rapidly accepted technology such as cdmaOne, suc- cess comes first, and standards are almost an afterthought. However, they are a valu- able afterthought. They can solve problems, reduce costs, increase reliability through support of independent testing, and increase the life of a technology. In the case of a good idea that does not get off the ground quickly, standards can el- evate the idea to a long-term success. The imprimatur of a standards organization such as ITU or ANSI can cause both manufacturers and major corporate customers to invest in a technology when they have been hesitating, afraid that the technology might not be adopted. This can create a positive cycle of investment and interest, driving the tech- nology to success. On the other hand, a poorly designed standard or a standard with technical flaws can indemnify problems, creating long-term difficulties in the deployment of a technology. This increases costs and can reduce capacity or reliability. Downloaded from Digital Engineering Library @ McGraw-Hill (www.digitalengineeringlibrary.com) Copyright © 2004 The McGraw-Hill Companies. All rights reserved. Any use is subject to the Terms of Use as given at the website. General Cellular Standards Standards for Cellular Systems The last major effect of standards is the case where two or more competing standards are approved, and a long-term battle in the marketplace ensues. This is the case with GSM (TDMA) and CDMA in the evolution toward 3G. The result is a mixed blessing. Each technology is better off because it is standardized. The European cellular system depends on the GSM standard, and the North American system depends on the cdmaOne standard and ANSI-41. However, the existing standards, as well as the ex- listing installed base of technology, create a basis for long-term competition and conflict. The economic competition may not be a bad thing, but the conflict surrounding it often creates problems. The standards process works well when everyone agrees on termi- nology, concepts, and the defin