Mobile Broadband and Our PDAs

I am admittedly not a “tech” person. I am, however, continually amazed and intrigued by new high tech gadgets. My girlfriend recently got an iPhone and I have watched as she has learned to use the phone. This past weekend on a road trip to New Hampshire the iPhone actually become invaluable as we used it to navigate back country roads and locate shops that we were interesting in going to. The funny thing is though we have a Garmin navigator which was useless for most of the trip. With the iPhone we could actually look up the stores and then track ourselves on the map of the area on her phone using the 3G network. It became a case of which mobile device was faster, easier to use and gave us the most accurate information. The iPhone won out most of the time with the 3G network platform. With that said, I have entered in to a whole new world of network understanding thanks to the Computer Information Systems class and purchase of the iPhone.

The article following article from Business Week highlights some changes that are coming to the lap top world in regards to the 3G network:

http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/sep2008/gb20080929_697977.htm?campaign_id=rss_daily.

I firmly believe that 3G network is the new or reinforced foundation of Web 2.0. It makes sense that with people being able to access the Web on their PDAs they should be able to do the same on their lap tops (without having to have a wireless network carrier). The 3G network can be used on laptops today, however, you need a special adapter. I personally have not used the 3G network because I have no need for the network. I do not use a black berry as I spend the majority of my day on e-mail and don’t really need that capability from my phone. I do not have an iPhone because my carrier is Verizon. I would get an iPhone if it was available from Verizon but until then I will have to wait for the iPhone agreement to end. I am captive to Verizon due to my in-calling network of friends and family.

I am really impressed by the ability to surf the internet on the iPhone using the 3G network. It is slow but you can go anywhere on the web from anywhere. No WiFi hot spot is required (they aren’t too many in the woods of NH). The article I posted states that companies are going to start installing cards where laptops can access the broad brand network similar to the way the intel cards allowed people to access WiFi networks from their laptop. Again, I am no technical expert and I may be pointing out the obvious to some but for your average consumer it all comes as some exciting technology.

I don’t think Lap Tops will be replaced soon and a new network for them is neccessary. I still use my lap top at work and at home while connected to a wireless network. What would be incredible is to have my lap top in the car while we are driving in the woods of NH and to be able to access a broad band network. Yes, I could buy additional hardware to make this possible today but I’m talking about those laptops coming out of the factory and broadband becoming a way of life.

There is still data speed and cost issues that make WiFi more attractive for lap tops but the way technology is moving I’m sure it won’t be long before the broadband 3G system is improved. And it won’t be long after that the lap tops start being produced with the broadband capability installed!