A new group has been formed to promote the use of Time Division Multiple Access technology in mobile phone systems. Called the Universal Wireless Communications Consortium, the group is focusing its efforts on the Telecommunications Industry Association-American National Standards Institute IS-136 and IS-41 standards. The group says it has four main aims: to promote and assist in the deployment of the technology; to encourage take-up by users; to act as a source of information for operators up grading from analog Advanced Mobile Phone Service-based systems to Time Division Multiple Access; and to continue development of Time Division services. Although two meetings have already been held by the group, its first event as a formal consortium is planned for October 28 to 30 in Barcelona, Spain. The group is, unusually, not revealing its members at this stage. An announcement will be made in the coming weeks, according to a spokesman, who added that the delay is not caused by a lack of interest from potential members, but for procedural reasons.
