Phone firms in 3G frenzy

Hanoi Times - Competition for third-generation (3G) technology licences is heating up among Vietnam’s largest mobile providers.Licences to use 3G technology are being sought by Mobifone, Viettel and Vinaphone, who control 90 per cent of the local market.Chungming An, vice president for South East Asia and China for the CDMA development group, and Hoang Ngoc Diep, the company’s adviser for competitions and forums, talked more about 3G, and the role of mobiles for 3G.As CDMA operators are pushing to expand their networks and the Ministry of Commerce is establishing 3G licensing, can you tell us what 3G means to a developing country like Viet Nam?Chungming An: I believe 3G is the next step for efficient communications in the world community. In the past, 2G provided basic voice and SMS, but it is not adequate for more advanced features. With mobile broadband data, 3G can support many forms of good quality communications. This can not o­nly increase revenues, but also offer more efficient communications for business, education, health-care, security and entertainment. This will certainly help Viet Nam frog-leap other economies, at least in communications.Hoang Ngoc Diep: Due to the conditions of Viet Nam, we have struggled to bring voice and broadband data to the publics by using traditional "wired" technologies. It would take too long and cost so much to run cables to each individual home, even in large cities, not to mention less advanced provinces where 65 per cent of the population lives. With 3G, we can even deliver quality voice and broadband data. Broadband data o­n 3G will not o­nly allow people to access basic internet and e-mail services, but many much needed high quality services. This is o­ne of the most suitable solutions for Viet Nam Information and Communications Technology. So, 3G for developed countries offers extra features o­n top of the existing 2G, but for developing countries, it provides even more value.Some telecom strategists say mobile applications are important innovations for Viet Nam. What do you think?Chungming An: Although 3G voice capability is much better than 2G voice, it is clear that mobile broadband data is the key difference, and certainly the contents. The applications running o­n this broadband data are most important. All successful applications must be related to people’s daily life - very useful, very practical and convenient. If there are top quality applications that are not convenient I will not use them. Needs vary. People living in the US are different from those in Viet Nam, China and Indonesia. Therefore, Local Mobile Application is the right approach by the Vietnamese Government and local experts.Hoang Ngoc Diep: Mobile broadband is like a highway with many useful and attractive places along it, or mobile applications. o­nce these places have been set up, people will use the highway to visit places. So, I applaud the Vietnamese Government for encouraging locally developed mobile applications. This is the best way to ensure 3G is successful.What we should concentrate o­n when developing mobile applications?Hoang Ngoc Diep: Mobile applications that young and inexperienced application developers must pay attention to include making sure the application is as small as possible so it can be partly down-loaded into various handsets. The application must also be as simple as possible to reduce the amount of data to be transported o­nline. The Graphic User Interface (GUI) must utilise the small screen to its best and, most importantly, not use up much energy. It does not matter how good an application is, if it is too big to download, too confusing o­n the screen, and battery quickly runs out, then it is no good.