About 3G

Ever heard of the term "3G," but don't have any clue on what it really means? 3G simply refers to a form of technology that's mostly used in many mobile phones today, hence, the emergence of 3G mobiles. Specifically, 3G is a radio communications type of technology with its standards based on the International Telecommunication Union standards.

History of 3G

The first-ever 3G network was established by Japan's NTT DoCoMo under the FOMA brand name. Other countries soon followed Japan's footsteps and launched their own 3G networks. In Australia, the first-ever commercial 3G network was introduced on April of 2003 by Hutchison Telecommunications under the brand name "Three." Prior to this commercial launch, a demonstration network of 3G technology was done by m.Net Corporation on February of 2002. This pre-commercial demonstration was built in South Australia as part of the 2002 IT World Congress.

The rolling out of 3G network in other countries was delayed due to a number of factors. These factors included network incompatibility, pricey licensing fees, and expensive equipment that were needed to build 3G systems.

What a 3G Phone Can Do for You

As a mobile phone owner, 3G offers plenty of opportunities for you in terms of Internet and data access. 3G actually refers to "third generation" technology. Compared to its predecessors -- 2G and 2.5 G -- 3G offers faster online services that can be accessed through your phone. A 3G phone can therefore bring into your mobile wireless broadband services. Since 3G mobiles offer faster Internet access, you get to enjoy these nifty features:

  • music video streaming
  • access on-demand
  • video conferencing
  • TV streaming
  • high-speed access to electronic navigation maps
  • faster download time

3G mobiles basically combine the key features of a mobile, a TV, and a laptop computer. Because of the many possibilities 3G can offer to mobile phone users, accessing and transferring important data becomes faster and more convenient. Moreover, 3G is not only a recreational technology that allows you to watch your favorite movie or TV show anytime, anywhere. This technology can also support flexible working practices. If your work requires you to be on the road most of the time, a mobile phone with 3G services can work wonders for you. You don't have to access a PC in order to read an important email from your boss or from your client. Through 3G technology, you can simply browse through your mobile phone and access your business email by pushing some buttons on the keypad.