Opinionated comments on mobile phone industry news
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Thursday, October 12, 2006
"Sorry, we meant navigation..."
It seems navigation is now the supposed killer app for 3G, not video as many analysts claimed a year ago, but I don't see any apologies from anyone. The only issue is, there are no GPS handsets, so we need to get such first, or?
Why not start with providing services that use cell ID or similar. That would work with all existing phones, and would be enough for e.g. restaurant/bar finders, etc. Would be a nice complement to Google Maps etc.
I get a bit anxious whenever analysts talk about new services that "just" require new phones and new infrastructure, seemingly without understanding the costs and times involved and the big risk that it will bomb completely.
This note also indicates the industry is still trying to sell pure technology to consumers ("3G anyone?"). From a consumer's point-of-view 3G is somewhat faster, but still just as expensive per megabyte as GPRS etc. Advice to the industry: Fix flatrate 3G before you fix GPS etc.
Surprising New 3G Killer Application
Why not start with providing services that use cell ID or similar. That would work with all existing phones, and would be enough for e.g. restaurant/bar finders, etc. Would be a nice complement to Google Maps etc.
I get a bit anxious whenever analysts talk about new services that "just" require new phones and new infrastructure, seemingly without understanding the costs and times involved and the big risk that it will bomb completely.
This note also indicates the industry is still trying to sell pure technology to consumers ("3G anyone?"). From a consumer's point-of-view 3G is somewhat faster, but still just as expensive per megabyte as GPRS etc. Advice to the industry: Fix flatrate 3G before you fix GPS etc.
Surprising New 3G Killer Application
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Of course, in this area the American market is actually ahead. Location (GPS or otherwise) is mandated to be in all/most mobiles [1], and location-enhanced applications are definitely available. Traffic, geocaching, and mobile-enhanced dating are all available.
[1] The definition is that 75% of mobile phone calls to emergency services must be able to provide user location within 100 meters.
[1] The definition is that 75% of mobile phone calls to emergency services must be able to provide user location within 100 meters.
True, and 100 meters doesn't require GPS.
As a Java ME developer I've noticed there are yet almost no phones with the Location API, which would be excellent for third-party (read: without operator control) mapping and search applications.
As a Java ME developer I've noticed there are yet almost no phones with the Location API, which would be excellent for third-party (read: without operator control) mapping and search applications.
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