| Read the press in the UK at the moment and you will | | | | committing to the large scale purchase of 3G |
| probably know that the big 3G mobile telephone | | | | telephones. And as much money as there is to be |
| operators are touting video as the killer application to | | | | made in the consumer market, the big bucks come |
| launch 3G phones (3G - third generation) onto the | | | | from selling to businesses. |
| market. Spurred on by the successes of the English | | | | In the short term businesses may well find the case |
| cricket team in this summer's ashes series, and the | | | | for 3G telephones rests with more prosaic |
| trials and tribulations of following our national football | | | | applications. Simple things like being able to carry a |
| (soccer) team, it seems that thousands of us were | | | | permanently up to date appointments diary in your |
| prepared to put up with the poor pictures and slow | | | | shirt pocket. A diary that remains up to date with all |
| downloads of current GPRS video phones. Therefore, | | | | those appointments your colleagues or assistants |
| with the dramatically improved bandwidth of the 3G | | | | make for you while you are out with clients. A diary |
| networks and the strides in mobile phone technology, | | | | that gives you the ability to see all your colleagues' |
| it seems we are all going to dash out and buy 3G | | | | diaries and schedule appointments for you all at |
| video phones for Christmas. | | | | mutually convenient times. Now add in such simple |
| That may all very well be true. The service providers | | | | things as being able to see all your contacts details |
| need to start seeing returns on the enormous | | | | wherever you are. And how about being able to |
| payments made to obtain 3G licences. It is in their | | | | access and work on all your Microsoft Office |
| interests to talk up the merits of television over the | | | | documents no matter where you are? |
| telephone. Video may well be the killer application for | | | | These are the elements of a killer application for |
| the consumer market. | | | | businesses. And they're available today on a standard |
| Things are different for businesses. You really can't | | | | pocket PC smart phone. The technology is available |
| see large corporates being too happy at large chunks | | | | now and operates through the GPRS network and |
| of their mobile telephony budgets being squandered | | | | supports WLAN, Bluetooth, infrared and quad band |
| on the dubious pleasures of following the English | | | | GSM. Oh, did I mention that you can also get video |
| football team. | | | | on it? And it's a camera, MP3 player... |
| As with anything else, large companies need to see | | | | Makes the Blackberry look a bit like a one trick pony |
| the return on investment possibilities before | | | | doesn't it? |