Skip to main content

Nokia plans to test Steve Perlman’s potentially game-changing pCell tech

Nokia Networks has announced it will partner with Artemis Networks to test its new pCell technology, which may be capable of removing network congestion and speeding up wireless service across the United States.

Artemis claims that its pCell tech is able to use the same 3G and 4G LTE spectrum, and still deliver 50 times the capacity. This would remove the congestion issue found in public areas where thousands of people are connecting to one cell tower.

Recommended Videos

Nokia Networks plans to test the tech in a few public places to see if pCell is scalable. Currently, tests have only been conducted in very controlled environments; this will be Artemis’ first large test to see if the wireless technology works in the wild.

For everyday mobile users, pCell could be a major boost to wireless speed. Buffering videos, laggy games, and dropped FaceTime calls would apparently become a thing of the past.

Artemis founder Steve Perlman — the same guy that had a hand in creating WebTV, QuickTime, and OnLive — claims that pCell gets better the more congestion is on the network. Nokia Networks Chief Technology Officer Hossein Moiin seems convinced, “what we’re doing next is demonstrating that it does work. I’m not 100 percent sold, but I’m a believer.”

Some remain skeptical about pCell, but getting Nokia on board should inspire some confidence among the wireless carriers. Nokia is the third-largest networking company in the world, and is set to shoot up the ranks with the acquisition of Alcatel-Lucent for $16.6 billion.

Perlman claims that wireless carriers in the developing world might look to skip 4G LTE and move straight to pCell. That may save carriers billions in networking costs, while offering a much improved wireless experience to users.

pCell is still a very experimental technology, however, meaning AT&T and Verizon will need hard proof that pCell works before investing in it. At the Code Conference last year, Perlman claimed that companies representing $600 billion of the $1.2 trillion in wireless revenue were in talks with Artemis concerning pCell technology.

David Curry
Former Contributor
David has been writing about technology for several years, following the latest trends and covering the largest events. He is…
Baseus power banks are the best way to charge your phone after these discounts
A woman holding a phone with a Baseus Am41 Magnetic Power Bank attached to it.

One of the worst things about being a doomscroller isn't the information you're getting, it's the fear that your battery will die and the scrolling will have to end. This is especially true if you're stuck without power, waiting for the doctor or dentist to finally call your name, or have any other sort of emergency. But, Baseus has you covered with their excellent selection of on-the-go power banks made for your iPhone. Since they're small and fit directly to your phone's magnet charging area, you can think of them more as battery extenders than anything. Plus, if your phone's internal battery is starting to have battery trouble, a Baseus charger is a great way to avoid an annoying battery change session. The best news, however, is that they're all on sale. Here's what you can expect to see coming up:

Baseus Am31 Mini Power Bank — Was $70, Now $50

Read more
Nothing Phone 3: A unique phone that’s not a true flagship
The Nothing Phone 3 in white

As smartphones have become extremely homogenous, companies must find unique ways to stand out from the crowd. For London-based Nothing, this has meant a singular company focus on blending smartphone features with unique designs that allow their phones to stand out in a sea of sameness.

The Nothing Phone 3 is the latest addition to a line of Nothing phones that are unique and polarizing in their design. Earlier this year, Nothing launched the Phone 3a Pro with a unique camera array, and the Phone 3 builds on this while also evolving the Nothing design language.

Read more
Plaud Note, the professional-tier AI notetaker, is 20% off for Prime Day
Four colleagues have a conversation around a Plaud Note AI notetaker.

Lately, as I've been working through stressful hospital visits with family, I've encountered something I haven't in quite awhile. As I hear doctors, nurses, and family say things, I'll be completely unable to remember them moments later. There's just too much going on all at once. Early in my career I encountered the same issue. There were just so many new facets of what I was doing entering my head all at once, from many sources, that it was impossible to keep track of it all. If only there were AI notetaking tools that have helped me through this. AI notetaking tools like Plaud Note and Plaud NotePin, which are both 20% off for Prime Day (from $159 to $127 for either device, saving you $32) and available by tapping the button below.

PLAUD Note Voice Recorder

Read more