I've been having this conversation with Chris Gavula on and off for about six months now: what is the huge draw for 3G cellular speeds here in The States? With 3G coverage so sparse here, and all of the cell carriers and device manufacturers and OEM's barking about how this device or that device does 3G, it kinda makes me wonder... So, after listening to one of the latest MoTR podcasts, I finally decided to buckle down and create (what I am certain will be) the buzz that should get everyone thinking (and hopefully talking...) about it – Here in the States, what is really the big draw for 3G; because I really don't think the masses care, know what it can offer them, or even really care (did I just repeat myself..?)

Most everyone with cell service has access to 2.5G (EDGE or 1xRTT) data access speeds. I've got AT&T, and EDGE is what you live with, with just about every device they have except the few, high end devices like the Blackjack (both 1 and 2), the Treo 750 and the Tilt, to name a few...but those are really high end PDA-based smartphones. Most of the general public are using feature phones like the Moto RAZR, Nokia N75, or the Samsung SLM, and even some of those are higher end feature phones. Some of those have 3G speeds, some don't.

Most of the general public uses cell phones for some very basic tasks:

• Phone calls (obviously)
• Taking pictures (and sending picture, or MMS, messages)
• Text messaging

All of these things do NOT require 3G speeds. While having 3G speed is a huge plus, especially for picture messages, 2.5G speeds do a decent job; and will likely continue to do a good job for some time to come. Most feature phone users really don't care about 3G. All they want to do is talk, txt, and take pix. You really don't need 3G to do any of that, and again, with 3G coverage here so sparse, all it really does is drain your battery as the radio fights with local 2.5G and 3G towers for signal dominance.

In Europe and other parts of the world, 3G cellular networks are much more prevalent. They also likely have a lot more real world, consumer based use than what we're using the network for over here in The States. MobiTV and other broadcast video apps like it, don't get a lot of use over here due to service cost, and again, network coverage. Trying to view any kind of streaming video via EDGE can be painful at times. 3G coverage is available in some major markets (but not all) like Chicago, Atlanta, LA, Nashville (yes, Nashville...), but isn't available in every part of the 5 'Boro's in the New York area (go figure...you would think that it would be all over the East Coast...). The same can be said for streaming audio. The experience is much better when you have 3G service.

...and don't get me started about signal penetration... if you're trying to do ANY of this in any building in downtown Chicago (or any metro area for that matter), and have any other service other than Verizon, you're going to have trouble (though admittedly, after I got my replacement Blackjack from AT&T due to the "recall," my call quality went up, and I didn't drop as many calls). This is one of the reasons why the recent wireless spectrum auction with the FCC has been so important. Signal penetration is so important to the success of 3G network roll outs...

So again, I ask, what is the draw for 3G here in The States? The only thing that I have been able to come up with is one, very important feature:

Simultaneous voice and data traffic

When you make a voice call with a 2.5G device, any and all data traffic is suspended and queued. When you end that voice call, data traffic resumes, and any data items in the queue (e-mail, IM's, text messages, MMS messages, etc.) are delivered to the device. With a 3G device (and a supported 3G signal), data traffic is never suspended, so nothing is ever queued. You get data delivered to your device regardless of what you're doing with the phone, again, as long as you've got a 3G signal.

The first time this happened to me, I got kinda freaked out. Then it was really kinda cool. For me, it means that as long as I have a 3G signal, I get e-mail regardless of if and when I am on a voice call. In my opinion, this is where the vast majority of 3G customers in The States, that make use of their data plan(s), will see the value.

However, unless and until we see a couple of key things take place –

• Better 3G network coverage
• Implementation of 3G applications
• Adoption of 3G Services (apps mentioned above)
• Reasonably priced 3G apps/services

I don't think you're going to see a lot of people truly embrace 3G here in The States. I simply don't see the draw for the masses. I could be wrong; but knowing how my wife is the exact opposite of me (she is the anti-geek to my geek), I don't see 3G making its way beyond anyone else other than me at our house.

What do you think? I'd love to hear everyone's opinions and thoughts. Please join in the discussion below and tell us what you think...

There have been some interesting developments the past couple of weeks.

MS & Yahoo
This is probably one of the more interesting developments I've seen in a while. MS makes a play for Yahoo!, and Yahoo! says no.  While I understand that there may be some initial resistance to all of this, AND Yahoo! as an organization would likely get swallowed in one form or another by MSN, I have to ask if this is truly a bad thing or not...especially if Yahoo!'s Board is [somewhat] split on the decision to reject Microsoft's offer of $44.6B, saying that the bit undervalues the company.

I saw another article today that said Bill Gates wasn't interested in upping MS' bid for Yahoo!  This seems to indicate that some sort of proxy fight is in the mix, as MS takes it to the shareholders. This clearly isn’t over yet, so we’ll have to wait and see what happens...

Vista SP1 Held Back due to Driver Bugs
It just seems that the problems with Vista SP1 won't end. Microsoft released Vista SP1 to manufacturing; but is holding it off of Windows Update. Currently, I thought I saw a March 2008 release date announced for the update.

Originally, I thought I had heard that there were some serious driver related problems with the software, and that was why MS hadn't made it available to the general public. Apparently, Microsoft isn't opting to fix their code in this regard. They are going to make the driver manufacturers go back and correct the "problems" with their drivers, indicating that these drivers must work with Windows and not the other way around.

While I agree with this, I also have to ask two questions: what was easier to do, and what is the right thing to do?  If either of those things involved MS making changes, then they should have done that.  However, time will tell...

It's almost official... Yahoo! is going to say no to the proposed MS buy-out...

With all the hubbub wrapped around the unsolicited buy-out bid that Microsoft made a few days ago, I know a lot of people have been patiently watching and waiting to see what Yahoo! would say. It seems as though their answer is going to come in the next day or so; and for Microsoft, it isn't going to be what they wanted to hear...

According to a source cited by the WSJ, "a person familiar with the situation" leaked information that the Yahoo Board has determined that the price that Microsoft is offering ($31/share) grossly undervalues the company. The bid also fails to consider the business risks that Yahoo would be taking with Federal Regulators if they said, "yes" and entered into the agreement.

According to a story reported by ComputerWorld, Yahoo would be unlikely to consider any offers below $40/share. If that's the case, Microsoft is going to have to come up with an additional $13B. That would require Microsoft to come up with $57.6B to compete with Google.

I had been considering most of these questions myself over the past couple of days. The biggest questions in my mind are the regulatory related ones. While I'm not entirely certain that there's any conflict of interest here (the only reason why MSN's search engine functionality is a minor consideration is because of the cash that MS has. Without it, MSN is less than a minor player, in my humble opinion). Would a Yahoo!-Microsoft marriage be a bad thing?  Would it cause problems for the search engine world, or would it really just cement Google's dominance in the market as the two giants struggled to merge into one search engine contender?

I'd love to hear what you have to say.  Why not join in the discussion and let us know what you think?

One of the biggest draws to all of E-TEN's devices is their radio offerings.  Since the very beginning of my association with them, they've had just about ever method of connectivity known to man jammed in their device offerings:

• Quad-Band GSM
• EDGE (now 3G) Wireless
• 802.11b/g Wireless Networking
• GPS

That's one HECK of a lot of connectivity for one device.  E-TEN also tends to make their devices relatively affordable, considering everything that their devices do.  However, not so much on my particular X800...

Shortly after I posted the unboxing of the X800, I started getting an error message from the Wi-Fi radio. The error is very cryptic and the Wi-Fi radio will NOT turn on:

Error
hwifi_off_result = ?

I have NO idea what this means other than it is broken and it will not go. Up to this point, I haven't heard anything back from E-TEN about this problem. I first tried contacting them about it, about a week or so ago. If anyone out there with an X800 has seen this, heard of this, or is experiencing this, I'd appreciate a heads-up on where you are with the problem right now.  I am still trying to research it and haven't found a resolution as yet.

I will keep everyone posted...

I arrived home the other day, to a WONDERFUL surprise. E-TEN's X650 arrived! I wasn't even expecting it, and its here!  The E-TEN X650 is the upgrade to E-TEN's X600, value series GPS enabled Pocket PC Phone.  Its running WM6 Professional, and has a VGA screen (the X600 did not). Without much further ado, here are the very cool pics...

The box the X650 comes in is even smaller than the box for the X800.  I was really surprised.

Open the top of the box, and there is the X650. E-TEN was nice enough to send me the X650 in purple (likely to be the most popular color). The purple is a bit on the unusual side.  Its not very bright, or very noticeable, so while the purple is likely to be more popular with the ladies, its not horrible for a guy to carry...though it is a bit of an attention grabber.

The contents of the box, moving counter clockwise from the device: The E-TEN X650, USB sync cable, AC adapter and US plug face, 1530mAh battery, coupons, software CD, Getting Started poster, and screen protector, extra retractable stylus, wrist lanyard, leatherette case and headphones.

The front of the X650 (in all its praypullee goodness	The back of the device, showing the camera, flashlight, self portrait mirror, and speaker. Note the stylus in the lower left corner.

The pictures here really show off the purple color of the X650. It really doesn't look this purple. Its more of a dark, blackish-purple.

From left to right: The BlackBerry Curve 8310, E-TEN M700, E-TEN X650, E-TEN X800 and Treo 750.  The X650 is small. Its smaller than the every other device here, except maybe the Curve. Like the X800, its solid and feels good in my hands.

The Full 360 

The bottom of all devices - From Bottom to top: The E-TEN M700, E-TEN X800, Treo 750, Blackberry Curve 8310, and E-TEN X650.  The bottom of the X650 has the microphone opening, microSD card slot, mini USB port and the stylus. Note that the mini USB port is inverted (as opposed to the M700 and the X800.

The left side of all devices - From Bottom to top: The E-TEN M700, E-TEN X800, Treo 750, Blackberry Curve 8310, and E-TEN X650.  The left side of the 650 has the volume rocker, record button, soft reset button and the wired headset port.

The top of the devices -  From Bottom to top: The E-TEN M700, E-TEN X800, Treo 750, Blackberry Curve 8310, and E-TEN X650.  The top of the X650 has the lanyard hole and is (I assume) the location of the GPS receiver.

The right side of the devices -  From Bottom to top: The E-TEN M700, E-TEN X800, Treo 750, Blackberry Curve 8310, and E-TEN X650.  The right side of the X650 has the camera button and the power button.

The X650's initial boot screen. It has the same ROM date as the X800 (I think)...	The MS boot screen.

Things at the office have picked up a bit for me, and I am off on a business trip next week. I'll have the X650 with me, as I am currently work through a couple of issues with the X800 with E-TEN. I'll have more on how it functions in a different city next week as time permits. If anyone has any questions about the X650 or the X800, feel free to give me a shout and I'll do my best to answer them quickly.  More posts on both devices to come, so stay tuned!