The killer application for 3G
(themediaslut wonders if the mobile operators will pay her big bucks for this idea.)
The killer application for 3G is not about downloading content, it is about uploading content.
Every mobile phone operation which offers 3G is talking about how fast one can download content with their 3G connection.
The 3G mobile phone can do more than downloading and playing the downloading content.
It has a video photo camera mobile phone which allows users to take videos and photos of wherever they are, whenever they want to, as long the mobile phone doesn’t run out of batteries.
Hence, let users take photos and videos and let them upload the content to a community server, hosted by the mobile phone operator.
Thus, instead of the mobile phone operator looking for that killer application or content, let the users be the one providing the content.
The mobile phone is more than able to do this.
The moblog (mobile blogging) site at www.moblog.com.sg by Singtel is an example of how such upload approach has made MMS popular with users.
Singtel should also start looking at letting users upload videos recorded from the mobile phone and share it within the community.
Look at blogging, its about uploading.
Look at YouTube, its about uploading.
The next Internet generation will be the upload generation.
The mobile operators have to be really open with their 3G standards as it is hard to really find what upload speeds do 3G provide
Given the current Internet bandwidth themediaslut gets in Singapore, upload bandwidth is usually 3 times slower than download speeds.
It could be the same for 3G and thus the mobile operators should be looking at increasing 3G upload speeds too.
The optimum would be a 1:1 ratio of upload and download speeds.
The cost of creating such a server with storage space will definitely be negligible compared to the revenue earned from 3G subscribers.
Furthermore, the mobile phone operators could work with the big Internet players like MSN or Yahoo or Google to co-promote such uploading activities.
For example, what if Starhub worked with MSN Space to enable 3G subscribers to upload their .3gp movies on MSN space.
After uploading the content into Space, the 3G subscriber might instantly want to connect to MSN messenger and tell friends that a new video has been uploaded, though MSN Messenger immediately updates contacts of new content on Spaces.
Now, the mobile phone operators will have people actually wanting to use 3G.
I think you’ve got the right idea, a lot more sure fire to let subscribers dictate the content and create their own killer apps, than throwing spaghetti on the wall in the hopes of stumbling on the next sticky app.
Problem is that the operators want to own the subscriber (as do the MSNs, Yahoo!’s, etc) and are therefore more reluctant to open their standards. They want walled gardens in a flat world, which is why I prefer steamrollers like Google.
M1, a mobile phone operator, today announced plans to reduce its 3G subscription price plans making it the lowest in Singapore.
http://www.todayonline.com/articles/113282.asp
Looks like M1 does not read themediaslut.
There was a comment made in The Straits Times which the person said he would only use 3G if it cost him only SGD10 a month.
It now costs SGD68 per month for the M1 plans announced today, down from SGD199.
themediaslut feels it doesn’t matter how low 3G prices are, if there is no need to use it, there will be no rush to sign up for 3G.
The experience you get from a 3G phone isnt all that great either ie. tinny screen, slow processor, so-so battery life etc.
Now if telco operators also bundled their services with more affordable 3G PC card…… that may spark a little bit more demand, too.
Surf from ANYWHERE on your laptop via 3G!
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I agree with the 2nd point on the price. I assume that most users that are savvy in 3G services have their own internet services at home.
If that is true and considering that the time spend outside on average should be lower than that spend at home. Thus no point for me to subscribe to 3G services when I pay the same amount for my home internet with similar services.
Above referring to Singapore context only.