WCA January 1996 Meeting
The January meeting of the Wireless Communications Alliance (WCA) took place Tuesday, January 16, at H-P Labs in Palo Alto.
The WCA, a nonprofit corporation, is dedicated to the mutual benefit of area companies and organizations involved in wireless communications technologies.
This meeting focused on the new PCS wireless technologies with emphasis on GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications). GSM is the European standard digital cellular system in operation in more than 75 countries. Pacific Bell has selected GSM for PCS service.
George Brandle, an Applications Support Engineer from Hewlett- Packard's Spokane Division, spoke on "GSM System Fundamentals".
George described how GSM works and its relevance to PCS in the U.S. He also compared GSM to some aspects of CDMA systems.
Pat Lanthier, Director-Public Policy and Technology for Pacific Bell, spoke on: "The California Information Infrastructure with GSM based PCS".
Pat described plans for infrastructure investment in CA including wide area PCS wireless communications for voice and data applications. California economic development initiatives potentially favorable to wireless communications was be highlighted. Pat outlined paths for involvement that may facilitate GSM-based PCS and other technologies/services.