Dual band networks improve footloose communication

Vishnu K. Mahmud, Contributor, Jakarta

Without a doubt, cellular phones in Indonesia are more common than computers or Internet connections. People around the country are just a call away from friends no matter where they are or what they are doing. And cell phone users are familiar with the various applications like voice mailbox or Short Messaging System SMS technologies.

And now, Indonesia will have a new cellular phone provider with the up and coming Indosat M3 (multi media mobile) or IM3. IM3 is one of the first cellular operators in Indonesia to offer dual band networks and general packet radio service or GPRS.

So what's so good about dual band?

At the moment, most cellular providers are using GSM 900 networks set at the 900 MHz. The second band now offered is GSM 1800, which hovers at the 1800 MHz that can provide more bandwidth for voice and data. Hopefully there will be no more busy networks or dropped calls.

Wireless application protocol (WAP) allowing access of the World Wide Web via your cell phone, was heralded to be the next best Internet craze. Unfortunately, getting online via WAP was time consuming, difficult and rather expensive.

Although it is possible to access the internet, WAP-enabled cell phones could only access specialized websites that were converted to wireless markup language (WML), which are rarely available (compared to the millions of regular hyper text markup language (HTML)-based internet sites). Some say that WML programming is rather complicated as well, thus the lack of independent WAP websites.

WAP as we know it now is text only, a far cry from the colors and graphics of the Internet. Cell phones must also dial in to access WAP servers and the costs are by the minute. If you disconnect from the service and want to go to another site or link, you must dial in again. Time spent reading the site is also charged.

GPRS, on the other hand, is always on. It is a new packet switching network implementation within the second generation (2G) of global mobile system (GMS) technology. Dubbed 2.5 G, GPRS is a fast and efficient method to access information.

In Japan, I-mode by NTT DoCoMo is by far the most popular wireless information service. I-Mode uses a proprietary service with packet switching technology. With a microbrowser built into the specialized DoCoMo handphones, users can access the net using oversized color display screens. DoCoMo charges I-Mode users 0.3 Yen (about a quarter of a penny) for each 128-byte packet of data sent or received, in addition to the monthly basic fee (300 Yen).

Sounds cheap? I-Mode Phone bills average 10,000 Yen a month (about US$80) since the packet charges add up. I-Mode's users are able to download ring tones, view pictures, play games, send e- mail, read the latest news, look for a job, and sell stocks. For many, I-Mode is a perfect distraction while they are stuck in traffic or going home on the train. But more importantly, it is an additional medium of information.

With the arrival of 2.5 G, Indonesia may be in for another rush towards M-Commerce as it did when the internet boomed back in early 2000. Information can flow easily as a personal computer is no longer required. With the ease of use of a cell phone, the mobile net can perhaps succeed where the internet failed.

A new channel of communication opens up for the masses, exposing people to a wealth of information they have never had the opportunity to view. Users can keep in contact with their loved ones via e-mail instead of using the more expensive (voice) phone charges. They can play games with their friends online as well as pay bills via their handphone.

Businesses may set up shop on the Mobile Web offering games, news and services. Subscription services can flourish as businesses can charge micropayments from each visitor to their website. In short, another avenue for small businesses has arrived in Indonesia.

It may take time before Indonesia gets into the same level as DoCoMo's I-Mode. But one thing is for sure; the Indonesian market is more conducive as more people have access to handphones then computers. Of course, they will have to upgrade to at least GPRS -ready cell phones, but the cost of those units are falling daily.

The era of the internet freeloader is over as businesses require revenue to provide services. People are willing to pay for services should they require them. For the ability to communicate and access information anytime, anywhere, it's worth it.