What form of 3G does the Sony Reader Daily Edition use?

[Crowl]

Having an american model and an international model would actually suit sony better, it reduces the liklihood of grey imports, it reduces costs per unit slightly (singleband cheaper than triband) and at the same time it would slightly increase battery life since the radio would only ever have to scan the one frequency band if it ever lost coverage.

As far as the logistics, switching production between the two versions would be very simple since it was only the one component and depending on how they are setup, the same production lines might be used for both the 300 and 600 as well and those would certainly need more changes for their batches.

[Andybaby]

Originally Posted by Crowl

Having an american model and an international model would actually suit sony better, it reduces the liklihood of grey imports, it reduces costs per unit slightly (singleband cheaper than triband) and at the same time it would slightly increase battery life since the radio would only ever have to scan the one frequency band if it ever lost coverage.

As far as the logistics, switching production between the two versions would be very simple since it was only the one component and depending on how they are setup, the same production lines might be used for both the 300 and 600 as well and those would certainly need more changes for their batches.

in the US it will require atleast dual band, as ATT still runs on atleast 2 frequencies depending on city.

GSM doesn't require a simcard. there are just bonuses in using sim cards (phone books, easy to switch phones, and more) all of these things are pretty null in dealing with an ebook reader.

I read before that CDMA can have a Sim Card. but it would take a major effort from both sprint and verizon,

and Verizon locks down all their phones so tight most don't even enable bluetooth file transfer, something EVERY phone has. so its not gonna happen.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Andybaby

GSM doesn't require a simcard. there are just bonuses in using sim cards (phone books, easy to switch phones, and more) all of these things are pretty null in dealing with an ebook reader.

The Wiki article on SIM cards says:

The use of SIM cards is mandatory in GSM devices.

which, although perhaps not an "authoritative" source, I do tend to trust.

[Lemurion]

Originally Posted by Andybaby

in the US it will require atleast dual band, as ATT still runs on atleast 2 frequencies depending on city.

GSM doesn't require a simcard. there are just bonuses in using sim cards (phone books, easy to switch phones, and more) all of these things are pretty null in dealing with an ebook reader.

I read before that CDMA can have a Sim Card. but it would take a major effort from both sprint and verizon,

and Verizon locks down all their phones so tight most don't even enable bluetooth file transfer, something EVERY phone has. so its not gonna happen.

I double-checked. Harry is right: GSM requires a SIM.

[bbusybookworm]

Originally Posted by Lemurion

A single international model does make sense - but that doesn't mean Sony will do that. They could use a tri-band HSDPA chip, but they may stick with US frequencies for reasons we don't know yet.

Well, Sony for a change seems to have considered the international Market, So Going US only for such an important feature (especially as kindle is No where in sight outside the US) which would allow it to steal a march on Amazon, seems unlikely

Originally Posted by Crowl

Having an american model and an international model would actually suit sony better, it reduces the liklihood of grey imports, it reduces costs per unit slightly (singleband cheaper than triband) and at the same time it would slightly increase battery life since the radio would only ever have to scan the one frequency band if it ever lost coverage.

As far as the logistics, switching production between the two versions would be very simple since it was only the one component and depending on how they are setup, the same production lines might be used for both the 300 and 600 as well and those would certainly need more changes for their batches.

Perhaps, But as its going to be tied to a Cell Network for service, its going to reduce grey market imports, as if you want the wireless support you need the local sim. (Apples done Something similar, with a single International model, with profiles for its different carriers.

As for Battery Life, you could easily have the Firmware check the SIM, and based on which network it uses just use those bands. IMHO changing software, or just changing Profiles in the Software is a lot easier then changing components. And while e-Books are a growing market, They are still no were near the numbers for Computer or MP3 Players, so having to Tie up capital in assets for a specific region, without being able to redirect as per demand does not make sense.

[Crowl]

Originally Posted by bbusybookworm

As for Battery Life, you could easily have the Firmware check the SIM, and based on which network it uses just use those bands. IMHO changing software, or just changing Profiles in the Software is a lot easier then changing components.

Changing a single component between different batches is child's play for any modern production facility, in all likelihood the pocket edition and the touch edition will also be getting made on the same production line too since it costs a company money whenever any production line isn't working.

And while e-Books are a growing market, They are still no were near the numbers for Computer or MP3 Players, so having to Tie up capital in assets for a specific region, without being able to redirect as per demand does not make sense.

By tying up capital in assets are you talking about a situation where they have x,000 european readers in a warehouse when they need more of the american model? If so, then I think you are overestimating the amount of completed product that modern businesses tend to keep.

If you are talking about them having more of one radio than they need then thats unlikely to be an issue since both sony na and sony eu will be ordering specific amounts and even if it was a global device they are independently of each other and as such you wouldn't have one stealing away devices from the other one's order.