Wed, Jun 18, 2008 14:06 EDT

Apple iPhone 3G This, RIM BlackBerry Bold That: How Important is 3G REALLY?

Topic: Infrastructure

Current Rating: Comments: 13

With the unveiling of Research In Motion's (RIM) BlackBerry Bold in May and Apple's next-generation iPhone 3G a month later, there's been a lot of hype around third-generation (3G) data connections for smartphones. Frankly, I'm not sure what all the fuss is about.

It's true, the BlackBerry Bold and the iPhone 3G have a bunch of cool new functionality beyond the faster data connections--buff processors, GPS, Wi-Fi, etc.--but 3G/UMTS/HSDPA support is clearly the feature both RIM and Apple want to come to mind first when you think of their new wares—"Fast Performance" is the first option on RIM's Bold Features page and Apple even included the term "3G" in the name of its new handheld.

image of three iPhone 3G devices in a line

Apple iPhone 3G

In the past, I've reviewed a variety of smartphones for CIO.com, along with a number of IT executives, and only one of those devices had 3G: The Palm Treo 750. It is worth noting that my last such review was more a year ago, and there were fewer business-quality devices with 3G on the market. But even so, only one CIO complained about a lack of 3G: Hugh Scott, VP of IS for the wholesale business unit of Direct Energy.

Scott reviewed the first-generation iPhone for CIO.com last fall, and his response to questions about why he wanted 3G and what he'd do with it is particularly telling:

"To be completely honest, I don't really know, but that doesn't mean I don't want the fastest phone possible. I am sure I could find something!" Scott wrote.

Funny, right? But the truly amusing thing is that I completely relate to his sentiment.

I'm currently using a BlackBerry Curve 8320 as my business and personal device. This smartphone uses an EDGE data connection with average download speeds of 100Kbps, though it also has Wi-Fi, which, when available, can be faster. The new BlackBerry Bold and the iPhone 3G can connect to UMTS/HSDPA networks, which offer average download speeds of 700Kbps. I complain occasionally about the speed of my EDGE connection--usually while trying to stream video, which would be MUCH less frustrating with a 3G phone--but in reality, it works for me. It works, and the device itself is in pristine condition, but I'm still contemplating whether or not to rush out and buy the BlackBerry Bold as soon as it's released later this year. I'll even have to switch carriers from T-Mobile to AT&T, but that's a distinct possibility because, like Scott, I want the fastest, most powerful device on the market. I know it's silly when you think of it that way, but it's true just the same. And I bet more than a few of you can relate.

BlackBerry Bold Battery Covers

A while back, I blogged about AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson's statement that a 3G iPhone would be coming in 2008. I wrote about how such a development would make the iPhone more "business-friendly" because organizations will increasingly require smartphones that can process large amounts of data and rapidly transfer it back and forth between corporate systems. I still think that's true, but I wondering how important 3G is, to both businesses and consumers, right now.

I've profiled a number of companies in recent days that are using various mobile business applications for CRM, ERP, field service and support and more. And none of them told me 3G was a requirement for their corporate

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Wed, Jun 18, 2008 21:48 EDT

Posted by: Anonymous
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As a consumer/small business person, my limited experience with my sony ericsson P910 on the web was that it was so painfully slow that it equated to dire emergency use only and I have never been able to check my hotmail. 3G has been around in Asia for years now. Knowing that 3G is coming and that Blackberry is coming out with a device, I skipped the Pearl and the Curve and have been waiting. And my wait is nearly over. So if I am any measure of the pent up demand then yes it is very important for these companies.

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Tue, Jun 24, 2008 11:22 EDT

Re: 3G

Posted by: Al Sacco
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Thanks for the insight, Anonymous. Though I'm still wondering what exactly you hope to do with the 3G BlackBerry Bold that you couldn't with a Pearl or Curve. Check your Hotmail? (BTW: Thanks to a recent partnership between RIM and Microsoft, BlackBerry users will soon be able to access Hotmail on their smartphone).

And as you may or may not know, there are CDMA versions of the Pearl and Curve that are faster than the GSM devices from companies like AT&T and T-Mobile.

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Fri, Jun 20, 2008 8:34 EDT

VoIP

Posted by: Charlie
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VoIP will be the difference for us.

We patch radio-over-IP to our guys in the field. Using Nextel now (only thing that works), patched to VHF, but RoIP direct to the smartphone will transform our business.

While we can demo pretty well with EDGE, it isn't production ready. 3G should be plenty.

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Fri, Jun 20, 2008 10:23 EDT

Posted by: Anonymous
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Having used just about every PDA and now 'smart' mobile device there is from Palm through to iPhone for over ten years - I can say categorically that 3G is a big deal.

Stepping off a plane - I can sync my e-mails and appointments in seconds - not waiting ages for GPRS or EDGE to slowly grind away bit by bit whilst my life ever-so-slowly-passes-me-by. The Internet is never really a pleasure on any mobile device - but if I had to browse the World Wide Wait, I know which type of network I'd choose.

Why do I prefer 3G? Let's see... Push email is more responsive. Sending, receiving, downloading attachments - all quicker. I tick 'download the rest of this e-mail' and it's there, not churn, whirr, click, clunk, tsssk, pling, pop, fizzle, please talk amongst yourselves for a bit, oh it's here already!

Corporate VPN and remote desktop connections actually work. No - really - they do. The screen is real time, not what was happening on the server half a week ago.

Web applications esp AJAX ones actually respond. Fast enough not to through up those stupid 'unknown error' / 'server timed out' / 'error -23489' that you get when AJAX can't handle a slow connection. Which is about every single AJAX script in the known universe.

These examples aren't the fictitious apps of 'tomorrow' - these are the tools I use today. The 'on paper' difference between EDGE and 3G isn't just some slightly better percentage points - it's black vs white - it's the difference between "You'll actually be able to use this tool for some real work" and "Hey, it's got a great MP3 player".

In Europe, we're lucky that 3G has been with us for over five years - in fact for most of us we're already getting 3.5G with much more to come. I'm sure you're happy with EDGE - I was very happy with my 56k modem ten years ago - it was perfectly usable - but I wouldn't think of dropping my home broadband connection for 56k now though!

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Fri, Jun 20, 2008 10:27 EDT

3G - So What?

Posted by: Bold Brit
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Having had 3G data cards availible in Europe for several years , and the 8707v 3G blackberry, 3G isnt going to make that much difference to the average business BlackBerry user. None of my colleagues who have had the 8707v have had their lives changed, or even noticed the speed difference. No-one has knocked down my door to say they have to have a 3G blackberry so they can watch business video or browse faster.
Maybe the 3G iPhone will finally be the 3G killer device that makes consumers use 3G. Our networks have long been trying to persuade their customers to download soccer video clips to recoup the fortune they paid in the 3G licence auction (and it takes a lot of video clips to pay back $44bn.)
The benefits of a 3G smartphone for business users will be:
1) A 3G tethered modem (without having to pay gor a separate 3G modem)
2) Cheaper calls (particularly international) with VOIP
However will the networks give these away easily if they take away other revenue?

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About this Blog

Al Sacco writes about (and drools over) anything and everything mobile or wireless as it applies to the global workforce--with a focus on BlackBerry smartphones.

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