The Global Certification Forum and the CDMA Certification Forum announced that they are working together to offer a single certification process for mobile devices that incorporate any combination of 3GPP and 3GPP2 wireless technologies.
CCF is the official authority for certifying devices that use CDMA2000, a 3GPP2 technology. GCF is responsible for the certification of devices that rely on 3GPP standards, including GSM/EDGE, MUNT/WCDMA/HSPA, LTE and LTE-Advanced. The two groups said that the joint effort is “a response to a number of global mobile trends. Handset manufacturers, as well as other major industries such as consumer electronics, transportation, and healthcare, are incorporating multiple wireless technologies within new products that are being marketed globally. In addition, many 3GPP and 3GPP2 operators around the world are migrating to LTE.
A common certification scheme embracing all 3GPP and 3GPP2 wireless technologies has the potential to realize efficiencies and generate benefits across the mobile and associated industries.”
The two certification groups have been cooperating on LTE since 2010, but the current discussions focus on technical alignment of the certification processes and figuring out governance implications for both groups.
“The convergence of so many operators on LTE is accelerating the trend towards multi-mode devices that can be marketed worldwide,” said Bruce Jolly, CCF’s general manager. “A one-stop-shop certification process will set a universal benchmark for interoperability, minimize duplication of testing and reduce time-to-market for new devices.”
Adriana Nugter, operations manager for the GCF, said that a common certification process “will eliminate confusion, raise awareness of the importance of device interoperability and help other industries derive maximum value from wireless connectivity.”
The two groups will share a booth at the CTIA show next week.
Agilent Technologies won Frost & Sullivan’s company of the year award for its dominance in the test & measurement equipment market, with 26.9% market share in the RF market as of 2011 and 42% share in the traditional test equipment space, according to the analyst firm.
Frost & Sullivan described Agilent as “consistently dominating this dynamic and highly competitive market through the combination of superior technological skills and strong customer relations across applications, from research and development to manufacturing to field.”
“Leveraging competitive strengths, which include technological excellence, focus on innovation, and global reach, Agilent operates with the primary goal of being the most productive and effective partner for its global customers,” said industry analyst Prathima Bommakanti of Frost & Sullivan. “The company’s advanced and comprehensive range of solutions allows it to address almost all the major design and testing needs in wireless communications, enabling its customers to turn ideas into validated products faster.”
