Going 3G
August 19th 2006 12:15
I find it very interesting when companies incorporate their product name with their trading name. One of the most notably in the mobile world is the company 3. This is especially true here in Australia since they were the first provider to give their consumers 3G technology.
Many people both online and offline use the names 3 and 3G interchangeably but not really knowing the difference. While 3 refers to the subsidiary company of Hutchison-Whampoa, 3G refers to a particular type of mobile technology.
Personally I like to think of the relationship of 3G and 2.5G/2G technology to that of broadband and dial-up internet. That’s essentially because what 3G technology represents is a higher speed data transfer over the older technology. While the older technology can only download at …, 3G technology allows for downloads of up to 384kbps. But like all things transfer speed related the “up to” is tentative as that is the theoretical limit.
The speed will be affected by many other factors like distance from the base station, physical obstacles like buildings, geographic features like hills and even the phone itself. But overall you still end up with a very decent speed, at least for a mobile.
The advantages of 3G and the extra speed it delivers is that it allows users to access services that were not previously available and to improve on previously available services.
The most noted feature of 3G technology in the minds of the consumer is video calling. Most definitely not a feature of the older technology and for most customers it is a surreal kind of experience. Even though the concept seems so simple, to be able to see who you’re talking to, people are constantly amazed at it. More often than not they come in thinking that they’ll never use it and leave really quite impressed. I describe it as a surreal experience for someone who has never used it because you can see in their mannerisms that it is an intriguing concept and they think how they can use it. Moreover they just constantly laugh or smile at the almost absurdity of video calling but love the idea none the less.
Similar to video calling, 3G technology allows for higher quality video streaming. Video streaming sort of available on 2.5G networks but the resolution and frame rates do not compare to the 3G variety. For example 3 during the television series Big Brother had live streaming from the Big Brother House 24/7. I read on a forum somewhere that the record length of time streamed by a single customer went into the weeks.
In terms of this mobile TV streaming, 3 has been around the longest and thus has the most variety but Vodafone, Telstra and Optus will by no mean fall behind. Considering they have just recently opened the option of 3G to their customers they are doing fairly well in terms of 3G content.
But it’s not only video that’s had an upgrade, the extra speed allows also for high speed music download. Whole songs can be downloaded in under a minute (depending on size) and at the simple push of a button. Pretty much like having itunes, except mobile.
The final big change, and arguably most important, is the ability to have completely wireless broadband. So long as you find yourself in the 3G zone you have access to broadband internet. This is different from other wireless internet providers because there are is no need for hotspots, just mobile phone reception.
This opens a whole new range of features just having this implemented. This allows for users with web based email providers to access their mail without the need for POP3. It also allows for photo bloggers to upload their photos from their phone straight to onto the internet while on the move in addition to basic browsing.
Theoretically it would also be possible to make inexpensive voice over IP (VOIP) calls from your phone, but that is still not entirely possible yet.
So the question probably lies in is it worth making the change from 2G or 2.5G technology to 3G? The answer for those who take advantages of the services an absolute yes. For those who are not sure yet I would say most likely yes.
Before I started using the services I was a doubter, I told myself that phones were pretty much just for calling and texting. But after actually using the service I can absolutely see why one would want to go 3G. Although it might not be up to its full potential now, with limited services, give it a few more years and many people will be wondering how they lived without it.
I mean it was only 10 years ago when people thought that mobiles were too extravagant for the average Joe, but now almost everyone you meet has one.
In general the older retired customers don’t really opt for the 3G options, but there are those that surprise you. I’ve had an older couple in their mid-sixties taking a pair of our most complex phones made for business customers and taking the news. They were extremely excited by the prospect and even more so to learn how to use their new phones!
In the end the decision is yours alone. But if you feel you aren’t ready to go 3G, you have the advantage of a much wider selection of phones. For those who are ready, prepare yourself for charging your battery a bit more than the old 2G/2.5G phones as there are just so many functions that it does put a drain on it.
As always if you need to pop me a question you can do so on mobiletales 064 gmail 046 com
- Ben
Many people both online and offline use the names 3 and 3G interchangeably but not really knowing the difference. While 3 refers to the subsidiary company of Hutchison-Whampoa, 3G refers to a particular type of mobile technology.
Personally I like to think of the relationship of 3G and 2.5G/2G technology to that of broadband and dial-up internet. That’s essentially because what 3G technology represents is a higher speed data transfer over the older technology. While the older technology can only download at …, 3G technology allows for downloads of up to 384kbps. But like all things transfer speed related the “up to” is tentative as that is the theoretical limit.
The speed will be affected by many other factors like distance from the base station, physical obstacles like buildings, geographic features like hills and even the phone itself. But overall you still end up with a very decent speed, at least for a mobile.
The advantages of 3G and the extra speed it delivers is that it allows users to access services that were not previously available and to improve on previously available services.
The most noted feature of 3G technology in the minds of the consumer is video calling. Most definitely not a feature of the older technology and for most customers it is a surreal kind of experience. Even though the concept seems so simple, to be able to see who you’re talking to, people are constantly amazed at it. More often than not they come in thinking that they’ll never use it and leave really quite impressed. I describe it as a surreal experience for someone who has never used it because you can see in their mannerisms that it is an intriguing concept and they think how they can use it. Moreover they just constantly laugh or smile at the almost absurdity of video calling but love the idea none the less.
Similar to video calling, 3G technology allows for higher quality video streaming. Video streaming sort of available on 2.5G networks but the resolution and frame rates do not compare to the 3G variety. For example 3 during the television series Big Brother had live streaming from the Big Brother House 24/7. I read on a forum somewhere that the record length of time streamed by a single customer went into the weeks.
In terms of this mobile TV streaming, 3 has been around the longest and thus has the most variety but Vodafone, Telstra and Optus will by no mean fall behind. Considering they have just recently opened the option of 3G to their customers they are doing fairly well in terms of 3G content.
But it’s not only video that’s had an upgrade, the extra speed allows also for high speed music download. Whole songs can be downloaded in under a minute (depending on size) and at the simple push of a button. Pretty much like having itunes, except mobile.
The final big change, and arguably most important, is the ability to have completely wireless broadband. So long as you find yourself in the 3G zone you have access to broadband internet. This is different from other wireless internet providers because there are is no need for hotspots, just mobile phone reception.
This opens a whole new range of features just having this implemented. This allows for users with web based email providers to access their mail without the need for POP3. It also allows for photo bloggers to upload their photos from their phone straight to onto the internet while on the move in addition to basic browsing.
Theoretically it would also be possible to make inexpensive voice over IP (VOIP) calls from your phone, but that is still not entirely possible yet.
So the question probably lies in is it worth making the change from 2G or 2.5G technology to 3G? The answer for those who take advantages of the services an absolute yes. For those who are not sure yet I would say most likely yes.
Before I started using the services I was a doubter, I told myself that phones were pretty much just for calling and texting. But after actually using the service I can absolutely see why one would want to go 3G. Although it might not be up to its full potential now, with limited services, give it a few more years and many people will be wondering how they lived without it.
I mean it was only 10 years ago when people thought that mobiles were too extravagant for the average Joe, but now almost everyone you meet has one.
In general the older retired customers don’t really opt for the 3G options, but there are those that surprise you. I’ve had an older couple in their mid-sixties taking a pair of our most complex phones made for business customers and taking the news. They were extremely excited by the prospect and even more so to learn how to use their new phones!
In the end the decision is yours alone. But if you feel you aren’t ready to go 3G, you have the advantage of a much wider selection of phones. For those who are ready, prepare yourself for charging your battery a bit more than the old 2G/2.5G phones as there are just so many functions that it does put a drain on it.
As always if you need to pop me a question you can do so on mobiletales 064 gmail 046 com
- Ben
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Comment by Ben
on Only Human
Mobile Tales
I should make myself clearer next time!