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OMH Frequently Asked Questions
  1. Which OEMs are offering OMH-capable devices? When?
    A: On August 28, 2009, Samsung announced the world’s first OMH handset in Kolkata, India. In addition to the first OMH-enabled handset, the Samsung MPower 699, several OMH devices are now available: Huawei’s C5600, Intex’s IN80, Micromax’s C350; Qualcomm’s Gobi chipset, Samsung’s Corby 339, Duos 259, and MPower Muzik 219; SIM Technology’s C24, and Teleepoch’s QT-M1. Approximately 25 device OEMs have attended the CDMA Development Group’s (CDG) OMH Special Interest Group (SIG) meetings and have expressed interest in developing OMH-compliant devices. Several Tier 1 and Tier 2 device OEMs are currently designing and/or producing OMH-compliant devices. In 2008, both Huawei and ZTE provided prototype handsets for the Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, and Thailand OMH trials.

  2. When will handset OEMs start to offer OMH handsets?
    A: On August 28, 2009, Samsung announced the world’s first OMH handset in Kolkata, India. Since then, several device manufacturers have announced OMH devices. : Currently, Huawei, Intex, Samsung, Micromax, SIM Technology Group, and Teleepoch have OMH devices, which are being sold in India. Although each network operator or handset OEM will choose its respective launch date, the CDG OMH SIG anticipates that subscribers can expect several new OMH devices in 2010. For a list of OMH devices and operators, visit www.cdg.org/omh or www.qualcomm.com/omh.

  3. Please outline the OMH initiative, what were the triggers for OMH and also why did you target India as its launch market?
    A: OMH is an industry initiative led by the CDMA Development Group to enhance the CDMA ecosystem by offering a greater selection of devices through multiple distribution channels. The OMH initiative will increase CDMA handset variety, improve device time-to-market, expand distribution channels, and reduce risk for operators who don’t want handset inventory.

    The new OMH ecosystem requires that the complete set of configuration data to support operator and subscriber identification, which was previously stored on the device, is stored onto Removable User Identity Modules (R-UIMs), or SIM cards for CDMA devices. Previously, just voice and SMS were provisioned onto the R-UIM; by moving additional configurations, such as the parameters supporting packet data, applications, and services, to the R-UIM, the handset is made independent of the “operator specific” provisioning. This simple yet robust CDMA solution brings not only a significant technical breakthrough but also opens up device distribution from a single operator to multiple channels, countries and regions thus benefiting the entire CDMA ecosystem. With support for a wide breadth of core functionality that includes features such as voice, SMS, packet data (both 1X and EV-DO), MMS, WAP/Browser, BREW, Java, and LBS, OMH allows OEMs to develop full-featured devices that can be sold across the entire CDMA ecosystem of OMH-enabled operators rather than to a single operator.

    OMH is a global program but is initially focused on emerging markets that already use R-UIM cards for CDMA devices and have rapid subscriber growth, such as China, India, SE Asia and parts of Africa. India is currently the largest R-UIM-enabled CDMA mobile handset market.

  4. Why are only certain CDMA operators adopting OMH?
    A: Most CDMA markets that currently use R-UIM cards for CDMA devices will benefit greatly from adopting OMH, which provides subscribers with access to a greater variety of full-featured, data-capable CDMA devices. This is a common market need faced by many CDMA operators worldwide, particularly in rapidly-growing emerging markets.

    If an operator does not use cards in its CDMA devices or if the dynamics of an operator’s particular market enables the operator to compete effectively by directly purchasing devices, the operator may choose not to adopt OMH.

  5. Are OMH devices full-featured?
    A:     Absolutely. There are a wide variety of OMH devices for diverse markets.

  6. What operators are already using SIM cards in their CDMA networks?
    A:     There are currently more than 70 operators using R-UIM cards for CDMA devices, primarily in emerging markets.

  7. What operators are OMH-compliant?
    A: The following operators have filed CDG174 and are OMH-compliant:
      1. MTS Shyam Sistema (India)
      2. Reliance Communications (India)
      3. Tata Teleservices (India)
      4. Virgin Mobile (India)
      5. CityCell (Bangladesh)
      6. PT Bakrie (Indonesia)
      7. PT Mobile-8 (Indonesia)
      8. PT Smart (Indonesia)
      9. PT Telkom Flexi (Indonesia)
      10. Starcomms (Nigeria)
      11. Visafone (Nigeria)

  8. What is the difference between Open Market Handsets and Open Handset Alliance?
    A: OMH (sometimes referred to as Open Market Handsets) is a group of 40+ unique operators, device OEMs (handset and SIM vendors) and distributors who enhance the CDMA ecosystem by offering a greater selection of industry tested CDMA devices, through multiple channels of distribution.

    The Open Handset Alliance is a group of 47 technology and mobile companies who have come together to accelerate innovation in mobile and offer consumers a richer, less expensive, and better mobile experience. Together they have developed Android™, the first complete, open and free mobile platform. The OHA is committed to commercially deploy handsets and services using the Android Platform.

  9. What is the backward compatibility strategy? Will new OMH SIM cards work with legacy devices?
    A:     Yes, the new OMH SIM cards are fully backward compatible with legacy devices that use CDMA R-UIM cards.

    Legacy devices treat OMH cards exactly the same way they treat legacy cards, so that there is no impact to the user. There are OMH operators who will continue to use the same size cards and ones who will use OMH adoption as an opportunity to upgrade their card size. Technically, the amount of additional card memory required to store additional configuration information is relatively small. Of course, it depends on the amount of available memory on an operator’s current cards.

  10. Will legacy CDMA R-UIM cards work on OMH-enabled devices as well?
    A:     Yes, but the new cards will be limited to the capabilities of the device.

  11. Can an OMH-capable SIM support multiple standards (1x, EV-DO, etc.)?
    A:     Yes, an OMH SIM supports multiple standards and can be used to access both 1X and EV-DO networks.

  12. Is there any operator-specific configuration associated with EV-DO Rev. B that would be needed on an OMH card to support a DO Rev. B capable OMH device?
    A:     No additional configuration is required on the card to access an EV-DO Rev. B network. An OMH card that supports EV-DO will support Rel. 0, Rev. A., or Rev. B. The variant of EV-DO supported depends entirely on the capabilities of the device and/or OMH SIM card for CDMA.