US : The Portable Computer and Communications Association (PCCA), a leading non-profit association of companies working together to address interoperability and optimization in mobile computing, today announced the agenda for its High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) mini-conference. The PCCA event, to be held June 12 and 13 in Dallas, Texas, is sponsored by 3G Americas, an organization that supports the seamless deployment of the GSM family of technologies throughout the Americas. Inset shows a prior event.

High Speed Packet Uplink Access (HSUPA), expected this year, will bring theoretical peak rates as high as 5.76 Mbps to the uplink of UMTS networks, significantly higher uplink performance than current UMTS/HSDPA speeds. Initial peak speeds will be lower, and one purpose of this meeting is to analyze both theoretical capabilities and expected performance in actual deployed networks. In addition to HSUPA, operators with High Speed Downlink Packet Access networks are also increasing peak downlink speeds from 3.6 Mbps to 7.2 Mbps. These advances will make HSPA networks, which combine HSDPA and HSUPA, the fastest cellular networks currently available in the world.

"There are already well over one hundred HSDPA networks globally, and the momentum for deploying 3G capabilities, and applications that leverage these HSPA wireless data networks is accelerating," said Chris Pearson, President of 3G Americas. "We are pleased to sponsor this meeting so that attendees can better understand the capabilities and workings, as well as the roadmap, of the GSM family of technologies."

The PCCA is unique in bringing together key technologists from across the mobile industry, including device manufacturers, network operators, infrastructure vendors, operating system vendors and application vendors. Attendees have a unique opportunity to interact with leading experts and ask probing questions that generally cannot be addressed in other industry forums or conferences.

"We are fortunate to be able to have leading organizations present on HSPA, Evolved EDGE, HSPA Evolution and 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) at this meeting," said Peter Rysavy, executive director of the PCCA. "Presenting companies will include 3G Americas, Alcatel-Lucent, AT&T, Ericsson, GSMA, RIM, and Sierra Wireless."

Full details, including agenda and registration information, are available on the web at: http://www.pcca.org

About the PCCA

Founded in 1992, The Portable Computer and Communications Association is a non-profit trade association whose mission statement is to promote interoperability and deployment of mobile computing and communications through standards, recommendations, testing, education and technical assessment. PCCA members include wireless operators, wireless device vendors, computer companies, infrastructure vendors, and networking companies. Membership is open to all companies and individuals with an interest in these disciplines.