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Just In Case 3G Isn't Speedy Enough

Posted by Hemos on from the faster-and-faster-it-goes dept.

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."

2 of 140 comments (clear)

  1. Too bad DoCoMo is so expensive... by interactive_civilian · · Score: 3, Interesting
    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).

    --
    "Empathise with stupidity, and you're halfway to thinking like an idiot." - Iain M. Banks
  2. Re:Prices by toriver · · Score: 3, Interesting

    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.