Cellular Digital Packet Data or CDPD for short is the latest advancement in data transmission over the cellular network. CDPD is the result of a consortium of U.S. cellular carriers that created the uniform standard for sending data over existing cellular telephone channels. The goal of the consortium was to find a cost-effective, reliable, flexible, two-way wireless communications service for mobile workers.
CDPD is designed to exploit the capabilities of the Advanced Cellular Mobile Services (AMPS) infrastructure in place throughout the United States and Canada. CDPD is open and usable by anyone, but it's particularly well suited to mobile workers as it offers a high-speed relatively low cost solution.
One of the characteristics of transmission across cellular telephone channels is that there are moments where the channel is idle (approximately 30% of the actual air time is unused) CDPD technology is able to detect and utilize these otherwise wasted moments by packaging data in small packets and sending it in short bursts during this idle time. The net result is being able to transmit data without affecting the voice systems capability.
CDPD takes advantage of the existing cellular network by using equipment which can access both voice and data. You can now purchase CDPD cellular communication systems for Windows and MS-DOS computers. The hardware can be a hand-held AMPS telephone or a small modem which can attach to your notebook computer. The only adjustment you will have to make is putting up the antennae on the modem.
CDPD is an interesting solution because it appears to be reasonably affordable for the carriers, which should result in making it affordable for consumers. When you send data using the unit you are, of course, only paying on a per-packet basis which should lower your costs. This will likely be a great benefit to mobile workers who typically are just sending and receiving e-mail while on the road.
The use of CDPD will also not affect your voice capabilities so the cellular connection can have two uses. The vendors suggest that CDPD will soon make high-speed wireless data communication, at affordable rates, a routine occurrence. The cellular advantage is that we will not have to be tethered to a physical telephone line so the opportunities for new locations to work from are greater.
I had the opportunity to have a demonstration of the CDPD unit last month. It appears to be a product worth watching in the near future. I like the cellular approach but have usually avoided traditional cellular transmission approaches due to the cost and reliability. The CDPD seems to have solved both of those problems.
Contact:
Pacific Communications Sciences Inc.
San Diego California
web site: www.pcsi.com
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