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3G Video Mobile Phones
3G mobile phones -- an overview of video cell phones on 3G networks
May 19, 2006
By: Alice Osborn
Today's 3G video mobile phones (3G stands for third
generation) can transfer moving pictures, voice and data
between video cell phones through broadband services, so
that when you take your 3G cell phone on the road with you,
your broadband capabilities come along, too. With a 3G
network that is accessed through the 3G mobile phone
handset, or smartphone, you can quickly access web pages,
text message, enjoy streaming music, view and record
on-demand video clips, download games, and connect with your
boss or with friends via the phone's video conferencing
features. The 3G technology is capable of speeds from
144Kbps to 2.4Mbps, which is comparable to a desktop
computer's broadband speed.
A short history of U.S. cellular technology -- three
generations
- First generation -- Cellular technology emerged
in the 1980s with the analog AMPS (Advanced Mobile Phone
Service) analog network. Call quality was not reliable and
anyone with a radio scanner could easily eavesdrop on a
conversation due to the AMPS' lack of encryption
technology.
- Second generation -- In the 1990s, two digital
networks emerged: the CDMA (Code-Division Multiple Access)
used by Verizon and Sprint and the GSM (Global System for
Mobile Communications) used by T-Mobile, AT&T Wireless,
and Cingular. This digital technology offered voice and
limited data capabilities. Because the cell phone
companies were divided between their CDMA and GSM usage, a
unifying 3G standard wasn't adopted in the U.S., like it
was in Japan, South Korea and Europe.
- Third generation -- In 2001, Japan's leading
mobile communications company,
NTT DoCoMo, launched the
world's first 3G mobile phone service, while users in
Europe had to wait several years for the same technology.
Three years later, German cell phone provider
Vodafone
launched its 3G service that ran at just 64kb per second,
which was ten times slower than anticipated. In the U.S.,
3G is available in six cities under the Cingular and AT&T
Wireless network and is available in forty-eight cities
under the Verizon network, with other companies expected
to join the 3G race by the end of 2006.
Types of 3G mobile services
In the U.S. market, there are two types of 3G services:
the UMTS (Universal Mobile Telephone Service), which is
being used in conjunction with existing GSM networks, and
CDMA2000, which transfers 3G speed to CDMA networks. Both
the LG VX8000 from Qualcomm and the Motorola A845 handsets
are compatible with these 3G networks on Verizon and
T-Mobile, respectively.
Looking ahead beyond 3G
According to ABI Research, the number of global 3G video
phone subscribers will grow from fewer than 1 million today
to 250 million by 2010 and, today's $200 million dollar
business will grow to $27 billion by the decade's end.
Although early adopters of 3G services will be paying more
for their phones than those who wait in the middle of the 3G
trend, experts agree that interested users should buy a 3G
mobile phone now and wait for the carriers to catch up with
the service to stay ahead of an increase in demand and a
future shortage of supply.
Within the next year, watch for the deployment of 3.5G
and 4G mobile networks using technologies such as HSDPA and
WiMax that boast speeds rivaling gigabit Ethernet networks.
About the Author
Alice Osborn is a successful freelance writer and
contributor to Video-Conferencing-Guide.com. Your definitive guide to everything you need to know about video driven communications, including multi-view video conferencing solutions for business, broadband video phones and personal webcam chat rooms.
Also See: [
Festoon offers Internet video conferencing software to the
masses ]
[ Internet video phone --
the new IP video telephony service from Skype ]
[ Video
conferencing and telemedicine tackle today's healthcare
challenges ]
Home Page:
[ Video-Conferencing-Guide.com ]
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