Wireless tidbits

Just to show you how fast new generation cellular phones are being rolled out, I already have an update from my last article on the latest handset models. I just received Nokia’s company newsletter from a buddy and it revealed the debut of its first video phone. The new handsets are the 3650 and the 6650. The 3650 features still imaging, multimedia messaging, Java MIDP 1.0, a large 4,096-color display, tri-band operation, polyphonic ringing tones with tone composer and numerous games. The 3650’s biggest feature, a video capture (camcorder), allows users to take up to 15 seconds of video images and to transmit them to other mobile devices or to an e-mail address as a multimedia message. Cool! It also allows video playback on its built-in RealOne Player. Bored with your stored video clips, the phone can also download real-time video content and it also comes equipped with Bluetooth access. Nokia’s 3650 is estimated to sell for about $450 and will work on five continents using GSM/GPRS technology. The higher model 6650 will carry with it also the above features, but operates both in the GSM 900/1800 frequencies and on the WCDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access) protocol. One of the benefits of the WCDMA radio interface in the Nokia 6650 phone is it allows running more than one data session simultaneously. This would make it possible, for example, to capture and share what the user sees while talking on the phone. Also, it will allow the user to now roam in Japan and other countries where WCDMA is the standard. To complement its imaging and video capture technology, the Nokia PC Suite software for the Nokia 6650 will be included. A user can view and edit the multimedia contents of the phone on the PC. They can even compose personal movies, arrange them into their preferred order and play them back like a movie. These handsets are scheduled to be released in early 2003.

* * *

In a recent American national survey conducted by Verizon Wireless, findings showed that SMS use in the United States is expected grow from 1.4 million messages in 2001 to 15 million in 2004. Wow, there is actually an area where the Philippines has completely trampled its American allies with our current 170 million messages daily! Other interesting facts and trends in the US identified by the research firm of Penn Schoen and Berland Associates in the survey include: text messaging is like "call waiting" that enables people to do two things at once. Favorite venues for multi-tasking are while at the movies (58 percent); at loud sports games or concerts (41 percent); at lectures or classes (39 percent). Instant messaging has greatly influenced consumer expectations about speed. Ninety-two percent of those surveyed indicate speed is important when sending and receiving text messages. Popularity of text lingo is driven by the need for conciseness. There was widespread recognition among all respondents for shorthand abbreviations like: the smiley face, :) (78 percent); BRB for Be Right Back (66 percent); LUV (44 percent) and TTYL for Talk To You Later (39 percent). What would tech-savvy people prefer to receive via SMS? E-mail ranks first in terms of information those surveyed would most like to receive on their cellphone (81 percent), followed by weather forecasts (52 percent), traffic reports (44 percent) and news updates (41 percent). Playing games came in fifth, which suggests the value of text messaging as a tool for everyday living, not just a way to pass idle time. Hmmm…obviously cultural and environmental factors play a great role in actually determining market needs. I can courageously say that in the Philippines, playing games to pass the time would probably rank high for all types of users.

* * *

Patrick R. Garcia is managing director of Bidshot Wireless Services. For comments or suggestions, text your message to 233011 (Globe) or 243011 (Smart), or e-mail [email protected].