I’m trying not to blog about the war, which makes it hard to find worthy tech stories. This bill however, that aims to force CDMA over Iraq (instead of GSM, which everybody else uses around there (and which is also prefered in the UK)) just takes the palm.
A coalition is underfoot in the U.S. Congress to replace European with American cell phone technology in Iraq as soon as the conflict is over and the country rebuilds.
In a very kind act of colonialist benevolence, the US want to better the economic situation of local companies (Qualcomm) at what is, arguably, the detriment of Iraq. Not because CDMA is technically inferior, but because the motifs are essentially economic and it is probably just a taste of things to come: Iraq as a brand new exclusive market for American companies.
[via Slashdot]
a ce sujet: http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=8598
Apparently Iraq has enough of a cell phone network to allow for a certain kind of efficient communication:
« Enemy gunners on rooftops and balconies had apparently been alerted to the approaching helicopters by dozens of cell phone calls made by a network of observers, the sources added.
« We’re dealing with a country in which everybody has a weapon and when they fire them all in the air at the same time, it’s tough, » Wallace said.
http://www.smartmobs.com/archives/000844.html
Link to the bill itself: http://www.issa.house.gov/newsroom_press_detail.asp?serial=101&page=newsroom
Answer from GSMA: http://www.gsmworld.com/news/press_2003/press_11.shtml
http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/59/33247.html
The US Coalition Provisional Authority has finally awarded cellular licenses for Iraq. Shunning the powerful CDMA lobby, all the networks will be GSM and use Middle East-based know how and capital.