ST drives NFC into mobiles with single-chip design
STMicroelectronics has a system-on-chip (SoC) device which adds security features to the emerging NFC (near field communications) market.

Tuesday 12 February 2008

Femtocell firms jockey for position at Mobile World Congress
The battle for the femtocell market is starting in earnest at the world's largest mobile phone show in Barcelona this week

Monday 11 February 2008

TI prototypes an Android handset
Texas Instruments is using the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona to showcase a prototype handset based on the Android mobile platform, the Google-backed initiative that is based on Mobile Linux.

Friday 8 February 2008

Motorola, Netgear demo femtocells at Mobile World Congress
Motorola will show its 8000 series Motorola Femtocell Access Point at Mobile World Congress 2008. Netgear is also working with Nokia Siemens Networks to certify its Femtocell Voice Gateway.

Qualcomm sees trials for broadband mobile services
Qualcomm has said that a number of network operators are committed to trialing HSPA+ technology this year.

Ericsson makes open software move for HSPA mobile
Ericsson has introduced a verified one-chip HSPA design platform which it said will support a number of major open operating systems.

Setting the context for Mobile World Congress 2008

A selection of recent stories that help set the context for this year's event.

Samsung design-in excites NXP CEO van Houten
NXP CEO Frans van Houten has described Samsung's decision to use it as a 3G chipset supplier as an "exciting step" for the chip firm.

BT and Vodafone get serious about femtocells
An independent industry association supporting femtocell deployment around the world has launched a programme to help harmonise the integration of femtocells into mobile core networks.

Linux will cut cost of 3G mobiles below $100, says NXP
NXP Semiconductors has teamed up with mobile Linux design company Purple Labs to create a 3G Linux reference design for a low cost multimedia phone which operators will buy for less than $100.

Motorola to use Qualcomm UMTS 3G chipsets
Motorola has expanded its relationship with Qualcomm to include next-generation UMTS 3G chipsets and will design the Qualcomm chipsets into certain UMTS 3G handsets beginning at the end of 2008 and in 2009.

NXP Interview: The race to make a single chip mobile phone
For years NXP has had an integrated platform solution for mobile phones. Now it wants a single chip mobile phone. What makes that possible is 45nm process technology. NXP's single chip aspiration is a success, many years ago, in the TV business.

Splashpower signs deal for first wireless phone charger
Wireless charging start-up Splashpower has finally launched its technology for mobile phones and MP3 players. Since 2001 the company has been working on providing a way to charge equipment without having to plug it in but this is the first commercial deal.

About the GSMA

The GSMA was founded in 1987 and is a global trade association representing GSM mobile phone operators. More than 690 such operators are members, covering 214 territories or countries of. This doesn't count the 180 manufacturers and suppliers that officially support GSMA's initiatives as Associate Members.

The stated aims of the GSMA are "to ensure mobile phones and wireless services work globally and are easily accessible, enhancing their value to individual customers and national economies, while creating new business opportunities for operators and their suppliers".

GSM wireless standards

The association describes GSM as an evolving' wireless communications standard that covers voice and data services. The related GSM 'family' of technologies comprises: the 'second generation' GSM (Global System for Mobile communications), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) and 3G GSM services (3GSM) based on W-CDMA and HSDPA technologies. Together these technologies underpin the GSM platform.

GSMA World Mobile Congress - The Event

You can download a brochure of the event and the programme of the Congress is also online.

The list of speakers ranges from Michael Adams of Nortel and Trevor Adey of Consillent to Neik van Veen of Forrester and Thomas van der Zijden of Polymer Vision. Topics covered by conference seminars range from 'Mobile Money Transfer' and 'HSPA Evolution' to 'Personal IM' and 'Mobile Broadband Solutions'.

The Mobile Asia Congress is a sister event that will run 18-20 November, in Macau.

Related technologies

Check out these Electronics Weekly guides to some related technologies

* Wireless - www.electronicsweekly.com/wireless

* WiMAX - www.electronicsweekly.com/wimax

* Bluetooth - www.electronicsweekly.com/bluetooth

* Digital TV - www.electronicsweekly.com/digitaltv

* Mobile Linux - www.electronicsweekly.com/linux

* Microprocessors (x86) - www.electronicsweekly.com/x86micros

* Microprocessors (non x86 - ARM, MIPS, TI) - www.electronicsweekly.com/nonx86micros