A Technical Aspect: wireless where?

Basically the 3G service is offering us the potential of a true multimedia experience for a mobile environment. But what does that really mean for the consumer? What are the services that will make it essential to us in the way the web has become for many?

The key features that 3G offers the designer for the new wireless landscape are always being on (no dialling or waiting), commerce (buying at your convenience), location awareness and, of course, content involving graphics and colour.

The combination of having these on the move allows a creativity of service that could drive the market allowing a return of those who have invested in this area. The key word is ‘could' and this is where the past shows us the difference between the potential and what is available. This is apart from the problems of handset supply, infrastructure (especially aerials), and companies paying too much for licences to be able to offer a 3G network.

I could be watching the TT races from the VIP stand and, glancing down at bleeping PDA, I see that the race leader has crashed. This news was sent to me because the 3G network knows where I am located and my personalisation module noted I'd placed a bet on the race leader. I choose to replay the crash and then send a quick rueful video message home. The previous day I'd arrived and booked my room having checked room availability, what the room looked like and charged it to my phone bill. I also booked a restaurant having perused several menus and interior photos - the average customer review was 8/10.

In reality most of this functionality would be handy today from my desk at work before setting off but these systems aren't being made available to the consumers due to the difficulty in getting a return on the initial investment. It is handy to check your e-mail or calendar on the move but will people pay the 3G charges just for these current services on the move?

Much of the current stock market problems stem from companies not getting the expected returns on investing in the internet's potential. If the content providers fail to deliver the exciting potential of 3G then the time it takes to gain a critical mass of consumers may well be too long for many of the pioneers.

Written by James Havelock, head of wireless development at Aspect Internet (www.aspectgroup.co.uk).