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3G in the Philippines |
cdcjr
Joined: Feb 23, 2003
Posts: 99
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Hi to everyone!
I'm just curious. I have several questions that is going around in my head for sometime now.
1. When will 3G be fully operational in the Philippines?
2. Who do you think will be the first one to implement 3G? Will it be Globe or Smart? What promotion or gimik do you think will they offer for subscribers?
3. How about the pricing? What are the different plan rates?will there also be prepaid account for 3G for the filipinos to enjoy? ( much like a GSM user is benefiting right now) and will it be affordable for every average Filipino people?
4. Will 3G succeed in the Philippines? and Why?
Hope that these Questions with the generous answers/opinions coming from everyone will benefit all of us ( mga pinoy ) to see what will be the future and upcoming trend of 3G in the Philippines. God Bless you all. 
Yours,
cdcjr
[ This Message was edited by: cdcjr on 2003-02-26 22:30 ]
[ This Message was edited by: cdcjr on 2003-02-26 22:35 ]
[ This Message was edited by: cdcjr on 2003-02-26 22:37 ]
[ This Message was edited by: cdcjr on 2003-02-26 22:46 ] | |
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jplacson
Joined: Apr 21, 2002
Posts: > 500
From: Philippines
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1. No news on 3G here in the Phil yet.
2. I think both Smart & Globe will get it at the same time.
3. 3G will not be affordable. Just like Satellite phones, it will be there, but won't be affordable for quite a while.
4. I don't think 3G will succeed anywhere in the world, until they really decide on a unifying standard/frequency band and lower the cost of the license.
Right now, 3G 'standards' are still fragmented... defeating the whole concept of GSM. You have EDGE, UMTS, WCDMA, & CDMA2000. I don't even know if I forgot anything else. Plus, the frequencies are still the same... 850/1900 for the US, and 900/1800 for the rest of the GSM world, and 800 for new GSM countries! 5 bands???? Even the new dual-mode GSM/3G units don't operate in all the bands so the phones aren't Global phones. Right now, 3G is the AMPS/TDMA war all over again. Everyone trying to cash in on their own 'standard'.
GSM succeeded because they didn't push it as a Global Standard. GSM was originally started like PDC of Japan. It was just meant to unite Europe. GSM is actually French, it stood for Groupe Spéciale Mobile. Everyone liked it... then it became Global System Mobile Communications.
3G is now becoming a band-wagon phrase that all these telcos use to puch for their own technology. Everyone wants to be on the 3G wagon. Pushing for higher data-rates, more features, more services, etc..etc... but seriously... in the GSM world, what's the percentage of Smartphone users? Color screens are pretty standard now... but I still see a lot of monochrome phones out there. And very few people have the 7650/3650...let alone the SE P800.
Unless they agree on a backwards compatible system, that build on top of existing GSM... 3G won't succeed. True, a system like this won't be able to offer the data speeds that a stand alone 3G network can provide... but come on, haven't they learned from the GSM CDMA battle? With consumers, it's not always about who has better technology. |
wasabigirl
Joined: Mar 26, 2003
Posts: 2
From: manila
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read in far eastern economic review (or something like that) that 3G is already available here, access points at seattle's best shops in manila. also at the NAIA. also, there's a prepaid 3G card na. the article named a company but i can't remember what it is. |
neilgoth
Joined: Dec 10, 2002
Posts: 385
From: Pelepens
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Sorry but i've been working at NAIA for 9years already and there are no 3G cards, prepaid or whatever being sold at the airport.
This message was posted from a T68i |
wasabigirl
Joined: Mar 26, 2003
Posts: 2
From: manila
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ay, i don't think they sell the card at the airport. what i meant is that you can access/use 3G at the airport. lemme look for that darn article and ill post the details here. |
jplacson
Joined: Apr 21, 2002
Posts: > 500
From: Philippines
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I think you're talking about WiFi, not 3G. 3G shouldn't have "access points" since it is a cellular based service. |
Lopio
Joined: Feb 07, 2003
Posts: 266
From: Cebu City, Philippines
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whats a WiFi then? excuse me for being ignorant.
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neilgoth
Joined: Dec 10, 2002
Posts: 385
From: Pelepens
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@wasabigirl, maybe, i've seen most japanese travellers using their 3G phones there. I'm not sure if they are just using their roam function or they can access all the 3G features. So far i have really no idea about the whole 3G thing though it has been around for quite some years. Could jplacson give us an overview of 3G in a nutshell? Maybe it's benefits over GSM, some extra features like video streaming? Some pros and cons? Thanks in advance mates :-)
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wasabigirl
Joined: Mar 26, 2003
Posts: 2
From: manila
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Im so sorry! I was talking about Wi-Fi and not 3G. Apologies for the confusion. Wi-Fi is touted as the next big thing and might eventually replace 3G. It's already available in the Philippines (well that's what the mag article claims). |
ynohtna
Joined: Dec 27, 2002
Posts: 278
From: PH
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I think wasabe is refering to blink company providing wifi services.i think wifi has a faster data download/transfer than bluetooth protocol and it has a farther range than d 10 meters and of cors no wires.If bluetooth has 1megabits-per-second data download,wifi has i think double that theoretically.Thats what i read from mags like gadget and stuff asean.
With regards to video streaming,glbe and smart have already that.We are somewhat semi 3g already.What excites me is video conferencing(SE Z1010).
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sleeq
Joined: Feb 19, 2003
Posts: 23
From: philippines
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Wi-fi is 802.11b ryt? From what i know, its a wireless solution 4 LAN and u cant interconect ur fone with the system bec of protocol difrence
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senninha
Joined: Jan 05, 2003
Posts: > 500
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Honestly i don't think we will be seeing 3G in the Philippines, at least not for a looooong time. The reason is very simple. 3G infrastructure is extremely expensive! It's not as simple as just upgrading a 2.5G system, which is what GPRS/MMS/etc. is. It is a whole new infrastructure in itself.
Secondly, before Globe or Smart even considered upgrading to 3G, it will have to have conclusive proof that a large percentage of subscribers are willing to use and pay for such data services. As it is, GPRS and color display phones make up a miniscule percentage of the subscriber base, so if they were to put up a 3G network, even assuming all postpaid subs used the system (which is really only about 5% or so of the subscriber base), they would never get a return on their investment. As it is, just look at all the people who have GPRS capable phones, and count to yourself the number of those people who have even tried to use GPRS services.
Finally, WiFi or 802.11 is a wireless equivalent of a network card/cabling system between computers, like you would have in an office intranet. There will be some establishments, restaurants, etc. that will have wireless networks that customers can access to surf the net, check email, etc. But bear in mind that this is different from the data services provided by a telco. So when you leave the effective network radius of a WiFi enabled restaurant, for example, (max. of maybe 100 m with signal boosters, etc.) your WiFi capability is gone. Very different from a telco's GPRS or whatever data services which is theoretically nationwide.
[addsig] |
jplacson
Joined: Apr 21, 2002
Posts: > 500
From: Philippines
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Ok, just an overview...
3G- A totally new network, based on CDMA (But not owned by Qualcomm) Supposedly has data rates of 1-2mbps. Will allow for full streaming video calls, simultaneous internet surfing & data file transfers. Costs almost as much as satellite (ACes or Globalstar) calls. Handsets are expensive. And no final standard has been set yet. Just because your phone is 3G, doesn't mean it will work in all 3G networks (Dumb huh?) Oh, and handsets are still big and bulky. 3G cell range is the usual cell range of about 2km and over.
WiFi- This is just wireless LAN, like what most offices have internally. This is great for people who work via their laptops cuz this allows you to be connected to the net at about 11-54mbps (depending on whether you're using 802.11a,b or g -Mac Airport-) Wifi is NOT a Bluetooth replacement for 2 simple reasons... one, it eats up battery life a lot more than BT.. two, it requires more components so it costs more. Wifi has a range of about 100-300 feet.
Bluetooth is a universal wireless standard... this means that ANY device can use Bluetooth if the manufacturer wanted. Think of Bluetooth as a wireless diplomat/translator between different devices. It's low-power, short-range properties gives it a big advantage over Wifi. Being short-range is NOT a drawback... it doubles as a security feature... think of it, if someone wanted to hack into your BT network, he'd have to be in the same room! BT is useful for cross-device compatibility. Headsets, PCs, Laptops, mobile phones, refrigerators, car alarms, door locks, etc... all can use Bluetooth to communicate with each other. Speed is about 1-2mbps
Right now, I doubt 3G will take off. It costs too much, handsets are limited, and not everyone needs or even uses the mobile internet. I for one, use GPRS everyday... but I know more people who have GPRS enabled handsets who've never used the service ever. Wifi will be great if they offer it for free like they do in the US. Video calls are over-rated... I have a webcam and use it pretty often... but it's no big deal. I only use it since it doesn't cost me any more than a regular internet call.... I will NOT use 3G video calls if they will double my call cost...I don't love my clients THAT much!!! 
[ This Message was edited by: jplacson on 2003-03-28 06:57 ] |
mrj82
Joined: Sep 26, 2002
Posts: 256
From: Mississippi, USA
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I want a bluetooth keyless entry system for my car  . I could use my P800 to pop the trunk and unlock the doors, maybe even put down the windows, etc. That would be nice. |
jplacson
Joined: Apr 21, 2002
Posts: > 500
From: Philippines
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It's rumoured that the new S-class Mercs use BT technology for their keyless/proximity card keys. | |
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Posted: 2003-02-26 23:15
