Telecommunications Technology
This review concludes that 3G (third-generation mobile networks) universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS) options are fascinating and the authors are generally upbeat about the many options that the development technology makes available.
Abstract
33:477 SERVICES FOR UMTS: CREATING KILLER APPLICATIONS IN 3G edited by Tomi T. Ahonen and Joe Barrett (New York: Wiley, 2001—$55.00, ISBN 0471-48550-0, 373 pp., maps, photos, charts, bibliography, website list, index) is either just on time or perhaps a mite early. In all the talk about 3G (third-generation mobile networks) universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS) options, sages wax and wane as to whether these will develop or whether all the money and hype is simply another part of the telecommunications melt-down. These two editors, the first a consultant in Britain, and the second with Nokia Networks in Finland, and their authors are all generally upbeat about the many options that the development technology makes available. Chapters assess such things as the attributes of services for UMTS, services to address movement needs, services to address the “me” needs of users, addressing money needs, empowering gadgets and devices, categorizing the many types of UMTS services, marketing same, competitiveness, partnering in development of such services, a business case including revenues and costs, and a technical primer to what is involved. There are useful boxed “service vignettes” throughout which provide examples of what can be done. This is all either visionary, practical, or useless depending on your point of view given the state of the telecommunications industry these days. But the options–some of them already in place elsewhere–are fascinating. (Chris Sterling)