According to the Federal Communications Commission's Cognitive Radio Technologies Proceeding ET Docket No. 03-108 the commission has, "issued a Notice of Public Rulemaking regarding service rules for advanced wireless services or "cognitive radio technologies."
These technologies, as the document goes on to explain, can enable a radio device and its antenna to adapt its spectrum use in response to its operating environment: "This provides a variety of options for a radio device and antenna to identify available spectrum that is unusable under current conditions."
That's crucial to xG Technology's (News - Alert) xMax mobile VoIP application offering. According to company officials, it runs over unlicensed spectrum and "is the first service based on this technology. Such cognitive technologies were recommended in the recent FCC (News - Alert) national broadband report as an area the FCC should promote."
Just last month, in fact, in tests conducted by xG, the new xMax VoIP network was found to be "compatible with all standard SIP-based consumer VoIP systems," according to company officials, who added, "this can allow such systems to add mobility to the benefits of low-cost VoIP calling."
The xMax network is a fully mobile VoIP system, providing calls at highway speeds using unlicensed spectrum. "Although some U.S. carriers claim to use VoIP technology, they may still be operating over standard cell phone networks and require customers to purchase a more expensive additional data plan," xG officials say.
"In contrast, the all-IP xMax network was built as an end-to-end VoIP system from the ground up and does not operate using the older and less efficient cell phone networks. XMax users will not require a more expensive data plan, but will enjoy high quality calls over an advanced network architecture."
Operating as a 30-square mile demonstration network in Ft. Lauderdale, the technology received an INTERNET TELEPHONY Magazine 2009 Product of the Year Award.
David Sims is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To read more of David's articles, please visit his columnist page. He also blogs for TMCnet here.
Edited by Stefania Viscusi