Your Third Generation Cellphone

According

to telecom chronology, we’re in the second generation of mobile

communications. The first generation was based on analog systems, designed only

for voice. The second generation is the digital generation–along with voice,

some basic data services are also available on the mobile phone. These include

SMS (Short Message Service) where small text messages can be sent from one

cellphone to another, and rudimentary fax and e-mail. The third generation is

where the fun and games are being promised.

3G, as third generation cellphone systems are popularly

called, promises to bring multimedia and the Internet to the mobile. In short, a

3G device would be mobile and offer most functionalities that the PC does today.

Cellphones

are about the only mobile 2G devices, and their limitations are in the areas of

display, input, and bandwidth. Display real estate is limited on even the best

of cellphones, and is mostly monochrome text, or at best, text-based graphics.

Where input is concerned, cellphone keypads are designed to input numbers or

very small amounts of text. So, you have to work out a way of either eliminating

text input–probably use voice commands instead, or adding on devices like

small keyboards that will make text input easier. And finally bandwidth.

Cellphones transfer data at 9.6 kbps. Remember the days of the 9.6 kbps modem?

You can’t have rich content transferred at those speeds. So, the real

challenge of 3G is enhanced bandwidth. Plans are on to increase bandwidth

availability manifold, and the technologies for the same could be rolled out

anytime now.

It’s envisaged that the 3G device will be an always on,

always connected one, that goes with you wherever you go. More of an

entertainment and data communication device than the cellphone is today, it’s

unlikely that one size would fit all in 3G devices. Many different concepts are

doing the rounds, and it’s possible that many of them would become

bestsellers. It’s equally possible that as technology and needs gets better

defined, a totally new type of device will emerge as the choice of the new

generation.