| iv id="body"> | | | | our email and maybe send a voice message or |
| A 'third generation' wireless communications | | | | so. With all of this available in quite affordable |
| technology having evolved from first generation | | | | packages, experts are beginning to wonder |
| analog, and second generation digital, | | | | whether there actually is the massive demand to |
| communication technologies. | | | | match the hype that was created when 3G first |
| Whenever someone asks me to explain what 3G | | | | came into the picture. |
| systems are, I tend to think of huge | | | | Market analysts are faced with the challenge of |
| departmental stores. All your basic needs - plus a | | | | accurately predicting how much technology |
| few extra items thrown in to spice things up - | | | | consumers will actually be willing to pay for 3G |
| under a single roof. A plea to modern man's | | | | services. With 3G providing features that are 'cool' |
| psychological need for convenience. And that's | | | | but expensive, and with cheaper and adequate |
| how it is with the current crop of 3G packages. A | | | | alternatives available in the form of 2.5G, the pure |
| simple, all-in-one access to everything users could | | | | cell-phone features no longer hold any 'pulling' |
| ever want from a mobile phone (and then some). | | | | power. In fact, some critics argue that 2.5G |
| But seriously now, what is 3G (or 2.5G for that | | | | speeds are just fine, thank you, and provide |
| matter)? Basically 3G systems are meant to be | | | | enough flexibility for most applications. |
| the ultimate upgrade to the current 2G systems | | | | The rapid development of wireless LANs based |
| that are operating under the Global System of | | | | on the 802.11 standard and the future 802.11g |
| Mobile Communications (GSM). GSM is referred to | | | | standard means that 3G systems now have |
| as the Second Generation (2G) of mobile phone | | | | serious competition. Although Wi-Fi support is still |
| technology, with the old analog mobile phone | | | | patchy (and suffers from the same security |
| system being the first. Since current 2G phones | | | | issues), and some users prefer 2.5G and 3G |
| send and receive data at only 9.6 Kilobits per | | | | systems instead of Wi-Fi due to the widespread |
| second (kbps), the advent of text and multimedia | | | | coverage, wireless LANs have completely taken |
| messaging (MMS) has meant that the demand for | | | | over the office environment. Not only that but |
| drastically improved data transfer rates has been | | | | wireless LAN systems are getting faster and |
| very strong. | | | | becoming more robust. There are plans to |
| 3G systems are designed to offer increased | | | | develop 802.11 systems that approach 1.5 Mbps in |
| voice capacity and higher-speed data rates by | | | | theoretical speeds. Intel and others are also |
| providing a more robust wireless pipeline. The | | | | looking into developing metropolitan area networks |
| International Telecommunications Union (ITU), a | | | | (MANs) that expand that 300 feet Wi-Fi bubble to |
| regulatory and standards-setting body, states that | | | | about 30 miles, or across an entire city. |
| any system claiming to be 3G must be capable of | | | | In the U.S, 3G services have been slow to start. |
| a minimum speed of 144K bits/second, and | | | | Only in late 2003 and early this year did |
| theoretically going up to 2 Mbps. Very good, you | | | | commercial 3G packages evolve to the extent |
| might say. But why is there such a need for | | | | that the general public became interested in them. |
| speed? | | | | Compare this with the presence of 3G services in |
| Well, 3G systems aim to provide faster access to | | | | Japan since 2001 and the popularity of 3G |
| all kinds of data, thus turning your wireless phone | | | | networks in Europe since 2000 (Finland launched |
| (or appliance) into a handier, cooler, tool. This | | | | it's first network in late 2000). Compared to the |
| speed is matched with the promise that it will | | | | rest of the developed world, the U.S is lagging |
| "keep people connected at all times and in all | | | | behind. And here is why: |
| places." What results is the capability to access | | | | A much more developed lower-tier |
| the Internet as you would at home, mobile instant | | | | communications infrastructure (2G and 2.5G) has |
| messaging, enhanced multimedia options, usability | | | | meant that there are more alternatives have |
| as a fax/pager/e-mail tool, as well as the obvious | | | | been available to consumers. |
| premise of crisper and more stable voice | | | | 'Wi-Fi' has become the latest rage with |
| communications. Very impressive, but not without | | | | tech-savvy consumers, and because it became |
| a lion's share of problems. | | | | available before 3G systems were fully |
| For starters, 3G services are bound to be | | | | operational, it has captured a sizeable share of the |
| 'expensive', especially due to the very high prices | | | | wireless business market. |
| paid for 3G spectrum licenses. Secondly, the | | | | U.S companies have several technical and legal |
| services offered by 3G are nice, but are beyond | | | | issues in acquiring the appropriate spectrum for |
| the current demands of the average user. So | | | | 3G use from the FCC. |
| now we have a situation where the consumer is | | | | As technology becomes more sophisticated and |
| not satisfied with the current level of service, yet | | | | bandwidth increases, systems become increasingly |
| is also balking at paying so much for something | | | | vulnerable to attack by malicious hackers (known |
| that resembles overkill. | | | | as crackers) unless countermeasures are |
| To fill the void, 2.5G has evolved. 2.5G radio | | | | implemented to protect against such activity. |
| transmission technology is radically different from | | | | Ensuring secure wireless connections in a |
| 2G technology because it uses packet switching. | | | | pre-requisite to any wireless service provider. |
| GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) is the | | | | Despite the obstacles, 3G is here to stay. The |
| European 2.5G standard, the upgrade from GSM. | | | | main issue is to work it into the market in such a |
| GPRS overlays a packet-switched architecture | | | | way that it becomes useful for the majority of |
| onto the GSM circuit-switched architecture. It is a | | | | people, and not just a select few. Ideally, we are |
| useful evolutionary step on the road to 3G | | | | looking at multi-tiered services that offer a |
| because it gives telecommunications operators | | | | combination of 2.5G, 3G and Wi-Fi capabilities to |
| experience of operating packet networks, and | | | | one, national network. Eventually we would be |
| charging for packet data. Data transfer rates in | | | | using multiple networks to check our email, leave |
| 2.5G services can theoretically reach 64Kbps. | | | | a message for a friend and download that bonus |
| It is important to note the resulting irony. Because | | | | music video onto our PDA. Being part of a culture |
| 3G services were too expensive and because the | | | | that revels on paying a flat rate for unlimited |
| market was not 'ready' for them, 2.5G evolved. | | | | access, I would expect such a network to offer |
| Now, as it is said later, the evolution of 2.5G has | | | | different levels of service, with customers being |
| become an obstacle for 3G services to penetrate | | | | charged according to their service package, and |
| the cell phone market. | | | | not having to pay multiple fees for Wi-Fi and 3G |
| However, 3G cannot be judged merely on the | | | | access. |
| basis of costs and services alone. The value of | | | | Just as PC users are starting to wonder whether |
| any consumer technology can only be truly | | | | there really is a need for faster computers, the |
| measured in terms of its worth to the average | | | | whole communications industry might also be |
| user. And when it comes to mobile | | | | entering a period of transition (not just a few |
| communications, the needs of the 'average' | | | | years but perhaps a decade or two) where new |
| customer are already being fulfilled through 2G | | | | technologies would not mean that older |
| and 2.5G. Most people do not need to use video | | | | technologies become obsolete; rather, two |
| conferencing or browse complete websites | | | | separate consumer groups would emerge who |
| through their cell phones. Most of us are satisfied | | | | would use the old and new technologies side by |
| with constant coverage, the provision to check | | | | side. |