Ban threatens EVDO service

Speaking to a hearing of the US International Trade Commission, Sprint and Verizon have urged the government not to adopt a plan suggested for a patent infringement suit. Broadcom has proposed that since Qualcomm was ruled to have violated a patent on battery-saving technology, the solution may be an import ban on phones using Qualcomm chipsets. According to Sprint and Verizon however, the problem is that they need the chips to provide EVDO -- a standard created by Qualcomm, and the most widespread form of broadband for American CDMA networks.

The ITC hearing should continue through the week, with testimony today coming from companies such as Samsung and Motorola, as well as government safety experts, who are expected to argue that a ban would harm emerency services. The ban is as yet tentative. [via Reuters]

By Electronista Staff