You are right about the upgrade to GRPS, but what I meant was that when the network is already strained to its limits, it will need an upgrade before any serious use of GPRS is possible. And due to the nature of regular phone signals GPRS will always loose if time-slots are dedicated dynamically.
But on the part of I-mode I stand corrected..:) But I'm not sure about I-mode over GPRS, I-Mode needs a fast network to become a hit in Europe.. But time will tell..:)
I must say that one reason we hear don't have those kind of phones is that it's not economical for mobile phone manufactures to sell phones with advanched technology.
It would have been economical if the networks wasn't using ancient GSM-technology..
It's my oppinion that GPRS won't stand a chance put up against I-mode. The GPRS-standard has potential, but for it to reach the speeds it are capable of the GSM-networks needs upgrading (big time!). Since GPRS uses the GSM-networks it has to compete for bandwidth with normal phone calls and SMS traffic. As long as there are few users no phone-company are going to dedicate bandwidth to GPRS when the network is already in dire need of upgrading. With only a small amount of bandwidth available you won't get much speed on GPRS phones, and this will effect the demand for phones with GPRS support.
I-mode on the other hand starts from scratch, starting with coverage in the big cities and expanding from there. At the same time the market is flooded with cheap, colorfull and fancy devices with loads of online services.
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But on the part of I-mode I stand corrected.. :) But I'm not sure about I-mode over GPRS, I-Mode needs a fast network to become a hit in Europe.. But time will tell.. :)
It's my oppinion that GPRS won't stand a chance put up against I-mode. The GPRS-standard has potential, but for it to reach the speeds it are capable of the GSM-networks needs upgrading (big time!). Since GPRS uses the GSM-networks it has to compete for bandwidth with normal phone calls and SMS traffic. As long as there are few users no phone-company are going to dedicate bandwidth to GPRS when the network is already in dire need of upgrading. With only a small amount of bandwidth available you won't get much speed on GPRS phones, and this will effect the demand for phones with GPRS support.
I-mode on the other hand starts from scratch, starting with coverage in the big cities and expanding from there. At the same time the market is flooded with cheap, colorfull and fancy devices with loads of online services.
http://beldin.nu/pioneer_10_ping.jpg