RutDog
join:2001-08-11
Portland, OR
|  Life on the 3G Express -- coming soon
I'm sitting in my bed this morning, reading this Economist article on my SprintPCS Kyocera 6035 Smartphone. The article provides one of the best general treatments of 3G wireless I've seen. And yet I can't figure out why so many people on DSLR remain indifferent or wildly skeptical and cynical towards a technology that could rock their world in the near future. Cynicism dominates, though not completely, the discussion at »Sprint to Launch 3G this Summer, from which the user quotes below were all taken. And as for indifference, you need look no further than this page to note that the Economist article was posted for 24 hours before generating even a dismissive post.
Yet by this summer, the SprintPCS 2.5G rollout will be complete, and my reliable if sluggish handheld connection will start zipping along. My techie friends at alt.cellular.sprintpcs (check it out for a good even-handed discussion and technical defenses I can't legitimately provide) tell me that the newer 2G phones are kind of like 2.25G (my term), because they'll only be able to reach speeds slightly better than a 56Kbps dial up. That's really not that bad with the growing number of streamlined down mobile oriented websites popping up every day. Meanwhile 3G phones will be hitting ISDN-like speeds of 144Kbps, allowing for some serious consideration of mobile enterprise applications, not to mention some very respectable mobile surfing. And this is no theory, this is going to happen, and happen this year.
But 2.5G is nothing compared to what's coming. Sooner or later the networks will be upgraded to 3G (its only a matter of time), and you'll see broadband wireless data speeds approaching 5Mbps. This, again, is not theory. It is based on proven technology, and it will be impacting DSL, Cable, and every other broadband technology in ways that are hard to conceive. IMO, broadband wireless will reorganize our perception of connectivity, and make terms like "wired" seem seriously passe (I can hear it now -- "Dahling, you're so 90's -- still connecting with wire? That's tres retro."). For some good details about where we are headed check out the extensive information on www.CDG.org -- here's a good to the point starting place: »www.cdg.org/3gpavilion/overview.asp
Much of the skepticism seems to come from past and current perceptions of the cell phone companies (bfogelstrom says: "first give me a mobile phone that works"). But as Anon E Mouse (unregistered from domain muaah.lsan.la6ca01r1) "quietly point[ed] out," and I wish to a little more LOUDLY state, "3G is not all about broadband data, but about increasing network capacity" for voice by a minimum factor of two.
The perceived instability of the present day wireless network (dropped calls, coverage gaps, etc.), is, in most cases, a capacity issue (and in many cases due to local restrictions on tower location). Capacity overload is due to an overwhelming growth and consumer acceptance of mobile phones. Can you recall a personal technology that has taken such widespread hold so rapidly? Certainly not the PC. Heck, mobile phones are more ubiquitous than cars! (If you think I'm exaggerating, the next time you're in a car with someone, see what the mobile phone to vehicle ratio is right there. Chances are it's > 1.) Due to this mass adoption, the networks are seriously overloaded, and in need of immediate relief.
Thankfully, that relief is on the way. 2.5G will begin by doubling the current networks' capacity once all the 2G phones become obsolete (see CDG link above). The networks which weren't designed to carry current capacity will finally get some breathing room, and voice users on 2.5G networks should notice consistent improvement.
Now I'm not a cell phone company apologist. I don't know of one that hasn't had serious quality control and customer service issues, and many of them are still lagging. But many are also making strides and, more importantly, the investments necessary to improve to a level that will meet customer expectations.
And admittedly, wireless data will have a limited appeal. Only so many people "can't wait to be cruising the internet at high speeds, while sitting on the top of a mountain, or by a river" a la DigitalBlaze. But while the new generation technology will simply bring voice up to snuff for consumers, the smart enterprise will reap a windfall by leveraging the revolutionary data capabilities that are around the corner.
I for one, don't want to be caught sleeping -- unless its in my bed having fallen asleep while watching a streaming video on my 3G wireless handheld.
[text was edited by author 2002-01-14 00:47:25] |
