Nokia 6650, Super 3G Phone

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Posted by Hemos on Tuesday October 1, 2002 @05:03AM from the post-away dept.

Ch_Omega writes "Nokia has announced the 6650, which in short, is the first phone ever to meet the 3G-standard! It combines GSM and WCDMA into a single handset, then throws in a VGA still camera and video camera with sound. More info on Infosync and and Nokia forums!"

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will it take off? by Boone^ · 2002-10-01 05:05 · Score: 3, Insightful

3G has been hit the hardest when the economy went south... how will 3G gain a foothold in the land of disposable cell phones?
1. Re:will it take off? by grumpygrodyguy · 2002-10-01 05:42 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  Hmm spend $60/month for spotty access to slow, unreliable data networks? No thanks.
  
  --
  The government has a defect: it's potentially democratic. Corporations have no defect: they're pure tyrannies. -Chomsky
Great! by SexyKellyOsbourne · 2002-10-01 05:05 · Score: 3, Insightful

Finally, the beginning of the end for IPV4!
What's with all the cameras? by A+non+moose+cow · 2002-10-01 05:22 · Score: 2, Insightful

Why does every new device come with a built in camera now?

Is it because people actually want them? Or just because it is now a really cheap feature to throw in so that you don't appear to be technologically behind your competition?

The cheapo cameras that make their way into these gadgets are treated like "hot items" at Christmas... once you show your friends that you have it, you never bother to use it again.
1. Re:What's with all the cameras? by Anonymous Coward · 2002-10-01 05:45 · Score: 1, Insightful
  
  because transferring images uses up minutes. or kilobytes, if you're metered that way.
128kbps for a data link ... by Macka · 2002-10-01 05:28 · Score: 3, Insightful

... if it were at the right price enough would be fast enough for most laptop users to have as their dedicated connection to the internet.

Unfortunately, I'll bet it won't be cheap at all. I have GPRS on my phone, and bluetooth connect from my PowerBook when I'm mobile. But I have to use it sparingly because my phone service provider charges by the MB, and it can get very expensive.

If 3G can be charged by the minute, or even better at a fixed rate like Cable and ADSL, then it stands a chance at being widely used and accepted. If not, then they will just price themselves out of a market.
Re:Video vs. Communication by BrookHarty · 2002-10-01 06:06 · Score: 4, Insightful

However, I'm wondering who'd actually buy it for those features rather than just take a digital camera with them.

Its not buy a camera, its get video features added in at no extra cost. Video camera phone attachments are selling quite well. People like having the option of sending pictures/movies of friends/family. Take a feature upgrade people are buying, make it a standard on the phone. This will reduce the cost and make it normal feature on phones.

Look at how people will buy new cell phones just for the ringtones. Features sell.
Re:What's the point? by Some+Dumbass... · 2002-10-01 13:26 · Score: 3, Insightful

I'm sure all these 3G gadgets will be cool and all, but what are they good for? What pointful activities can you do with a 3G phone that you can't do with a regular cell phone and a palmtop? Do you need your stock quotes in color while you're riding the train?

Is it just me, or are cell phones quickly becoming "The only electronic device you'll ever need"? Who needs a PDA? Before long, cell phones will be as functional as PDAs, with built-in wireless internet access to boot (not to mention that they'll still work as cell phones!)

But why stop there? Cell phones already have digital camera features. Media (e.g. mp3) playing functions can replace those devices. When they come up with a cell phone which can play CDs somehow, they'll have a replacement for just about every portable electronic device out there. Then you just need a portable screen and keyboard, and your cell phone can replace your laptop too :)

All that, and yet the general public will buy them just to call their friends and maybe play a few games. Cell phones will become portable computing for the masses!

At least it could happen that way.