05 March 2006

Verizon Redux

Category: Mobile Phones

I just noticed this disclaimer on Verizon Wireless' site:

Unlimited NationalAccess/BroadbandAccess services cannot be used (1) for uploading, downloading or streaming of movies, music or games, (2) with server devices or with host computer applications, including, but not limited to, Web camera posts or broadcasts, automatic data feeds, Voice over IP (VoIP), automated machine-to-machine connections, or peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, or (3) as a substitute or backup for private lines or dedicated data connections.

Isn't that service useful. I wonder if they'll provide a useful consumer product. Probably not because of the RIAA and the DMCA.

Blog phones

Category: Mobile Phones


Here's a pointer to an interesting development, Sony Ericsson teams with Google. Pictures of the phones here. Blogging from a mobile phone, pictures included. That could be a useful product, considering that I use a blog to note things interesting to me, if nobody else.To be released 2nd quarter 2006. I wonder who's going to offer them in the US. One phone operates on a UMTS wireless network and the other's designed to run on a tri-band EDGE network.

EDGE networks I've heard of, but not in my area. EDGE technology is based on GSM. that's what the G is in EDGE. Cingular Wireless and T-Mobile have EDGE networks in the United States.

I looked up UMTS and it seemes to be EDGE for CDMA networks. It's also known as WCDMA and is based on CDMA technology and was envisioned for the next generation of GSM. It's a European standard designed to support data transmission rates of 144kbps for use in vehicles, 384kbps for pedestrian use and up to 2mbps for use indoors. I found this info here. I haven't found a U.S. carrier that supports it. Back in 2001, Verizon Wireless seemed to be moving in that direction, from what I've been researching.

I found this info on high speed data networks (mobile) on the Verizon site. They seem to have two internet services, Wireless Internet NationalAccess and BroadbandAccess. NationalAccess operates on a laptop at typical speeds of 60-80 kbps and bursts up to 144 kbps while Broadband Access operates at average speeds of 400 – 700 kbps. Other than that, no other info is available (that I can find).