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Weekly UpdatesMobile data is about to change your life. In the not-so-distant future, it's likely that the change will be as profound as the first time you sent an e-mail message. Perhaps your first experience with e-mail left you with the impression that it was a nifty gadget. Now try to imagine your life without e-mail. That is where mobile data is going to take us. Everything that happens on your desk at work will soon be occurring on a wireless device that fits in the palm of your hand. Soon you may grow so accustomed to mobile data that living without it would be like living without e-mail. In the meantime, let's get acquainted to this new technology. Welcome to Mobile Data 101.
There are a number of mobile data products available in Alaska today. Accessing these products requires two things: 1) a subscription to the appropriate service, and 2) the appropriate wireless device. Mobile data services include Internet and e-mail access, short message service (SMS), multimedia messaging service (MMS), and downloadable content. The enabling devices include a traditional handset, a personal digital assistant (PDA), and aircard for your laptop computer.
SERVICE DESCRIPTIONS
Mobile Internet access is just that-access to the Internet via your wireless device. Depending on your needs and budget, your mobile Internet experience can vary considerably. At the low end of the spectrum is a low-speed connection using a cell phone, and at the high end of the spectrum is a high-speed connection using a laptop computer. Regardless of the type of experience you wish, all that is required to be up and running is the appropriate device and a service subscription.
E-mail access from your wireless device may be the most compelling reason to subscribe to a mobile data product. Unfortunately, it may be the most difficult product to enable. Enabling mobile e-mail access isn't always as easy as subscribing to a rate plan, and may require the involvement of your company's IT department, as your wireless device may need to be synchronized with your company's e-mail server.
SMS enables is the ability to send short text messages from one mobile device to another device. Additionally, it may also be possible to send text messages to a mobile device via a special Web page. SMS is a convenient way to convey short but urgent messages to coworkers who would otherwise be unavailable. For instance, many people either put their phone on silent or they ignore incoming phone calls while in meetings. However, one can send a brief message that requires only a "yes" or "no" answer over SMS, and the recipient can discreetly respond without leaving the meeting.
MMS is essentially enhanced SMS, as it enables an attachment to be sent with the SMS. Generally, the attachments are image, audio or video files. MMS is a key-enabling technology that makes the camera phone a useful business tool. MMS subscribers who are equipped with camera phones now have the ability to take a photo or short video and send it over the wireless network to a number of recipients. The messages may be sent to either an e-mail address or the phone number of a mobile device. Enabling MMS requires a service subscription and an MMS-capable handset.
Downloadable content (often just called "content") generally refers to downloadable ringtones, wallpapers (custom images that can be displayed on the handsets screen), screensavers, games, and other attachments on a pay-per-download basis. While not really a business service, content is a popular offering and is widely available.
MOBILE DATA SPEEDS
As you might have guessed, your two speed choices are low speed and high speed. A low-speed data connection is comparable to dial-up Internet. Mobile broadband speeds are significantly better, similar to DSL, but slower than cable modem or your connection at the office. Generally speaking, the speed of your data connection and functionality are independent of each other. For instance, you can send MMS or connect to the Internet at either low speeds or high speeds.
WIRELESS DEVICES
Traditional handsets are now capable of surprising functionality, and almost all newer handsets capable of utilizing at least SMS. Unless you still have a bag phone or a brick phone, odds are you have an SMS-capable handset. If you have acquired your handset within the last two years, it is likely capable of connecting to the Internet via a low-speed connection, sending MMS, and downloading content. Check with your service provider if you are unsure of your existing handset's capabilities.
As handsets evolve, your low-speed handset will be replaced by a high-speed handset, the distinction being the maximum speed at which the handset can send and receive data. There are already a number of high-speed devices available, as most current model PDAs are capable of high-speed data. As time goes on, all wireless devices will be capable of high-speed data. A Blackberry device is essentially a branded PDA.
The third type of wireless device is an aircard or a PC card. An aircard is a mobile device that docks in your laptop. The aircard provides high-speed data access via your PC, and essentially acts like a wireless DSL connection. This device differs from your handset in that it is data only--it won't double as your cell phone.
SERVICE PROVIDERS AND PLANS
There are four main wireless service providers in Alaska: Cellular One, GCI, Alaska DigiTel and ACS. Cellular One, Alaska DigiTel and ACS operate their own wireless networks, and GCI has entered into a long-term agreement to resell Cellular One service under the GCI brand. They all offer a full suite of mobile-data products, but Alaska DigiTel has yet to enter the high-speed data fray. Each of the service providers offers a mix of products to meet your budget and your needs.
Alaska DigiTel has the most basic offerings, with only two plans. However, these two plans are fully functional and cover the full spectrum of functionality. Likewise, ACS has a handful of plans covering both low-speed and broadband applications. GCI offers the most variety in its plans, with over a dozen data offerings that are available. Cellular One also offers a number of data plans.
Generally speaking, basic SMS costs about $4 to $7 per month. Plan prices increase as more functionality is added. The next step is moving up to SMS, MMS, and low-speed data connectivity. Plan pricing for this service ranges from $7.95 per month to $15 per month. A broadband package to support a PDA, Blackberry or aircard is generally more expensive that a basic data package. These packages range in price from $40 to $70. These plans are of course in addition to a basic voice package. The exception to this rule is using an aircard in a laptop to reach the Internet. Usually a voice package isn't necessary to support a data-only package for an aircard.
DATA ROAMING
If you travel outside of Alaska, then you are no doubt wondering if your product will roam. Both ACS and Cellular One offer nationwide data roaming with their data product and Alaska DigiTel has plans to deploy data roaming by press time.
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