Telecom 3G Targets Business Sector
Posted on: Tuesday, 9 November 2004, 15:00 CST
TELECOM is aiming to corner the business market for its new high- speed "third-generation" (3G) mobile service, hitting the streets eight months before archrival Vodafone.
Launched at the Events Centre in Wellington yesterday and called T3G, it is an upgrade of Telecom's 027 service to allow for faster data transfers.
The T3G upgrade cost Telecom $40 million and took about four months to build. It was not scheduled to be running till the end of the year, but Lucent Technologies, the American technology giant that built and will operate the network on Telecom's behalf, was quicker than expected, Telecom head of mobile Kevin Kenrick said.
High-speed mobile services are available in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, with Telecom extending coverage to places such as Taupo, Coromandel and Queenstown by Christmas. Further expansion would reflect customer demand, Mr Kenrick said.
Telecom is concentrating on data services initially, launching a 3G data card for laptops and a 3G personal digital assistant (PDA). The service is expected to appeal mainly to business customers.
Providing video clips and video messages to devices would follow soon, with "Push 2 Talk" trials by Christmas, Mr Kenrick said. Push 2 Talk enables voice communication instantly on mobile phones through the touch of a button, as on a walkie-talkie. Mr Kenrick said he saw applications for this in industries such as construction and courier delivery.
Telecom is offering data plans that can be used in conjunction with its wireless hotspot network. It has 70 hotspots nationwide and expects to have 200 available by Christmas.
Only one type of phone is available at present that works with T3G, costing $999. Mr Kenrick said there would be two more on the market by Christmas, with a lower cost option expected.
Vodafone is also building its own 3G network, expected to be launched by July next year. Telecom said its network would be six times faster than Vodafone's.
T3G uses the 027 network but separates voice and data traffic. It also enhances the rate of data transmission. "We're simply getting more out of the same basic infrastructure," Mr Kenrick said.
NZX chief information officer Chris Corke said the exchange planned to use Telecom's network as a backup should the fixed line network to broking houses fail.
"It works well for us because its a cost-effective always-on solution, which is available and saves putting in a second line."
Mr Corke said he looked at Telecom's and Vodafone's solutions and went with Telecom on the basis of its higher speed.
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Source: Dominion Post
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