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Sprint PCS Launches 3G Network
pdp1144 writes "Sprint PCS launched the first nationwide 3G wireless network today. Code named Vision it will allow wireless data speeds starting at an average of 50 to 70 kbps." The question is, how much? If the data plan is such that you can use up a month's allotment in five minutes of downloading... Simson Garfinkel had a good column on this recently.
last I heard, any and all current US implementations of a "3G" system were only pseudo-3G in that they don't offer the full system capabilities.
What they offer is still way faster than any other wireless phone out there, but not the true 3G offering - I didn't read the article or look into this further, but were Sprint truly the first one out, that would be a big surprise.
I can recall msnbc talking about this recently and I *think* they also said that it wasn't full 3G
There are some odd things afoot now, in the Villa Straylight.
The states is finally catching up with Europe's telecoms... After many years of "waffling" on 2.5G and 2G. Even now, they aren't anywhere near Europe, but they are getting closer. What they really need now is the FCC to give them some more bandwidth to work with (take it away from the media conglomerates).
I say this takes another 3-5 years before it is as enmeshed as Europe's as well, and even then, Europe will still be heads and shoulders ahead.
~ kjrose
How many people said this about SMS messaging?
Now almost everyone with a phone in the UK uses it, and the advertisements are now gearing us up for sending picture messages.
A camera built into the phone so you can instantly send it to a friend? I kinda like the sound of it!
The expense will come down (it always does) and we'll forget what life was like before it all arrived (it always happens).
If you need to go and live in the woods, sure, but you were probably saying that when they invented the TV, so what's new?
.. because it's impossible for you to switch the thing off when you don't want to be reached.
They're good for emergencies. Why not get one purely for that purpose? I bought a cheap shitty top-up-card thing for next to nothing, and I'm glad I did. Only the closest friends and family have my number so I don't get bothered unless it's urgent.
You've got mail. Pattern baldness. - Crow
Key phrases in your post like "cannot be reached when I am not at home" and "went on vaction this summer w/my girlfriend and my parents" indicate to me that you obviously aren't in a job that basically requires carrying a cellphone around. You also should be thinking your lucky stars that your dad cares enough about his job that he's not blowing off customers/clients/etc. and can afford to take you all on that nice vacation.
Wrong, no they didn't. Read the fine print. No GSM carriers in the US are anywhere near rolling out 3G. AT&T Wireless = GSM
Sprint PCS = CDMA
The data pricing is AT BEST (biggest bulk discount):
$1/MB.
$119.99 plan includes 120MB of data. The overage comes out to $1.024/MB...
3G on Sprint, where you can rack up charges faster! These prices suck.
Verizon has a plan with unlimited for $99/month... Sprint can't compete. Despite the wider coverage, these prices will kill the service for the Geek market.
As I write this, I'm busy transferring 4 GB of web sites from one server to another for a client from my home-based office, while updates are happening in two other systems, in towns hundreds of miles away. I'm running it all from here, where I look out the window and see black walnut trees and ivy in my front yard.
I have headphones on plugged into the sound card on my workstation, playing a wonderful (to me) mix of New Age, orchestra, folk, and Classic Rock music, whilst my 5 year old son plays just behind me.
How else can you work several places at once, in a relaxed chair, and interact with your children, while commanding decent wages without technology?
This is not FUN?!?!?
One of my 5 children is diabetic. Cell phones mean that my wife and I can go on dates, and go places with impunity, knowing that we can still keep an eye on our son from anywhere.
Also, my son has a computerized insulin pump, which automatically meters out insulin as he needs it. This results in excellent blood sugar control, and if we're careful, his life expectancy will be close to normal. 100 years ago, my wonderful son would be dead.
This is not FUN?!?!?
As a technology provider, I frequently have to sign contracts with clauses like "24 hour monitoring" and the like. What this means for me is setting up Big Brother Network Monitor. It checks all my stuff around the clock every 5 minutes, and lets me know if there's a problem.
Combine this with maintained, patched, high quality Linux servers, and you have a pretty worry-free life...
The trick is to use technology to empower yourself, to leverage technology to improve your life.
Maybe you'd like a life expectancy of 38 years, and a short, hard life digging for worms and bugs to eat, but I don't.
It's a very poor pitchfork that can't be used as a weapon against you - so make sure you're using your tools properly!
-Ben
I have no problem with your religion until you decide it's reason to deprive others of the truth.