Another Reason Why Handset Suppliers Have Gained Value in the Mobile Ecosystem

The mobile user experience keeps getting more complex as mobile operators add spectrum bands, even though most users do not directly encounter any of the particular issues. The reason is that it is harder to maintain connections moving from cell to cell and network to network as new frequencies must be added.

Voice and Internet connectivity issues also become marginally harder as hanset antennae have to accomodate more signals at different frequencies. Also, mobile Internet handsets have to conduct all sorts of signaling operations to support social networking, email and other applications. And then there is the simple matter of different air interfaces.

New fourth-generation Long Term Evolution networks will make the problem worse, especially for "world phones" that are supposed to work in many regions of the world.

When GSM, the first "digital" air interface was firs used in Europe, there was only a single frequency band at 900 MHz band. Than an 1800 MHz band was added, then 2100 MHz.

In the United States, the 850 and 1900 MHz, 1700 and 2100 MHz bands are used. That has lead to "quad band" and "tri-band" devices. And now LTE frequencies will have to be added.

In Europe LTE will likely start on 2600 MHz and potentially also be used on 1800 MHz and 2100 MHz bands, with some use at 800 MHz.

In Japan, LTE will be used on 2100 MHz with an additional band likely to follow. In the United States, the situation is even more divergent. Verizon uses a 10 MHz block in the 700 MHz range.

Some other operators might launch LTE in the 1700 and 2100 MHz bands. Finally, there are rumors of Clearwire jumping from WiMAX to LTE in the 2600 MHz band but with TD-LTE.

So global roaming capabilities of devices will be challenging. So how does this all work out on the consumer end user front? First, cost becomes an issue. Battery life is affected. In some cases, there are form factor issues and reception issues, as the physical placement of the antenna makes a difference.

The potential band and technology combinations for GSM, CDMA, UMTS and LTE are huge, as air interfaces also are different between operators in the U.S. market. All of that means there also are volume manufacturing issues, as devices have to be customized to a certain extent, by operator and by intended region of operation.

All of that means some devices will work better, quite apart from the obvious user interface issues, because of hidden requirements such as the networks each device is intended to work with, signaling operations and even the physical placement of elements within each device.

More-efficient producers will have an advantage as well, as the complexity of these decisions will mean there is an advantage for manufacturers and designers that can leverage the customizing process.

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