What Is 3G?
'3G' can be a slightly confusing term as it covers a range of different technologies around the world, depending on which particular version has been adopted by local governments and regulatory bodies. Both Europe and Japan have adopted the same technology, known as W-CDMA or Wideband Code Division Multiple Access. Within Europe 3G is more officially referred to as UMTS or Universal Mobile Telecommunications System.
Like its forerunner, GPRS, UMTS is based on packet radio technology, together with enhanced circuit switched services including voice, whereby data sent between phones is broken into small 'packets' before transmission. As with GPRS, data billing will be determined by the amount of data downloaded rather than the length of the call.
The main differences between the two technologies are new circuit switched capabilities enabling for example high quality video conferencing and speed. Practical user data rates increase from 45kbps to 384kbps, making it more than 8.5 times faster. In practical terms this means access to a whole new range of services:
- Greatly enhanced multimedia capabilities (both video and audio)
- Much easier and intuitive on-line shopping
- The ability to share information and interact more easily
- Location technology to help you get where you need to be
3G - Typical Scenario
To get a better understanding of what 3G will enable you to do, let's look at a possible scenario.
On the way home from work you decide to watch a film, and use your mobile phone to browse local cinema listings and read reviews of the latest releases. Having narrowed the choice down to a few alternatives, you watch trailers of films in question and make up your mind. You then connect to the local cinema's online ticket service and buy a seat using the phone's mobile wallet, choosing an aisle seat from the site plan of the auditorium by pressing the touch sensitive screen. Not entirely sure of the cinema's location you make a video call to your friend, who gives you directions by sketching on a map which you can both see on your respective screens. Having confirmed where to go, you download an MP3 track to keep you entertained on the way.
3G Devices
In order to make the best use of 3G technology, a range of new mobile phones and personal digital assistants has been developed. It may be that you own several different devices tailored to the environment you're in; something small and unobtrusive for a club or a more substantial device with a keyboard when you need to work from home. Whatever the varieties of device on offer they're likely to share a number of common features:
The Mobile Future
This gives just a brief taste of the possibilities of 3G technology.
As useful as our mobile phones and PDAs are now, their 3G equivalents will become indispensable tools for work, shopping and entertainment. Working from home - or anywhere else - becomes a practical possibility, as it becomes easier to swap information with colleagues, or chat to them face-to-face even when miles apart. It's predicted that the 3G device will ultimately be the first interactive consumer product almost everyone in the developed world will have with them almost all the time.
Obviously keeping in touch is not going to be problem. Access to the latest news and entertainment will be instantaneous, allowing you to play games with a friend or browse for their birthday present from any location. Your mobile phone may even eventually talk to other domestic appliances. Your fridge, say, will contact you via its built-in radio modem when it's empty, reminding you to buy more food. It could even send an order straight to the supermarket.
At Progressive Communications we're working with manufacturers, other partners and subsidiary companies around the world to offer the best coverage, the most innovative new services and all the functionality the new technology has to offer.
If you are interested in developing applications and solutions with us please contact Progressive Communications.
