Benefits | Process | Responsibilities | Guidelines | Application | Information | Current Members

"Nokia's involvement and commitment to the CDMA Development Group has resulted in greater understanding of the needs of CDMA customers worldwide, as well as served as a platform to introduce new ideas and thinking within the industry."

Nokia

“As a result of our participation in the CDG, Telstra has gained invaluable experience through interaction with our peers from around the global CDMA world. In turn, as an operator of multiple technologies, we have brought our perspective to the CDMA community on the importance and need for a greater level of interconnectivity and interoperability between technologies.”

Telstra

"Our active participation in the CDMA Development Group stems from Verizon Wireless' staunch commitment to CDMA technology. The CDMA Development Group provides us unparalleled access to industry decision makers and innovators, enabling us to bring thoughtfully crafted ideas and initiatives to the table and to the marketplace."

Verizon Wireless

"Our experiences with the CDG have been extremely beneficial. Being members of the CDG has given us access to industry associations, knowledge and personnel. We have been working with the CDG for over five years to define test requirements and resolve test issues."

Wireless Test Systems

Membership Benefits

Membership in the CDMA Development Group (CDG) offers many advantages for operators and vendors of CDMA-related products and services. Members set the direction and priority of activities of the CDG and the development of CDMA2000 standards. The CDG also provides services for its member companies that yield added value to the membership.

For CDMA operators, CDG membership at the Executive Board level offers the opportunity to participate in setting the direction of the CDG. The Executive Board drives the work of the Steering Committee that oversees the development of all aspects of the technology. The opportunity for operators to contribute to the strategic planning efforts of the CDG ensures that requirements are being prioritized to meet their needs and then communicated to a broad community of vendors and equipment manufacturers.

For the vendor community, a significant advantage of joining the CDG is obtaining first-hand the real requirements of CDMA operators. Interaction with other vendors and manufacturers who are producing equipment, software, services and applications is another key benefit of membership.

Participation on the technical teams that develop the detailed specifications that drive the technology forward is a benefit for all CDG members. Membership provides excellent networking opportunities that can assist product development and service planning efforts. The real value is achieved when members fully participate in various CDG activities that closely match their goals.

The CDG also provides many services for member companies. The CDG website lists all member companies, with cross-references to the products and services they provide, and the Latest News section posts CDMA-related news releases from member companies. With nearly 50,000 visitors to the site each month, this exposure is a great value-added benefit of CDG membership.

The CDG engages in proactive public relations and marketing campaigns to promote the benefits of CDMA and to keep the industry apprised of its market position and continued growth. Using media and analyst relations, publication of articles in trade and business journals and dissemination of information through our website, emails, events and targeted mailings, the CDG delivers a consistent message regarding the successes and capabilities of 3G CDMA technologies.

As a key part of the marketing initiative, the CDG hosts conferences and forums around the world to spread the message of the success and future possibilities of CDMA technologies. Member companies participate in CDG events that reach audiences of thousands of people around the world.

Membership Process

Membership in the CDG is open to domestic and international carrier and vendor companies that are involved in the development and deployment of CDMA2000 based systems. The basis for acceptance include the applicant's:

• Current involvement in developing CDMA products and/or services
• Intent to foster cooperation and teamwork in the definition of CDMA features, services, technical requirements and other activities that will promote the availability of CDMA to the consumer

Member Responsibilities

Member companies pay an annual membership fee and provide resources to support CDG activities.

In addition to paying annual dues, members are encouraged to actively participate in both the Steering Committee and the Technical Teams.

• Members participate in Steering Committee meetings to review and approve the activities of the Technical Teams. The Steering Committee meets four to five times per year. Members sponsor the meetings on a rotating basis.
• Members provide staff to support the Technical Teams tasked with developing detailed technical approaches and appropriate documentation for 3G CDMA development and test issues. Activities include:

  - Developing technical documents
  - Participating in regular meetings
  - Participating in conference calls

• Categories of membership include:

  - Start-up Operator-Special Interest Group
  - Network Operator Member (no Executive Board Participation)
  - Network Operator Member participating on the Executive Board
  - Start-Up Vendor
  - Vendor Member (No Leadership Council Participation)
  - Vendor Member participating on the Leadership Council
  - Start-Up Application Developer or Content Provider
  - Application Developer or Content Provider (no Leadership Council Participation)
  - Applications Developer or Content Provider participating on Leadership Council

CDMA Development Group Member Guidelines

1. All CDG meetings will be conducted in accordance with appropriate antitrust guidelines:
• CDG meetings will be limited to activities related to the scope and charter of the CDG
• CDG meetings will be documented through detailed meeting minutes
• Each meeting will have an agenda and participants will limit discussions to those topics indicated on the agenda
2. Each CDG member company agrees to provide the necessary technical and administrative resources to facilitate the CDG's charter. Member companies will provide resources to technical working meetings and Steering Committee meetings unless provision of these resources creates an undue burden on the member company.
3. Members agree to abide by the policies set forth in the Member Guidelines and as may be amended from time to time. Adherence to decisions made by the CDG is voluntary (non-binding); however, in the spirit of CDG's objectives, member companies are asked to support all CDG decisions.
4. CDG membership is open to network operators, manufacturers, and application developers or content providers who have demonstrated a commitment to support the CDG's objectives. Members must demonstrate:
   • A willingness to work in good faith to support the goals of the CDG process
   • A willingness to supply the necessary technical and administrative resources where possible
   • An ability to provide CDMA products or services within a reasonable timeframe
5. All CDG members must be approved by the CDG Executive Board. The Executive Board reserves the right to limit membership in the CDG to a reasonable number of companies so that the development process does not stall through inefficiencies. Approval of a request for membership requires a majority of two-thirds of the Executive Board. A company that is 100% owned by an existing CDG member company is considered a full member of the group.
6. The CDG will meet as necessary to accomplish its objectives. Member companies are asked to host/sponsor meetings on a rotating basis.
7. Members are required to pay annual dues as set by the Executive Board. Timely payment of fees is expected.
8. All CDG output to external organizations (e.g., correspondence to the TIA, press announcements, etc.) must be approved by the Executive Director or the Executive Board.
9. CDG membership will not be considered confidential. Material disclosed during CDG meetings is also not considered confidential. CDG members should take appropriate precautions regarding disclosure of confidential information during CDG meetings. However, in the spirit of the objectives of the CDG, all members are encouraged to treat information disclosed during the course of any CDG meeting as private.
10. Each CDG member acknowledges that CDG does not review the disclosures or contributions of any CDG member nor does CDG verify the status of the ownership of any of the intellectual property rights associated with any such disclosures or contributions. Accordingly, each CDG member should consider all disclosures and contributions as being made solely on an as-is basis. If any CDG member makes any use of any disclosure or contribution, then such use is at such CDG member's sole risk. Each CDG member agrees that CDG shall not be liable to any person or entity (including any CDG member) arising out of any use of any disclosure or contribution including any liability arising out of infringement of intellectual property rights.
11. CDG vendor members agree to abide by ANSI Patent Policy contained in ANSI essential requirements: Due process requirements for American National Standards in Clause 3.1 (i.e., agree to grant CDMA IPR under fair and reasonable terms).
12. When necessary, CDG Technical Teams leaders can call for votes on any particular issue. Simple majority constitutes approval of a motion. While vendors are encouraged to express their opinions and team leaders are encouraged to seek consensus, carriers are the only members allowed to vote.
13. The CDG will not be involved in purchasing issues or procurement matters. The CDG in no way seeks to advantage or disadvantage any manufacturer or vendor in relation to any other. Each participant is free to take any procurement action they wish, whether consistent or inconsistent with CDG standards or recommendations.
14. The CDG will not be involved in any market-related activity. CDG members will not engage in any discussions or other activities regarding pricing, internal costs, marketing, customers, or any other matters that may concern competition or commercial activity related to cellular service or any other products or services.
15. The CDG will follow fair and ethical procedures for objective exploration of technical issues and evaluation of alternatives for the purposes of maximizing the likelihood that it will develop specifications that meet customer requirements in terms of function, cost, and timely deployability.

Application

To obtain the CDG Membership Application, please complete this form or contact the CDG at cdg@cdg.org.

Information

For more information on the CDG, please contact:

CDMA Development Group
575 Anton Blvd., Ste. 560
Costa Mesa, California 92626
United States
+1-888-800-CDMA (toll free USA) or +1-714-545-5211
+1-714-545-4601 (fax)
cdg@cdg.org