That way it could seek out less crowded frequencies that are not being used. The problem with most current wireless systems is that ''they can only do one job,'' said Lee Hamilton, president and chief executive officer of AirNet Communications. His company has created base stations that use software-defined radio at cellular antenna sites. That means companies can deliver new services without having to buy new equipment each time. With companies saving on this cost, it ''should mean consumers are going to get newer services faster and see more innovation in the types of services they are going to get it,'' Hamilton said.
Consumers also stand to benefit from phones and other gadgets that they can hold on to longer.
Today, wireless devices are built to work in frequencies and using specific standards. Making them operate on multiple systems adds weight and size to the devices, making them unwieldy for consumers. But with the new technology, a caller could use a cell phone in parts of the world that use different standards than the United States. The technology also has important consequences for public safety personnel who use communication systems operating on different frequencies. Copyright 2000 Associated Press .