"Back in 1996 I had wireless email and internet on my Palm" Yeah, me too although maybe a little later, they dragged their heels on buying them for our team but finally did. (I was with the vendor.) Of course the browser was text only, but then downloading pictures at that speed was a bit of a drag. Company IT policy made it impossible to get company emails, so I set it up for my private account which meant I could easily keep up with my emails while train commuting to work. Just don't try to send or receive in the Tawa tunnels!
Speaking of pictures, one Telecom person did download 18 Megs of ...well, you work it out for yourself...in about one day. A truly marathon effort.
The mini network for the Cup was interesting, since it was set up as about three "separate" networks, logically not physically. By controlling which network a boat or buoy belonged to, you could control which TRX's it could use, and hence control the maximum traffic through the TRX. If they had all logged onto one, as of course they randomly would, it could not have coped with the traffic.
Better not say too much more or someone will figure out who I am!
I remember back in the 90s that my dad was signed up with "Motorola Cellular Services" and that's where he paid his bills to. Was that piggybacking off the Telecom network?
Jama: Also, there was the Novatel Wireless CDPD Mistral which was a sled for the Palm devices. Back in 1996 I had wireless email and internet on my Palm. Fancy that!
Ahh, that's what those things are! thanks for the info!
If when I get the chance I'll upload pictures of some of these classic devices, The Sierra pcmcia card comes with a floppy disk (disc?) with PocketPC drivers. That was my first handheld mobile connection.
Well yes, Ericsson was the vendor for the CDPD network. Troubleshooter might have been an apt description of the role I had. I don't think anyone will contradict me if I say there were a few troubles to shoot along the way, in fact I think I could safely say it was a bleeding edge project.
Wow, can't believe that it's over 20 years since Telecom started AMPS. I still think it was the best network for voice calls - I had a Nokia in the late 90s, and was able to get reception in more places than I can today on Vodafone!
For some reason I remember hearing or reading somewhere that the first mobile network in New Zealand was tested in Christchurch before it was launched more widely.
I cannot find anything online other than the common "Telecom New Zealand launched their mobile network in 1987" with no further detail than that.
Does anyone remember anything about this or know where it was tested first?
sbiddle: What about the CT2 network that Telecom Mobile tested in the early 90's?
Telecom had about half a dozen sites in the Wellington CBD and you could roll up to one and make a call but from memory you couldn't accept calls on them. Technology came from BT who were doing lots of trials as well.
I remember playing with one of the phones, very cool concept at the time since the phones were very small compared to mobiles at the time.
Also came with a home base station so you could use it around the house without there needing to be coverage from a network site...
In essence it was essentially an analog implementation of wifi calling, ..
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