The Internet via the cellular phone<\/p>\n
Question: I spend hours in my Kijang every day. I usually connect
\nmy notebook to my cellphone with Bluetooth. It is very slow. How
\ncan I get a decent speed from my cellphone? -- GN, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Answer: You did not specify it in your first email, but I assumed
\nthat you were using your cellphone to dial your ISP access
\nnumber, much like using your fixed home telephone.<\/p>\n
In your second email, you confirmed my suspicion. Using the
\ncellphone in this way will only give you a very limited bit rate.
\nThe Bluetooth is also another bottleneck, as it is not designed
\nfor Internet connection.<\/p>\n
As I write up my reply to your question, I am in a hotel room
\nin Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Here, Maxis' 3G Wideband Code Division
\nMultiple Access (WCDMA) network is already running on a user-
\ntrial basis. I am very lucky to have gotten the chance to try it
\nout, although only for a short time.<\/p>\n
A PC-Card 3G adapter was inserted into the PC-Card slot of a
\nnotebook that was lent to me. I was then able to get a speed in
\nexcess of 300 kbps. The connection was always on, so it was very
\nmuch like the broadband (cable or ADSL) connection to your home.<\/p>\n
I was free to move around the city as long as I still had
\nMaxis' 3G network coverage, and I was always connected.<\/p>\n
The PC-Card adapter is actually a cellphone. It has a slot for
\na Subscriber Identification Module (SIM), which could be taken
\nout from the device and inserted to the SIM slot of a cellphone
\nif you want to make a phone call. There are adapter models that
\ncan even handle voice calls as well using a Bluetooth headset.<\/p>\n
Now you may wonder how much the service will cost the
\nsubscribers once it becomes fully commercial, I have been told
\nthat Maxis will charge a flat rate of 120 Malaysian ringgit
\n(equivalent to USD 31.58) if they register before June.<\/p>\n
The flat rate is guaranteed to remain the same until the end
\nof the year. That is a very attractive offer, and once the
\noperator's competitor has its network up and running as well, it
\nis quite unlikely that we will see a significant price hike for
\nthe service.<\/p>\n
So, instead of using your cellular phone to dial your ISP
\nnumber, this is the setup that you should look at to get Internet
\nconnection while your driver is fighting Jakarta's traffic. Very
\nunfortunately, however, it seems that we will have to wait for
\nsome time before the 3G service becomes available here.<\/p>\n
Not to worry, though. You still have several alternatives.
\nMobile-8, which is a cellular operator that uses CDMA2000 1x
\ninstead of the WCDMA technology, is one of them. On the market,
\nthere are several PC-Card products using this technology that can
\nconnect your notebook directly to the Internet.<\/p>\n
A Sierra Wireless PC-Card adapter, for example, will cost you
\naround Rp 3 million. These PC-Cards have a slot for a Removable
\nUser Identification Module (RUIM) instead of a SIM card.<\/p>\n
Our beloved PT Telkom also provides data service through its
\nFlexi network, which is based on the CDMA2000 1x technology.
\nHowever, with Flexi, you cannot roam to other cities because it
\nis supposed to be a fixed wireless service. This would not be a
\nproblem if you seldom use your notebook outside the Greater
\nJakarta area. If you do, you may have to choose Mobile-8.<\/p>\n
Or, you can use the older technologies such as General Packet
\nRadio Service (GPRS) or the faster Enhanced Data rate for GSM
\nEvolution (EDGE) that are available from GSM operators such as
\nTelkomsel, Indosat and XL.<\/p>\n
There are PC-Card adapters for GPRS and EDGE out there as
\nwell. They will give you a decent speed, and you may be able to
\nroam to other cities in the world where your operators have a
\nroaming arrangement with local operators.<\/p>\n
If you have questions related to the use of information and
\ncommunication technology, please email zatni@cbn.net.id.<\/p>",
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