Dual band networks improve footloose communication

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.