The shape and sounds of things to come
Third generation mobile technology, also known as UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) is a broadband, packet-based transmission of text, digitized voices and multimedia offering services to mobile as well as computer users no matter where they are.
The technical standards for 3G technology as set by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) are truly amazing - a gigantic 2 Mega bytes per second (Mbps) near transmission centers, 384 Kbps in an urban environment and 144 Kbps in more remote areas.
This access combined with a higher bandwidth means 3G phones can offer almost TV- like video quality. Users can download video and audio content (such as sports highlights, music videos, mp3s or even multi-user games) over the air. What's more the high transmission rates and video quality enable the users to host virtual meetings and videoconferences.
Independent IT expert Tomasz Kulisiewicz says 80 percent of all 3G applications will be related to entertainment rather than business. Kulisiewicz also believes that 3G technology will change the music industry completely. He adds that, "because of the huge amount of money they invested in introducing 3G services, the operators need to make profits soon, so they are targeting not only the businessmen, but also young people."
The first commercial UMTS services were launched in South Korea and Japan, in 2000 and 2001 respectively. As of January 2005 there are 125 commercial 3G operators in 56 countries. Of the Central and Eastern European countries only in Slovenia and the Czech Republic do operators offer countrywide access.
In Poland the licenses for providing 3G services were granted to the three mobile phone operators. Polkomtel the operator of Plus GSM network is the first to offer commercial 3G services - for the time being only in Warsaw. However, the company is looking to expand significantly in 2005. "This year we are planning to develop the 3G services in Poland's major cities," a source confirmed. Costs may prove a limiting factor, though, as the company faces a dilemma over whether to develop services right across cities or concentrate on the city centers where most business activities take place. M.P.
The technical standards for 3G technology as set by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) are truly amazing - a gigantic 2 Mega bytes per second (Mbps) near transmission centers, 384 Kbps in an urban environment and 144 Kbps in more remote areas.
This access combined with a higher bandwidth means 3G phones can offer almost TV- like video quality. Users can download video and audio content (such as sports highlights, music videos, mp3s or even multi-user games) over the air. What's more the high transmission rates and video quality enable the users to host virtual meetings and videoconferences.
Independent IT expert Tomasz Kulisiewicz says 80 percent of all 3G applications will be related to entertainment rather than business. Kulisiewicz also believes that 3G technology will change the music industry completely. He adds that, "because of the huge amount of money they invested in introducing 3G services, the operators need to make profits soon, so they are targeting not only the businessmen, but also young people."
The first commercial UMTS services were launched in South Korea and Japan, in 2000 and 2001 respectively. As of January 2005 there are 125 commercial 3G operators in 56 countries. Of the Central and Eastern European countries only in Slovenia and the Czech Republic do operators offer countrywide access.
In Poland the licenses for providing 3G services were granted to the three mobile phone operators. Polkomtel the operator of Plus GSM network is the first to offer commercial 3G services - for the time being only in Warsaw. However, the company is looking to expand significantly in 2005. "This year we are planning to develop the 3G services in Poland's major cities," a source confirmed. Costs may prove a limiting factor, though, as the company faces a dilemma over whether to develop services right across cities or concentrate on the city centers where most business activities take place. M.P.
