Technical question Globalstar's "data" capabilities:
I have read in the Globalstar literature that fax, messaging, gps and DATA will be available through the G* cellular/satellite service. And yet I keep hearing the opposite from others who argue that G*'s system is "narrowband" and can't handle data. Who is right?
Is G* "anticipating" data transmissions at some later date, perhaps in conjunction with Qualcomm's commerical rollout of HDR in 2001? Would the HDR technology be incorporated into the handsets or the gateways? Someone please feel free to educate me on data plans for G* and what it will look like. I believe the future is internet, multimedia, and other high bandwidth applications, and so G's "scalability" to something such as HDR is very important. Am I wrong on this?
Also, I read an interesting tidbit about Mexico. Get this. There are approx 15 million people living in Mexico City (largest city in the world). And Mexico City is completely blanketed with cellular coverage so there's absolutely no need for G* right? Guess again. Go just 10 miles outside of Mexico City - voila, dead air. No cellular. What does the businessman/traveller do? Just accept this fact and hope for the day when cellular coverage arrives?
Furthermore, I hate to say this because it sounds a little self-righteous, but I think the G* naysayers who say "cellular is everywhere," and "there's only a few guys working on oil rigs out in the ocean who'll need this phone," are incredibly "provincial." In my opinion Provincial to the nth degree. Metro to the max. They've never ventured out of their caves and witnessed the real needs of third world countries, or even the wireless needs of their own country!! How can they not see the potential?It reminds me of the genius who said, " A personal computer? Why what in the world would someone do with a personal computer in their home?! We only need 2 or 3 big ones for the whole world."
|
