Most new mobile handsets and laptops are enabled to work with 3G mobile services, meaning many businesses can access 3G services by default. But so what? What’s useful about a 3G mobile service anyway?

While there are some specific 3G technologies that enable new applications to run across a mobile connection, 3G mobile network services (called “mobile broadband” by the telcos) are simply faster than earlier “2G” network services. This means faster data throughput, and faster data throughput means you may be able to run business applications across a mobile network instead of scouting around for a landline connection or waiting until you get back to the office to get any real work done.

What sort of business applications? Some telcos would have you believe any sort, but the list definitely includes mobile email (try it, you’ll never look back), mobile sales and service applications, mobile eftpos, remote access to CRM and other database-type applications (depending on the complexity of the software and whether you want access via a smallscreen mobile device) and location-based services like GPS tracking of cars or goods containers.

Beyond this, other mobile business applications may and will be viable, but it’s important to carefully consult with a telco partner to be sure your hoped-for use of mobile broadband works out the way you want it to.

Happily, mobile broadband pricing is straightforward and charged according to the amount of data you upload and download across the mobile connection. It is almost always more expensive than the cost of fixed line broadband, but a mobile broadband connection may be faster, and the business benefits delivered by the mobile applications you run may far outweigh the cost of using the service – keep this in mind when you first sight mobile data pricing plans. Pricing is also pretty competitive between the telcos, and signing up to a long term plan may mean a reduced mobile data rate. It always pays to ask.

There is usually a performance difference between upload and download data transfer rates over a mobile broadband connection. Upload speeds are usually slower, which can impact mobile business applications like taking part in a videoconference via a mobile device. Also, despite the telcos telling you their mobile networks cover “99 percent” of the country there are indeed 3G coverage holes, and they occur in the most surprising places – like a 50 metre stretch of Auckland’s northern motorway (reported by a sales rep Vodafone 3G user) or one street in the Wellington suburb of Kelston (reported by a builder Telecom 3G customer.)

Still, we’re quibbling. Businesses generally couldn’t give a toss about either national coverage or comparative Mobile Broadband speeds provided their mobile business applications run well and are available where they’re needed – which is why trialling a mobile service before you fully commit is a smart move.

Three's company...
So who’s doing what in the mobile broadband space? There are presently four providers of cellular mobile data services in New Zealand: Telecom, Vodafone, TelstraClear and NZ Communications. (Other wireless data services, such as those based on WiFi and WiMax technologies differ from cellular technologies. They can be integrated with cellular mobile services for a “total” mobile solution, but in this article we’re focusing on cellular mobile services only.)

It’s early days yet in terms of commercial infrastructure for New Zealand Communications and a spokesperson told us the company is not yet ready to make a public comment on what mobile broadband services it will offer. But TelstraClear, which uses the Telecom mobile broadband network, says it is ready to roll with its own mobile broadband services and pricing plans. TelstraClear has an agreement with Telecom that lets it provide its own IVR, voicemails, email and internet portal services as well as data connectivity services across the mobile network.

“Obviously we have the same mobile broadband coverage as Telecom but we provide our own product plans and can substitute and integrate some of our own data back-end services for medium sized enterprises and the enterprise market,” says Raymond O’Brien, head of wholesale for TelstraClear.

The dynamic duo
Alan Crooks, head of mobile for Telecom Business Solutions, says Telecom upgraded its mobile broadband network in 2007 to deliver current average speeds of 800kbps down and 300 kbps up, a service it is so confident about it offers a 20-day money back guarantee on data cards and a data plan. Crooks says Telecom business customers use mobile broadband for services including Locate+, a GPS-based fleet management service that combines GPS vehicle tracking with Navman Fleet Manager software over Telecom’s mobile network, and E-service, a mobile software application supporting trade and sales workers.

Last year, Telecom announced it would rebuild its mobile network based on GSM technologies, a service expected to be launched in June 2009 ("T-Day"). Telecom 3G customers on the current CDMA-based mobile network will then be able to swap to Telecom’s new GSM-based service, but will need different handsets and there will be some service differences. Crooks says Telecom expects most businesses to continue with the mobile network service they are currently on until it’s time to reinvest in new handsets, at which point they can re-evaluate their network choice.

Meanwhile Vodafone has announced an upgrade to its mobile broadband network, ramping up performance starting in central business districts with other areas to follow. Its mobile broadband network upgrade will in theory deliver around 7Mbps download speeds, with around 2Mbps up, but analysts expect an average of 5Mbps down and 2Mbps up.

Whether it’s 5Mbps or 7Mbps, it’s impressive mobile network performance, and Vodafone’s commitment to a service eventually able to deliver 14MBps down is worthy of attention for businesses that need to transfer a lot of data quickly (think: film, video conferencing, graphics and computer aided design).

Hamish Sansom, head of at home and new product development for Vodafone, says a business should be able to use a mobile broadband device and service to do everything normally able to be done in a fixed line environment. Sansom says the right service provider can develop a wider business plan that incorporates mobile broadband services with existing communications systems. Some businesses may require integration of old and new technologies while others will benefit from a complete telecommunications “overhaul”.

Bells and whistles
Mobile devices need to be “3G-enabled” to access mobile broadband services and phones (as opposed to laptops or eftpos terminals) will ideally run a business-useful operating system with software including an email client, internet browser, business calendars, and a mini keyboard. Businesses that want a GPS-based tracking service will need devices with GPS capability either built in or supported via an adapter.

Both Telecom and Vodafone sell a wide range of devices designed to connect laptops and desktops to mobile broadband. They both also support initiatives including laptop makers putting a mobile broadband SIM card slot into laptops so data cards, modems or devices are not necessarily needed for connection to a mobile broadband network service.

Click here to view NZ's 3G coverage update (PDF, 6MB)

8/3/8_ex_m_h_nl

By Vikki Bland