TOKYO-NTT DoCoMo Inc. said it registered as a Global Certification Forum Field Trial Qualified Operator this week. The move will help DoCoMo further promote the adoption of W-CDMA handsets and networks worldwide, the Japanese carrier said.
GCF is a partnership between network operators and terminal manufacturers to ensure global interoperability of GSM and W-CDMA wireless terminals.
Field Trial Qualified Operators open their commercial networks to terminal manufacturers to enable them to test the operability of their handsets. DoCoMo is now ready to open its W-CDMA network to support the development of third-generation handsets.
GCF is an international forum for 2G/3G testing and certification. GCF certification is widely accepted as a guarantee of the quality and compatibility of GSM-based 2G handsets, and the certification is expected to become increasingly important for W-CDMA 3G handsets as well, according to DoCoMo.
DoCoMo’s 3G FOMA network, which has been certified as a 3GPP-compliant network, is regarded as part of the global W-CDMA network. DoCoMo has been a member of GCF since October 2002.
