Third generation mobile technology is just one more stage in the transformation of the mobile phone from a simple communication device to a multifunction device. It was launched for the first time in Japan.
The technology which uses higher bandwidth will enable users to send and receive data at speeds from 114 to 2000kbps( or 2Mbps) depending on whether the user is stationary or in motion which is way over(6 to 35 times more) the speed offered by any regular landlines modem.
Hence a 3G system can be used as a modem for laptops to get access to internet and it can
take on the role of WAN(Wide Area network) or LAN(Local area Network).The goals of this new protocol are high quality multi media and advanced global roaming(in house, cellular satellite).
The first generation phones introduced in the 1980s used analog radio technology. Japan launched the first commercial mobile system in1979.By the early 1990s,the second generation or 2G phones had completely replaced the first generation. The main difference was that 2G phones were digital which meant that the voice itself during a call is encoded to digital signals where as in 1G it is only modulated to higher frequency, typically 150 MHz and up. The other major advancement was that 2G phones allowed text messaging(SMS).2G networks were built mainly for voice data and slow transmission.
But with rising user expectations the network soon moved on to the 2.5G mobile phones with General Packet Radio Service(GPRS) that enables mobile phones to access certain websites.However,GPRS can only go up to 144bits per second compared to 3G’s 2Mb speed, colored screens with camera featured mobile phones, gaming and MP3 music were also introduced at 2.5G stage.
The main services are M commerce (Mobile Commerce) and global positioning. A 3G user can access,organise and carry out financial transactions, trade stocks, manage payments etc.Global positioning enables the user to know their current location, get information about traffic conditions to reach certain place. Live streaming of radio and television to 3G handsets is seen as the future with some companies recently announcing these services.
In India the government is yet to come out with 3g policy, including spectrum usage and spectrum pricing .Though Indian operators are yet to start 3G services, the seem ready to launch as soon as the government prepares its policy. In fact, a number of handset vendors have already introduced 3G ready phones in the country.
Work has already started on the next generation 4G phones, which it is claimed will be 50 times faster than 3g phones and this enhanced capacity is expected to enable three dimensional renderings and other virtual experiences on mobile phone.
This phone, which is expected to be out by 2010,is expected to be able to receive at 100Mbps on the move and up to 1 Gbps while static. An entire DVD could be downloaded within a minute! The technology being worked on is supposed to increase download speeds by using multiple radio frequencies to send the same data stream.
COURTESY:THE TIMES OF INDIA
