Kyocera Unveils Dual-Mode Prototype

Kyocera Wireless and Boingo Wireless announced the demonstration of a prototype Kyocera BREW-based dual-mode Wi-Fi/CDMA handset with integrated Boingo public Wi-Fi roaming at the CTIA Wireless 2006 trade show in Las Vegas. In a real-world setting, network operators and MVNOs can optimize the dual-mode handset’s application suite to automatically choose the appropriate mode, based on environmental and performance preferences. 

Dual-mode phones represent the convergence of 3G cellular services and Wi-Fi hot spot networks. The addition of Wi-Fi to a handset enhances cellular network connectivity by offloading high-bandwidth applications in hot spots where the price/performance ratio of Wi-Fi can be less than half that of cellular services. This is especially attractive to MVNOs who do not own their own networks and must purchase cellular access at the prevailing market rates.

Kyocera?s prototype dual-mode handset leverages Boingo software specially designed for handsets and other mobile devices to enable global roaming and automatic user authentication across public Wi-Fi networks that are part of the Boingo? Roaming System. The software also includes complete network connection and profile management capabilities, allowing the user to configure connection profiles for private Wi-Fi networks such as home and office.

Via: Boingo Press Release