Wireless Muse: Reiter's Wireless Internet Weblog

2008: The year to buy a cellular/WiFi phone

If you’ve never had a cellular phone that also includes WiFi, you are missing something. And, 2008 is likely to be The Year of Cellular/WiFi phones….if handset manufacturers are smart.

Why do you want WiFi in your phone:

1.  It’s faster, probably, than your cellular connection.  Yes, 1xEV-DO and HSDPA are good, but in many cases WiFi is significantly faster, upstream and downstream.  That means surfing the Web and retrieving e-mail, as examples, can be a much better experience.

2.  It’s cheaper.  For many applications, you pay nothing — if you’re at a free WiFi hotspot — or a modest amount for unlimited use.  Compare your monthly cellular airtime bill to, for example, a $20–per-month WiFi bill to use T-Mobile’s hotspots.

3.  VoIP.  This is going to be very, very important.  If you have VoIP peer-to-peer software on your cellular phone via WiFi, there’s a good chance you won’t be paying extra for your calls.  No cellular airtime. 

Moreover, if you can’t get cellular coverage in your house or if the coverage is poor, you might be able to use VoIP on your phone, such as via T-Mobile’s $20–per-month UMA-based Hotspot@Home service.  I know one technology consultant, Jim Opfer, who wanted GPS on his cellular phone more than WiFi, for which he didn’t see much use.  But he couldn’t get cellular coverage — except on his deck — from any cellular operator.

He signed up with Hotspot@Home and now his cellular phone is usable inside his house.  He’s completely changed his tune.  He loves WiFi on his phone.

Update (1/2/08):  Jim writes about his love of WiFi on a cellular phone with Google Maps’ new location feature (see left) in his most recent blog post.

4.  Greater Web functionality.  Sure you can use your handset to access the Web, but in many cases that functionality is crippled.  Let me give you one example:

I listen to lots of technology podcasts, that I typically download to my computer via iTunes and then transfer via a cable to my BlackBerry Curve 8320 (or other cellular phone).  The Curve can download and play mp3 files,  But if I use EDGE, the files are often too large and a message pops up on the handset that indicates the file can’t be downloaded.

This afternoon I was listening to one of my favorite technology podcasts, Mobile Technology RoundUp, while I was eating lunch at Panera (that has free WiFi).  One of the podcasters mentioned another mobile tech podcast. 

I tried downloading that 66 MB podcast via EDGE, but it was too large.  I turned on the Curve’s WiFi and tried streaming it, but I couldn’t do that.

However, when I clicked “save,” I was able to download and save the audio file to the Curve’s 2 GB microSD card.  (I’m deciding whether to purchase a 4 GB card or wait until, perhaps, this January when I can update the Curve to accept 8 GB cards and purchase one of those).

Consider a cellular/WiFi phone!

Mark my words:  WiFi on cellular phones will be a killer app for some users.  I wrote more about this in my “Thinkernet” column on CMP’s “Internet Evolution” Web site.

What are 2008's top ten Internet, telecom trends?

What do you think will be the top ten Internet and telecommunications trends for 2008?

M/C Venture Partners lists its thoughts and I respond in my latest weekly "Thinkernet" column (see below) for CMP's "Internet Evolution" Web site.

The venture capital firm says the wireless trends include mobile broadband helping to bridge the digital divide around the world, the "second coming" of broadband and consumer interest in privacy and security helping the operators' walled prisons gardens.  I agree with the first, think the "second coming" already came and disagree with the third.

I'm hoping to write another "Thinkernet" column solely about wireless trends, based on my own -- not M/C Partners' -- views.  But I have to see whether the editor thinks one 2008 trends article from me is enough.

The big deal of WiFi on cellular phones

I'm a huge fan of cellular phones that incorporate WiFi.  Once you have WiFi in your phone you're unlikely to want to purchase another phone without it.

Firstly, Web based applications are generally much faster than over cellular.  Yes, I know, sometimes WiFi connections aren't particularly good, while sometimes HSDPA and 1xEV-DO provide better data rates than WiFi.  I also am well aware of the local coverage "islands" of WiFi versus cellular's wide area coverage.

These issues notwithstanding, using WiFi for access the Web often trumps cellular for speed.

WiFi rocks with cellular

Secondly, WiFi will be a very big deal for VoIP.  For consumers and businesses, WiFi will make a significant difference for decreasing costs and enhancing coverage compared to cellular.

Thirdly, we are becoming so dependent on wireless communications that having a second wireless network as a back-up is a good idea.  Want a useful example?  T-Mobile's cellular network in my market, the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, sometimes crashes for data services.

As a result, I can't get my BlackBerry e-mail via EDGE.  But my BlackBerry has Gmail software, and copies of my e-mail are forwarded to multiple e-mail addresses.  If EDGE goes down, I can access e-mail on my BlackBerry (and other cellular phones) via WiFi.

More on "Thinkernet"

I write much more about this in my latest "Thinkernet" column, "Wi-Fi Calling," (see above) on CMP's "Internet Evolution" Web site.

"Inside Digital Media" interviews me about Verizon's "open network" policy

Research analyst and podcast interviewer Phil Leigh of “Inside Digital Media” recently interviewed me (see below) about the ramifications of Verizon Wireless’ announcement to allow virtually any unlocked CDMA phone to run virtually any applications on its network.

During its press conference, Verizon said early next year it would announce technical specifications for handset manufacturers to provide phones so Verizon can certify them for use on their network.  Once the phones are certified, the manufacturers may sell them directly to consumers and businesses, without restrictions on the type of applications allowed.

There are many interesting aspects to the Verizon announcement and it could be very good for consumers.  But there are many unanswered questions.

I discussed the potential advantages and disadvantages during Phil’s interview.  Also, I wrote a column about the Verizon announcement for “Internet Evolutions” Web site and it’s slated to be published on Tuesday, December 4.