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k750i and EDGE |
hkr
Joined: Jul 11, 2005
Posts: 15
PM |
as usual, prices will fall significantly, as users start to use the new
possibilities ... therefore, fast connection is a plus ... edge would
be great ...
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max_wedge
Joined: Aug 29, 2004
Posts: > 500
From: Australia
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Operators are generally putting thier development dollars into 3g so edge prices may not fall that much before 3G starts to take off...
So handset manufacturers also have to consider that, and put their development dollars into 3g phones. |
brix25
Joined: Aug 20, 2003
Posts: > 500
From: Cape Town, South Africa
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@max_wedge: Pity that you guys are paying such crazy prices for data...in South Africa the general price is about US30cents\\MB on all our networks.
This message was posted from a K700i |
Kimi
Joined: Nov 21, 2001
Posts: 293
From: Switzerland
PM |
I get 1GByte per Month for about 53EUROS. That's by far enough for normal surfing, email and some downloads. Of course - by using video-streaming or internet-radio I would rapidly exceed 1GByte.
But it's a good feeling (almost) not having to worry about how long or how much I'm in the web with UMTS  . |
max_wedge
Joined: Aug 29, 2004
Posts: > 500
From: Australia
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I can only wish
Australia is probably behind some countries due to our low population and large area that needs covering. However Australia does have a much higher uptake of technology than many nations of comparable population, and we have a high income per capita too, so it's slowly getting there. The networks treat us like hicks, which is irritating. Basically they see dollar signs, because they expect that we will pay high prices for content (pictures, games etc which cost the networks nothing to supply) and they want to suck us dry before they offer any real service like broadband internet at affordable rates. Their attitude is that mobile phone internet = proprietary content = easy dollars.
What they don't realise is that Australians would be one of the highest users per capita of mobile internet if they would only give us decent prices (even if not dirt cheap. We don't mind spending our money, we just want good value).
For example, on 3, you can browse their internal network free, but all the content is massively expensive! Yet to browse the external web, you need a data plan ON TOP of your phone plan (you can't use gprs on a standard phone plan unless it is on their own network). These plans cost more than a standard phone plan, and are limited to 2MB even on the highest plan. That's 2MB on a 384kbps network! It's crazy.
Non of the operators here have plans to implement edge. Telstra has just done a deal with 3 (hutchison communications) to share the 3 network, and optus (singtel) have plans to introduce 3G services in partnership with Vodafone. Neither of these networks will be operational for the next year, and then only in our three major cities.
Admitedly one factor that has gone against 3, is the size of handsets. Because data costs are through the roof, 3 have shot themselves in the foot. Australians like technology, and traditoinally small handsets have had wide appeal here. Most 3 phones are as big as a Nokia 3310! This is seen as old fashioned by consumers. If data plans were cheaper, there would be more incentive for people to use 3.
Note: the Nokia 6680, and the V600 are smaller form factor phones (with decent spec), and size of handsets is coming down, so I think the next year will see a lot of change for the better.
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Posted: 2005-08-19 10:09
