Last 18th May was the world telecommunication day. That day marked a new history where mobile users in Malaysia can grap the latest telecommunication facility called 3G. Recently Celcom became the first company that launch 3G service.

Maxis also introduced 3G as one of their service. What is 3G actually? 3G is a short form of 3rd Generation. It is a technology where data can be transfered at higher speed which is 384kbps & reachable up to 2Mbps.

If there is 3G, there must be 1 or 2G? Actually 1G or first generation mobile phone existed back in 1980. In those days, it was only used by big guns. The phone was also huge as if you put it on a table, the table would tilt. Never think to put it in your pocket. In 1990, 2G was born with GSM technology. Mobilephone became smaller & can transfer data at 9kbps. In 2000, 2.5G was introduced with data transfer via GPRS (General Packet Radio Service). Speed increased from 9kbps to 46kbps. Then came the EDGE which still fall under 2.5G at 115kbps.

The new era begins where users can subscribe to 3G service at the speed of 384kbps. Actually 1G, 2G, 2.5G or 3G have no difference in term of speech, but significant for data transfer especially for accessing internet, posting photo, watching TV, monitoring traffic & things that require high data transfer rate.

Ok, to those who want to experience 3G, you got to get a 3G phone & get a new sim card because the current sim cannot fit in the 3G phone. The new sim is called USIM which can be used in any phone. This means that if 3G coverage is unavailable we still can use the phone as usual.

If I am not mistaken, the charge for 3G & GPRS are still the same for each kb transfered. For this reason it is better to use 3G, but you have to invest for a new 3G phone. Unless the telco giants in Malaysia reduce the rate charge for GPRS, 3G is the better choice. I've tried to surf internet using laptop connected to my GPRS phone via bluetooth. The speed was satisfying but the rate charge was dying. I just cleared my inbox at Yahoo & it costs me about RM14!!!

So make your wise choice if you want to use 3G or maintain the current service. What's the use if you have a videophone but cannot see on the other side because your friend is still using the throw-to-the-dog-and-kill-it mobile phone.

:: sent using Tungsten T3 & T630 via Maxis GPRS ::