With the dust barely settled on 3G launches and the wrapping just off the flashy new handsets, the major operators have announced they're working on the follow-up to third generation--christened 'Super 3G'.
Vodafone, NEC, Siemens and Japanese mobile giant NTT DoCoMo are among the 26 firms that have signed up to develop the new Super 3G standard, which would transmit data around 10 times faster than 3G's rate, according to reports.
As well as improving gaming and content services, the souped-up network could also mean a real boost for TV-via-mobile and may prompt demand for handsets with high-resolution LCD screens.
The standard is expected to be ready by 2007, with a commercial launch coming some time after 2009.
While British mobile operators have already dug deep to get "first generation" 3G on its feet--spending 22 billion pounds ($41.4 billion) on network licenses--establishing the new-wave third generation network could be equally costly.
According to Japanese business daily Nihon Keizai Shimbun, DoCoMo--Japan's largest mobile firm--would have to pay 100 billion yen (around $959 million) on upgrading its infrastructure alone for the arrival of Super 3G.
However, mobile video could make the investment worthwhile--according to research firm ARC Group, the market for mobile video will reach $5.4 billion by 2008, with 250 million people using the service.
The pace of growth in wireless technology bandwidth is astounding. Two-way, full motion video on a handheld device in real time within the decade makes everyone a potential TV journalist. Dan Gillmor is right to move into the 'We Are the Media' space.
MSM (MainStream Media) had best decide its role in this brave new world. Otherwise it risks replacement by a different media model. Think about the effect if a company paid me and others who were on the ground able to gather video and audio happenings that professional editors could convert to NEWS. Mind-boggling.
The pace of growth in wireless technology bandwidth is astounding. Two-way, full motion video on a handheld device in real time within the decade makes everyone a potential TV journalist. Dan Gillmor is right to move into the 'We Are the Media' space.
MSM (MainStream Media) had best decide its role in this brave new world. Otherwise it risks replacement by a different media model. Think about the effect if a company paid me and others who were on the ground able to gather video and audio happenings that professional editors could convert to NEWS. Mind-boggling.
Google creates an animated doodle that features a boy, a girl, Google's search engine, and a jump rope. But might there be darker, more analytical, more troubling interpretations to this tale?
The Silicon Valley online payments startup grew by 1,000 percent last year and is hopeful it can repeat that level of growth this year. To do that, it's had to move away from its early friends-and-family roots and embrace small businesses.
Chamtech's spray-on antenna uses a nano material to provide a low-power boost to antenna range. The wireless-in-a-can product may some day bring an end to unsightly cell towers.
EnerG2 opens a plant to make an engineered carbon that will improve performance of energy storage devices and make storage for start-stop hybrid cars less expensive.
MSM (MainStream Media) had best decide its role in this brave new world. Otherwise it risks replacement by a different media model. Think about the effect if a company paid me and others who were on the ground able to gather video and audio happenings that professional editors could convert to NEWS. Mind-boggling.
MSM (MainStream Media) had best decide its role in this brave new world. Otherwise it risks replacement by a different media model. Think about the effect if a company paid me and others who were on the ground able to gather video and audio happenings that professional editors could convert to NEWS. Mind-boggling.