Samsung to Develop Dualmode CDMA-GSM Handset
Last week the Wall Street Journal reported that Vodafone has tapped Samsung to design a phone that will work on its European network and Verizon’s CDMA network, which Vodafone has a 45 percent stake in. Today Samsung announced plans to develop such a handset using Qualcomm’s GSM1x chipset and software. Coming through for Vodafone could be a huge step in Samsung’s effort to displace Motorola as the number two handset maker. Vodafone has wanted a transatlantic solution for sometime now and currently has to pay competitor T-Mobile USA roaming fees when its subscribers travel to the US. This could also hurt T-Mobile USA who emphasizes its international roaming capabilities as a key differentiator. If users can seamlessly roam between the largest US network and the largest pan-European network, T-Mobile loses its international advantage.
