Just In Case 3G Isn't Speedy Enough

Roland Piquepaille writes "Will we soon be able to download music or videos on our cell phones? Yes, with the arrival of the next 3.5G technology, as reports Jennifer L. Schenker in this International Herald Tribune article. "NTT DoCoMo Inc., the Japanese company that introduced the first third-generation digital mobile phone service in the world, is preparing to pioneer wireless services that are at least 40 times as fast." DoCoMo will use "a technology called HSDPA, for high-speed downlink packet access, also known as 3.5G, [which] is expected to deliver data at as much as 14.4 megabits a second." This new technology will not arrive in Europe before 2006 at least. Check this column for a summary."

Comments

Too bad DoCoMo is so expensive...

[interactive_civilian]

This sounds really freakin' sweet! Granted I don't need this for my phone, it would be great for my mobile internet connection. Currently, I am using DDI Pocket's Air H" system (warning that is a Japanese page) and This little number from Fujitsu plugged into my iBook to get 128kbps access from anywhere in the Yokohama/Tokyo/Chiba area. It is nice, and the speed is decent enough considering I can use it anywhere.

But, 14.4Mbps?!?!?! AWESOME! That is faster than my AirPort card! Unfortunately, if DoCoMo follows the same pricing methods as it did for FOMA (their 3G service), then this is something I will never be able to afford. They don't have a flat rate unlimited connection plan, but rather charge based on the amount of data you download (I pay DDI Pocket 10,000 yen per month for unlimited access and I probably abuse it...expensive but worth it for the mobility IMO).

PLEASE, DoCoMo, give us a decently priced flat rate unlimited connection plan. I would seriously consider paying around 15,000 yen per month for something like that at this speed.

BTW, I am currently a DoCoMo customer for my phone service. It isn't too expensive and my only complaints are the 500 character mail limit and the slow connection for iMode (my phone is 2 years old and only connects at 9600bps). But the coverage is AWESOME...and good thing for me since I will be spending a few months travelling around Japan by bicycle and I don't want to be caught without a signal in an emergency situation (speaking of which, any /.ers in Japan want to give a poor American traveler a place to crash for a night? email me).

Re:i hate to be a buzzkill

[Dot.Com.CEO]

Do you know why Greece does not have broadband? Because Greece does not have a cable TV network. The only network capable of high-speed internet belongs to the phone company that, after decades of despotic state rule finds itself in a free economy. IIRC the proposed ADSL prices go something like 150EUR for a 256/64 connection. While ok for most people (I guess you wouldn't mind paying that much, for example), it is WAY overpriced for everyone else. And I won't even start speaking of Greek connectivity, it is hilarious. When I was visiting Greece last year I was told that the main connection to the Internet was a 10Mbit line!

Just for comparison purposes, here in Portugal I have a choice between cable Internet for about 50eur (768/128) or ADSL (various speeds, up to 1024/256). The 1024/256 option costs about 200eur, including modem and fixed ip. And you are connected to the European backbone (my isp is Via.networks, they OWN their own backbone).

Anyway, and to the point, wireless broadband is the only way that Greece will get true broadband...

Re:Prices

[toriver]

At these prices 14.4Mbps is almost 2000 /sec.

UMTS (3G) and later aren't volume-priced as GPRS is, but are "always-on" that you pay blood per month (probably 200 or so) to use, plus charges from service operators.

Still, I have no idea who will buy UMTS or 3.5G devices, though - I spend 90% of my time in the vicinity of an internet-connected computer, I am not interested in paying a fortune just to be able to use a small set of services when I'm not.

Re:eh?

[Anonymous Coward]

Mobile phones and SMS meet a basic need for communication, 3G and video phones don't really add anything to this.

Yes! Thank you! I've been saying this even before anybody launched a 3G service. I saw the pre-promo materials from several companies. We even got to listen to a talk from a head-honcho at Vodafone. All of it was crap then, and its still crap now.

Just look at the 3 adverts currently running on T.V. There are two classes; stupid and smutty. Thats the only angles they have for video messaging! No demand, no defined target market. Way to go on those multi-billion 3G contracts guys.

Re:Where are the applications?

[chiasmus1]

The students I teach here in Japan have cell phones that can do all sorts of things. Many of my students have been downloading music for a while. Almost all cell phones come with a built-in camera. They do email, web browsing and more.
In Japan it is common to have a box attached to your door bell so that you can answer a phone inside the house and talk to the person. The cell phones have also been hooked up to the doors so that if someone rings your doorbell and you are on a trip in Tyoko you can answer and tell them to go away or something like that. It is good for tricking robbers into thinking you are home.
Bandwidth is not something you need to build up when you need it. You want to have it there so that you do not need it. It is always better to be safe than sorry, right?

We have this already

[Bruha]

Verizon Wireless is testing EVDO (Evolution Data Only) in the beltline area of Washington State.

While it does not promise 14 megabit speeds (What you gonna run slashdot off it?) it will do 600Kbit while moving and 2.4 megabit stationary.

I think also there's an expansion out in San Diego also.

http://www.google.com/search?q=EVDO&sourceid=moz il la-search&start=0&start=0&ie=utf-8&oe=utf- 8

Edumacate yourself :)