Innovation: The wonders of cellular phones
JAKARTA (JP): Nowadays, cellular telephones are beginning to resemble computers rather than telephones, with features such as a diary, voice recognition and infrared links to a PC and, of course, to the Internet.
Despite poor existing cell-phone networks and services, people are looking for the best, latest and most expensive products and brands. Some users do not care that useful functions such as Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) and the ability to send and receive files work much slower than a modem hooked up to a conventional line.
Futuristic cell phones are already available, in all shapes and sizes. Several brands appear as a tiny pocket phone, most of which is screen, or a phone which looks more like a personal organizer with a cunningly hidden slide-out keyboard. These handsets are used for everything from checking movie schedules to sending e-cards, from paying bills to purchasing stocks.
Motorola, for instance, has introduced v8088, claimed as the world's smallest and lightest WAP-based cell phone (79 grams), derived from its popular StarTac flip-down design. Users will be able to shop; just dial to download lists of needed products and the prices. Anything from cinema tickets to train schedules, even an auction can be handled.
However, users may have to wait a long time before enjoying the widespread use of such features. Cellular service providers will need to invest hundreds of billions of rupiah in their networks to see such features realized.
Nonetheless, various impressively high-tech cell phones are flowing into the local market. Thanks to those Indonesians who are best known for their snobbism, the demand for new cell phones for GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) is always high. GSM, the international standard for digital cell phone, is the most popular system in Indonesia.
The absolute must-have for business travelers is the dual or triband terminals which work on 900 MHz, 1800 MHz or 1900 MHz. Many cell-phone makers have produced this kind of terminal. Motorola's Timeport P7689, for instance, is one of the first triband WAP-based cell phones which works worldwide by switching effortlessly from one frequency of GSM to another. The terminal has full data and fax capability, voice dialing and a digital voice recorder for note talking. Voice dialing will allow users to bark "home" at their handsets to have them dial your dwelling.
Nokia also has a dualband terminal, like the 8210 which measures 101 mm by 44 mm by mm 17 and weighs in at 79 grams. The battery offers up to three hours talk-time and a standby time of two days to five days. But the only WAP-based cell phone from Nokia is the 7110 which, weighs 140 grams.
Ericsson has a cell phone weighing 95 grams and only 15 mm thick, the R320s, which offers high-performance dualband incorporating a WAP browser.
As a matter of fact, Nokia is the first creator in a more- alike personal-organizer cell phone. The terminal flips open to reveal a little handheld computer. Ericsson also has one, which offers a calendar, modem, touch screen, notepad, handwriting recognition, voice recognition and synchronization with PCs.
It is a necessity now for telecoms giants to create cell phones which allow users to send e-mails across the world without operating a computer or modem. Mobile-Internet solution will be the basic consideration for all cell phone makers. Cell phones must offer not only WAP gateway, but also the "Internet ready" handsets that users can use to as an organizer, or connect to an e-mail service or the corporate intranet to review information.
They must also prepare Enhance Full Rate, a form of enhanced digital technology which is supposed to give cell phones the same quality as a fixed-line phone.
Combined satellite/GSM phones will attract attention as changes are already being wrought with the introduction of multiband, multimode networks. Indonesia's first satellite cell phone network provider, ACeS, will soon launch its services. ACeS will offer handsets, prepared by Ericsson, which will be able to roam within its own and other existing GSM networks.
Other cell phone makers also introduce a version which is part landline cordless phone, part GSM handset.
Size will likely remain everything. Tiny cell phones are always sought after. Leading and the not-so-high-profile telecommunications equipment manufacturers compete to produce the so-called ultrafashionable terminals. Some manufacturers have created cell phones weighing less than 90 grams and look just like a watch. Standby time and talk-time are also important to some users. But there are other users who want lighter cell phones rather than smaller size.
Do users want more or something else? Many cell phone users in Indonesia always want the latest models, with as many features as possible. Whether or not they use it, they want it.
The result: competition among cell phone makers over size, weight and features. This is, hopefully, an advantage for an industry which will benefit users who are now also looking for multipurpose communications tools rather than generic cell phones. (I. Christianto)