"Infocom-2007»: 3G and not just

Extensive review of the exhibition do not get held in Crocus "for several hours, this is clearly not enough. The more so because of these watches almost half was spent on purposeful laceration test zones UMTS. Was sorry to miss the opportunity for the first time his hands touch the network 3G, previously seen only by specially trained demonstration of "specially trained" phones.

Soon the story affects

Smartphones with support for third-generation networks with each passing day more and more, but themselves 3G-network in Russia and CIS countries can be counted on the fingers. The problem is not only in the protracted process of obtaining licenses, although the Ministry of Communication and has done everything in his power to "braking" process. Indeed, what sense is awarded a license for the manufacture of aircraft, while not giving permission to fly? Does that make a couple of circles over the airfield, to demonstrate a remarkable technique. Unfortunately, the decision depends not only and not so much from the Communications Ministry. The main problem is the deployment of 3G networks in Moscow - the virtual absence of free frequencies, which are still used Defense sites. In other regions, with clearing frequencies simpler, but there is no interest of operators in the deployment of such networks. As we know, the third generation systems are building not only for the sake of "please the consumer with new services and high speed internet, the main reason - the lack of free frequencies in metropolitan areas. In this sense, the lucky residents of St. Petersburg, the first 30 base stations, UMTS HSDPA recently earned a "MegaFon". This region is well matched: the 3G network and services will be demanded, and the release of frequency bands was not difficult and prohibitively expensive task. In Moscow the process will be delayed, probably until mid next year, and the issue price will be more than one hundred million dollars. Therefore, in Moscow we were with you, willy-nilly will have to settle for "circles over the airfield" on major holidays: the exploitation of UMTS base stations are available strictly in the mode of indoor only, in this case - in the exhibition halls of Crocus Expo.

Superficial experience with 3G

Very well formed at the exhibition "InfoCom-2007", test segments 3G networks simultaneously worked in MegaFon-Moscow and MTS. It is a pity that in the event Beeline chose to ignore, but there's nothing to be done. As a guinea pig appeared smartphone Sony Ericsson P1, SIM-cards - the standard of both operators. In a 3G network MegaFon-Moscow has refused to register their own smartphone, the 3G network had to be manually selected. In a 3G network MTS machine after turning himself joined, ie, of the two available networks chose 3G as the preferred option.

View the work of the two networks not fully succeeded.MegaFon originally announced the possibility to test the quality of communication and video call mode in a UMTS-segment for all comers, while services are not billed. As explained in the company, the decision was taken due to lack of permits for commercial exploitation of the UMTS network in Moscow. MTS does not offer or promise, the phone itself without permission and approvals climbed into a network of 3G, to carry out a detailed historical 3G-video call, Mr. Reiman in St. Petersburg and the subsequent demonstration video link between two devices at the booth of the MTS. So almost all the work and billed as usual, except for data transfer and, accordingly, sending MMS. Clearly, this "guerilla" testing is usually subscribers nobody planned, just lucky. Access to the 3G network for MTS "outsiders» SIM-card was closed at some point in the interval 14:00 - 16:00 October 25 (on the second day of the exhibition).

Voice communication in both networks has not caused any complaints. Voice transmitted perfectly, the subjective level of good analog connection. Specifically called on several phones MGTS and meticulously listened to the speech, I liked it. The room was quite noisy, and a sense of subjective, but I am by nature a picky for quality voice transmission. Even quite decent Panasonic DECT annoying metallic "taste" and the lack of overtones ("flat" sound), and only the view GSM FR (not to mention HR) litredaktor will not miss. We were pleased with "persistence" connection, loss of fragments of speech have already begun to appear on the border of the coverage area of ​​the segment, on the street about ten meters from the entrance to the pavilion. Hendover UMTS-GSM in either of the two networks does not work (the connection is broken) sleep on the essence of the test segments.

Data could not be run in either of the two networks, which is a pity. Maybe blame the driver hands.sis, but no special settings in the phone, I did not find any, but from all the applications I have only ICQ-client hard-coded to work with a certain compound. General Internet access to all telecom activities - an eternal problem. In my memory just two exceptions - a "Norwecom" in St. Petersburg and «CeBIT» in Hanover, in other cases, hopes for a stable and fast access did not materialize. Dozen available WiFi networks and a third of them open, but the data are not transmitted at all or an hour on a teaspoon. " The usual story for all shows, so that adopted in the pavilion Crocus mail already consider the achievement of high technology. At the same time and the press release read about what he saw, too good.

Video Call failed drive only in MegaFon-Moscow, but their hearts' content in different modes, mixed feelings. With the transfer of images of static objects is all right to demonstrate at the booth MegaFon UMTS-phone strapped to the airship under the dome of the pavilion, and anyone could call on him to approach the car on the podium and enjoy "a favorite" at the top. However, as it turned out, UMTS capabilities is not enough for a smooth transfer of the image of a moving object. Not a slide show and definitely better than the same "mobile TV" via EDGE, but expected more. Try to remove the video inexpensive phone in poor light and at a maximum resolution, the picture will stutter about the same. At Nokiyah supporting UMTS HSDPA everything looked much better at sharp movements image slightly smeared.Actually, the function of "video call" Personally, I no longer feel empty indulgence with the advent of devices that allow to switch the display output from defective front more or less a decent basic camera. In addition to the pictures clearly better in this mode transmission seen a lot of extra features and potential uses video call. This, of course, not a TV report on the screen HDTV, but in many cases, it'll do. And certainly more useful than a demonstration of his own face the other party during the conversation.

"The price issue" - a separate issue. Some idea of ​​the possible rates you can get from the press release MegaFon North-West, where the third generation network was officially put into commercial operation on October 24. A quote from the description of the new tariff:

"October 24, 2007 MegaFon North-West is beginning to connect to the first tariff plan for users of 3G" Lux Express ", a monthly fee of which (1200 rubles. VAT for a federal numbering 1700 rub. VAT for a federal numbering additional city number) includes 500 MB. Traffic in the "Mobile Internet", 500 minutes of outgoing calls to landlines of St. Petersburg and the numbers of operators of mobile radio communication of St. Petersburg and unlimited traffic inside MegaFon North-West, as well as tariff options "Express 500" and "Express 1000" (packages of 500 and 1000 MB of traffic within the service "Mobile Internet" for 1200 and 1500 rubles. including VAT, respectively).

Jambalaya

Wander through the exhibition was interesting, sorry, time was just enough. Tasteful and not very naked girls turned out to be surprisingly little, or just did not come across on the eyes. But pleased fauna as rabbits, birds and more spherical some zverushek mysterious origin.

Stands with colorful characters was a complete basket of eggs, and each building pleasing to the eye of its monumentality. According to the exhibition tirelessly moved the team guys in bright orange shirts with the logo of MTT (fifteen), which from time to time the choir chanted toll-free access to a gateway to long-distance communication. This was also demonstrated by the detailed posters, so that all visitors if they have not learned the numbers, then at least remember the very existence of free access points.

Standing a full house at the "Mobile bar" on the stand MegaFon for visitors demonstrate the capabilities of mobile commerce: as the price of a cocktail of corporate green accept SMS-messages sent to a toll free number 1113. At the same time naturally filtered subscribers of other operators. However, judging by the number of sufferers, SIM-card MegaFon was stockpiled for many visitors.

Admired on the next collection (Autumn-2007 "?) New payment terminals. Interestingly, when the quality goes in number? In the sense of a lack of collected fees.In Moscow today, in any seedy shop you can find one of these wonderful devices to receive payments, and in supermarkets iron boxes are already lining up in rows. Do with so many points a game worth the candle, and the costs recovered? Still, rental space, running costs, monthly payments for purchased in installments vehicles ... Even if you pay off today, the future economic viability of this business is questionable, since the number of points is continuously growing.

A whole room set aside for displays of representatives of South-East Asia. Acquainted with the products failed (got there to the very closing of the exhibition), but it impresses even the area occupied territory.

Here we found a small stand of our friends from the DPRK. Owners have not caught and products from the shelves were removed, but the description of the search advertising content (?) Genuinely pleased, I can not share. Not all the serious talk, like objects in the path consistently improve mood. And some posters targeted ads make you think: "I'm used to drink vodka? Try the Chinese wine! Accustomed to Cisco? Try Maipu! ». Maipu not tried it, but what style, eh? Immediately imagined a sysadmin, decomposing a bottle of vodka on the server, Cisco and hateful haste to shop for Chinese wine.

Useful small things, a masterpiece of nanotechnology. At first glance, simple little stickers in reality is a functional accessory. Made of a special patented technology effectively prevents slipping sticker machine, a telephone with a sticker literally clings "to any smooth surface. The developers claim that the phone can be thrown on the car dashboard, and it will not disappear during movement. As for the instrument panel doubt, but simply moving the tube on the table really requires a sudden a lot of effort. Out of curiosity, crawled part of the working surface in the photo - the section length of 10 mm.

The last surprise - a coincidence in time of the "Infocom" and some of the international exhibition of cosmetic products. Of course, with the inevitable in such cases distribution of the samples. Then you can not explain, right? Bus queue stretches for 400 meters and in one frame does not fit, happy taxi driver asked for 500 rubles. per person per trip to the subway. What can you do, the art of makeup requires sacrifice. Become a victim for some reason did not want to, take a walk. In the passive - the lost 35 minutes (as compared with travel by taxi), in an asset - excellent appetite, and bank notes at his pleasure. So in the end of the exhibition were the most pleasant experience.