Is 3G connectivity overrated?
Chris Spera over at GearDiary suggests that for many people, it is. He has an excellent though piece with his reasons why and if we're talking about mainstream consumers only, I'll come close to agreeing with him. After all, the iPhone with EDGE and an efficient browser has already proven that point. For me personally, I'll respectfully agree to with disagree with Chris.
I think back to 2005 and the old techADDICTION podcast that James and I did for The Podcast Network. I distinctly remember saying that "3G connectivity is the great enabler"... that was three years ago and it still holds true for folks that carry mobile computing devices around on a daily basis. Due to spotty HSDPA coverage in my area, I recently spent a few weeks out and about working with fallback EDGE connectivity and the experience was painful. So much so that I ate a $175 ETF fee and went back to Verizon's EV-DO due to better regional coverage. Of course, it all depends on what you're looking to do with your connection. E-mail and RSS reading? EDGE will do. Much more than that? Nope. Once you go 3G for more data-intensive functions, you won't want to go back. It's like going from Broadband to Dial-up in your home.
Granted, as Chris points out, coverage is a huge factor... something beyond a consumer's control unless they want to move, that is. ;) How about hopping over to read his thoughts and having some healthy discussion?
For me it's a pretty easy argument. 3G or EDGE equivalent is better than no connectivity so if you frequently find yourself in no connectivity situations or your livelihood depends on that connectivity then it's worth it. I fall firmly in the "worth it" category.
Posted by: James Kendrick | February 28, 2008 at 09:38 AM
Hey James and Kevin!! I was hoping you would pick this up. :) It was one of your recent podcasts that finally kicked me into writing this peice in the first place. :) I really enjoy your podcast...Please keep them coming.
Take a look at my response to Wayne Shultz over at GD...I think this is where we DO agree. My point was the draw for 3G for the masses and not for power users like you guys, me, Wayne, or anyone that really might frequent our sites...but for the masses that simply make calls, txt, send pictures, etc. 3G might be an enabler for that, but the masses might never really see the performance improvement, or understand that they got one with a 3G phone.
Anyway... just wanted to say, "thanks, again" and love what you guys do!
Posted by: Christopher Spera | February 28, 2008 at 09:43 AM
A lot of mainstream consumers are already enjoying 3G, they just don't know it. That's what powers VCast and some of the other streaming music services on "regular" phones. 3G is here to stay and a lot of people are already enjoying it, aware or not.
Posted by: James Kendrick | February 28, 2008 at 10:40 AM
3G is preferred for me when I am out and about (and I can get it). Wifi pricing is high over in the UK and coverage even less, in my experience, than 3G.
Posted by: Philip Ferris | February 28, 2008 at 10:50 AM
I'm glad he pointed out the one thing people keep forgetting why 3G is better than EDGE and any of the CDMA technologies... simultaneous voice and data is awesome. When I saw Steve Jobs demonstrate the iPhone in its full swing, handling a call, emailing and surfing the web, those dreams were quickly squashed when you're nowhere near a Wi-Fi hotspot to do all that at the same time. That won't be the case when the 3G iPhone comes out. My simple RAZR V3xx could operate as my MacBook's modem while my wife constantly bombards my telephone number to remind me to pick up groceries on the way home. On all my previous devices, she would get voicemail when I was in a data session, which meant I would get the third degree for "not picking up my phone."
3G is an automatic positive for the Wife Acceptance Factor.
Posted by: Raphael Salgado | February 28, 2008 at 11:25 AM
funny thing is that edge isnt dead tech:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enhanced_Data_Rates_for_GSM_Evolution#EDGE_Evolution
Posted by: turn_self_off | February 28, 2008 at 11:25 AM
HSDPA coverage in L.A. rocks - high speed and lots of coverage, EDGE fallback is very rare.
The fact that I can take it to Europe and keep on using it transparently is just a bonus. :-D
Posted by: JimAtLaw | February 28, 2008 at 04:27 PM
AT&T SIM card in my Flybook V5 is a wonderful thing (especially when on HSDPA). I can't post the speedtest image as in the original post, but here is a link to my most recent test: http://www.speedtest.net/result/240361222.png.
Oddly, when I posted that to my own blog it shows up in kb/s (1919 down and 324 up) not Mb/s as it shows here.
Posted by: Newt | March 19, 2008 at 02:32 AM
Grr, argh... the period at the end of the url through it off. Try this:
http://www.speedtest.net/result/240361222.png
Posted by: Newt | March 19, 2008 at 02:33 AM