Live and in 3G The third-generation bandwagon is starting to roll.
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Both Sprint PCS and Verizon have begun to deploy 3G networks,although service will be limited at least until year-end. AT&Twill also be in the race by then, and Cingular will join in2004.
Sprint is rolling out its services nationwide as expensive3G-capable phones from its partners become available. The servicewill be subscription-based, although prices and coverage detailswere not yet finalized at press time.
Verizon's Express Network will start in the Northeast, SaltLake City, San Francisco and the Silicon Valley, and expand asphones come online. For now, you need a laptop or a PDA with a $300(all prices street) Sierra Wireless AirCard or an $80 Kyocera 2235phone with a $50 Verizon connector. There's also a $30 monthlysurcharge.
What will you get for your money? 3G networks deliver morebandwidth for Web browsing and better phone service. Whilethey're theoretically capable of 144Kbps, you'll probablysee about 56Kbps early on. That's still five times faster thantoday's wireless networks, and it makes always-on accesspossible without interrupting your phone calls.
Rich media downloads and more exotic mobile applications have toawait 3G-capable handsets and more bandwidth. Sprint says 3Gtransmission speeds are headed for 2Mbps by 2004, but promisesstreaming video teleconferencing and photo downloads beforethen.
Erik P. Nelson is a technology writer in San Francisco and afrequent contributor to Entrepreneur.
