Play the third-generation game

Third-generation mobile data networks mean that data and video material can be sent at unprecedented speed.

Working on the move is about to become much easier for field workers, travellers, emergency services personnel and small-business people.

With third-generation mobile data networks now launching (Telecom has launched T3G, Vodafone will follow in 2005 with GPRS/UMTS), mobile devices such as laptops, PDAs and smart phones can send and receive data and video at unprecedented speeds.

Telecom is promising data transfer speeds of up to 2 megabits per second - up to 15 times faster than its "2G" Mobile Jetstream service.

That's fast enough to hold a wireless videoconference between two laptops; to send a map with GPS co-ordinates within emergency service time frames; and to access and run business-critical applications such as payroll, financials, customer relationship management and databases remotely.

Vodafone's network will deliver speeds of around 384 kilobits per second, or around six times faster than dial-up speeds and is more than suitable for sending and receiving smaller files; for fast internet and email; for mobile eftpos transactions; and for video-to-video mobile phone calls.

However, the business benefits of 3G have more to do with boring old network performance and speed.

It will better support field workers such as insurance and sales agents. Emergency services can send photographs, maps and diagrams from mobile devices and crime and accident scene processing times could also be shortened.

As an example, Luigi Cappel, of location-based services company GeoSmart, says businesses with Palm Pilot or Pocket PC devices and HandMap software can already access a wide range of interactive maps. GPS [global positioning satellite] plug-in software is combined with compatible hardware to provide a "you are here" solution.

"We are certainly working on wireless mobile mapping solutions which will benefit from the increased speed on any 3G network," says Cappel. "Examples might be detailed information on field assets, for example the location of a garden shed in a regional park, complete with a description of what tools are in it. Field automation solutions will be enhanced by incorporating start, route and end maps as well as textual travel directions such as correct turn restriction information."

Michael Hartley, chief executive for field automation solution provider Econz, told i-start magazine that businesses would look for real world applications for 3G services because they would pay a premium price.

"Examples are mobile workers who are dispatched jobs and have to feed information about timing and their whereabouts back to the business in real time."

Tony Day, general manager services for copier and multifunction device vendor UBix, has also tested 3G.

He told i-start: "3G means we can give our field force access to a controlled website where they can look up manuals or part numbers and search knowledge bases. A major gain will be greater productivity."

The good news is that "to 3G or not to 3G?" is a question businesses can answer. 

Top tips for 3G investment

* Don't get hung up on competitive claims from Telecom and Vodafone. Figure out your business need and the type of mobile devices that will help. Then ask all providers what they can deliver.

* While 3G mobile data coverage mostly mirrors 2G mobile data coverage, no mobile data network offers 100 per cent coverage. Before you invest in a new phone or data card, trial 3G access in all areas you need to be mobile from.

* Using a 3G mobile data service will initially be expensive. Don't make the investment unless you can make a business case for it.

* Be careful about security. Run a firewall and updated antivirus software on laptops; use a virtual private network (VPN) for secure online connection to a business network; develop wireless security policies; set appropriate restrictions for parts of the business network to be accessed remotely.