By Alexia Sparling, an insider at Lease Advisors
Long-Term Evolution, commonly referred to as LTE, employs network technologies that increase cellular capacity and data speed. Since its initial launch in 2009, LTE has undergone several upgrades. LTE Direct is one of the newest modifications to the standard protocol. Pioneered by Qualcomm, LTE Direct will be able to acquire signal without the use of cellular towers or internet connection. The feature will allow cellular phones to directly communicate with one another and with beacons located in shops and other businesses. The wireless network has an astounding range of 500 meters; far more than Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. Despite its long range, LTE Direct uses surprisingly little battery power. After seven years of development, it is scheduled for approval this year. Devices equipped with LTE Direct could appear as soon as late 2015. Mahesh Makhijani, technical marketing director at Qualcomm, explains “You can think of LTE Direct as a sixth sense that is always aware of the environment around you. The world around you is full of information, and the phone can use that to predict and to help you in your everyday life.”
Some are anticipating the beacon services the technology will provide. Smartphones equipped with the technology automatically discover nearby businesses, LTE Direct may be a new channel for targeted promotions or advertising. Companies such as Facebook are exploring how the technology could be paired with their mobile apps. Jay Parikh, Facebook’s vice president of infrastructure engineering “LTE Direct would allow us to create user experiences around serendipitous interactions with a local business or a friend nearby. You could find out about events or do impromptu meet-ups.” It will be interesting to observe how quickly the new technology garners the attention of consumers and how companies adapt their services to enhance the consumer experience.
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