No 3G for HP Until 2007

An anonymous reader writes to tell us CNet is reporting that HP will not be bringing 3G support to any of their new 'smart phones' until at least 2007. From the article: "[HP] cites the costs associated with the service, coupled with the fact that 3G's killer app -- TV and video streaming -- isn't yet viable on mobile phones as the primary reasons for its decision. '3G is still only occupying 3% of the world pie,' HP's Vice-President for Consumer Products and Mobile Business Group in the Asia-Pacific region, Chin-Teik SEE, told CNET.com.au at the company's 'magical mobility launch' event in Hong Kong last week."

Comments

If all parties

[MarkNijhof]

Are going to think like that 3G will never happen :)

-Mark

Re:If all parties

[gjh]

Well... except that I have a 3G phone and use it all the time. It downgrades nicely to lower 2G stuff when I travel. It's a fantastic phone, I totally recommend it.

It's not that 3G might not happen - it's whether *some markets* will end up preferring WLAN before 3G gets a good foothold. Because either way, it's going to be IP that ties it all together before long. It all depends on good phones and good flat-rate data plans.

The logical application of 3G bandwidth

[BadAnalogyGuy]

Is the logical application of 3G bandwidth really streaming video? Maybe if you are the operator charging per packet!

The logical application of higher bandwidth on mobile phones is just an extension of current phone capabilities. Namely, increased mail functionality like graphics and graphical icons, and music downloads. In the business sphere, it makes sense to utilize that bandwidth for file transfers from one mobile phone to another.

But streaming video wasn't ever really high on anyone's list of MUST HAVE functionality. At least not on the user side.

Is anyone actually using tv phone functionality?

[xtal]

I see ads for this everywhere, but I've never seen ANYONE making use of this service. I don't even know when I would if I wanted to. My phone is for talking to people with and maybe SMS. I don't use the internet functionality because the rates are insane.

Telcos don't get it. Provide bandwidth, and let people build services that run on that bandwidth. Being greedy with the apps.. means you get to put a great big 3G waste of money in your pipe (and smoke it).

US Cellphone system nearly irrelevant anyway

[mauriceh]

The US cellphone market ( and most of the Canadian one as well) is now so irrelevant to the world market, that it really does not matter.

CDMA, TDMA, but not GSM for the most part.

Sure, we have a couple of GSM providers, but on an alien frequency (1900).
Add to that the greed of the N. American phone and cellphone providers, and not much in the way of progress is likely to happen here.

So, 3G will slowly push ahead in Asia, where all the tech now is, Europe will follow, and that's all folks.

In the meantime tech like WIMAX will progress, people will soon have portables using that or similar, VoIP on wireless will take off, and pretty soon cell phones as a separate device for talking (only) will become obsolete.

Re:US Cellphone system nearly irrelevant anyway

[Anonymous Coward]

The US cellphone market ( and most of the Canadian one as well) is now so irrelevant to the world market, that it really does not matter.

CDMA, TDMA, but not GSM for the most part.

1996 just called, they want your critique of the North American cellular market back.

Re:They think it's all over

[TubeSteak]

You took his quote out of context, what he really said was

When we bring you high-bandwidth porn you won't be watching a full football or cricket match," Chin-Teik told CNET.com.au

Everyone knows that porn is one of the driving forces behind high bandwidth and high resolution technologies.

Reasons for embracing 3G

[titanium2k6]

In South Africa 3G networks are becoming more mainstream. The cellular provider here, Vodacom, has set up the pricing structure as follows:

* 3G video calls are charged at the same rate as your current voice rates. That's very forward thinking in my opinion, as it means there is no cost differential between making a voice call or a video call. Video calling is great, don't knock it till you've tried it. I'm hearing impaired and the streaming quality of 3G is so good that I can lipread the person at the other end and have a proper conversation; something I've never been able to do until 3G and 3G cellular phones were introduced (I'm using a Sony Ericsson V600i fyi)

* 3G data usage is charged at the rate of R2/mb, which is around 0.32 USD per megabyte. That's for out-of-bundle rates, so if you signed up for a data bundle, the per megabyte rate would be even lower. Data speeds are unbelievably fast - last week I had to retrieve an email attachment in the client basement parking (prior to a meeting with the client). Attachment was 2Mb in size, it took less than a minute to download it. I have noticed, however, that this depends on how crowded a 3G cell area is - the more 3G users, the slower the speeds.

The next technology on the horizon that will replace 3G is HSPDA (High-Speed Downlink Packet Access) which in theory should offer around 2Mbit/sec. Until then, 3G is a very good stepping stone that will last for a few years yet, and I would think that manufacturers who don't hop onto the 3G bandwagon reasonably early stand to lose a lot of their potential marketshare.

Cheers