[Hands0n]

Culled from a lengthy article on el Reg the following quote raises the question for Three


........."Data-related mobile technologies are on the cusp of mainstream adoption," said John McKinley, president of digital services for AOL. "The wireless industry is focused on bringing additional rich media experiences and a new generation of interactive services to the mobile consumer, and we are committed to being a leader in that arena."

To date, Three has steadfastly refused and refuted interest in access to The Internet from its customer base, industry pundits, and anyone else who has cared to comment in favour of such access. Their strategy has been to try and be all things to all men via their own portal. But I say that The Internet is a bit of a tough act to follow!

So, with the industry at large moving ever more to "data-related mobile technologies" can Three really do the Ostritch thing for very much longer and hope to survive? Or are they simply being very canny in building their portal content as a first proposition before opening up to The Internet [seemingly kicking and screaming against all the way]?

Interesting that the likes of AOL are looking for ways and means to do this. Three's current proposition takes them completely out of the equation of partnering with any of the majors such as AOL, Yahoo etc. and thus isolating themselves from a potentially huge revenue stream.

The full article [which discusses other things also] appears here.http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/08/15/mobile_internet_user_interface/

[3g-g]

Does taking the aproach that 3 have done so far not make you think that they'll undertake some sort of parter for content supply? The likes of AOL maintaining and providing the 3 homepage etc. Using AOL for talkings sake, they have access, and more time to devote, to providing a "larger & in depth" portal to the 3 subs. It can still be branded 3 in conjunction with whoever, whopping in some premium content, it gives the user a feel of "internet proper" and 3 keep you where they want you, i.e. with them and not wandering around like the bad boy you want to be.

[Hands0n]

That may work if the content provider is happy for their work to be 3-branded. I suspect that AOL (for discussion) would not want that though, as their own brand is so well established globally. But I do see where you're coming from and yes, I suppose it is entirely reasonable to expect 3 to partner up with external content providers. They [3] are, after all, a mobile op and not a content producer. But I suspect that the content providers will be small shops, not of the order of the likes of AOL (not that I'm a fan of AOL at all ....).

How much can we reasonably expect 3 to host? There are so many information sources [such as AvantGo] that 3 simply could not cope with trying to (a) host them all and (b) keep up with the new sources coming on line daily!

However, continuing with the "data-related" technologies .... there are other aspects of The Internet that would be difficult/expensive for 3 to try and emulate in-house. I'm thinking here of all the things that can be done via the Internet these days - and what of the future? Do 3 really think that they can keep pace - or are they hopeful that their "type of customer" will not be discerning enough to [really] want access to The Internet?

[Ben]

Perhaps one of the issues Three have in the UK is that data charges while roaming on GSM are extremely costly. We can already see that Three refuse to offer all of their functionality to users in a 'voice and picture' area, and perhaps cost, rather than speed, is the reason for that.

Perhaps (again) O2 can only spare Three a certain amount of intensive data traffic given their own GSM capacity limitations, and at the moment Three just can't guarantee they'd be able to stay within those limits.

Still, that doesn't detract from Three offering Internet access to subscribers connected to its own network. I think the problem that remains is that really those of us who demand Internet access on a phone are in the minority. Sure, I'd bet that even the majority of Three users try at least once to access a site outside the content area. Infact, many of them probably wind up at forums like this one asking "is my handset broken?" When they learn that no, that's just the way it is on Three, many probably just shrug their shoulders and use what IS available.

Opening up access is inevitable. Right now, though, I'd imagine Three has all the other operators saying behind closed doors "Why did we open ourselves up so soon?"

[solo12002]

A good number of points raised. While I accept three may have a problem with permitting internet access, I have to question why after being up and running for this period of time have they not moved forward, it was acceptable during start up, but not now.

Another question I have is while some may be happy enought to use the walled area, the content within it is crap,surely three need to move forward and provide a better service even within the walled area,all I can see in it is some jokes, porn and my three, I cant for the life of me see any thing of great vaule, and Im dam sure I would not pay the current high costs for the crap they provide.

I mean, if Vodafone and O2 can provide a fair service using GPRS only like Vodafone Live and o2 Active then three has to do some thing better given they have a faster sysytem in place, and they need to provide it now and at a fair price

[3GScottishUser]

I suspect one has examine the overall strategy. 3 UK seem to have chosen voice and text as the main products to tempt new subscribers. 3 have more bandwidth than any other network but we dont really know how thinly its spread right now.

The incumbents have plenty of capacity on GSM (most of their voice and text are on those networks) and have all that new bandwidth with new UMTS networks so its obvious they have no capacity issues and can capitalise selling anything they can on either.

[bsrjl1]

Well it looks like everyone's wish will be coming true on Thursday :-)

[getti]

What do you mean? If you are refering to someones post on 3g.co.uk i wouldent count on it :D

At one time or another they have had people post they know when full access coming but it never has.

Unless you know something we dont lol

[gorilla]

I for one would be very surprised if something is introduced next Thursday. On any forum there will always be speculation about something. 3 bringing down the wall, or offering a data tariff would be one of the best kept secrets. Has anyone actually read anywhere just what exactly is going to be offered? I wonder if people get satifaction from starting rumours?

[getti]

There is nothing out in the open as of yet. only people with guides or who work for 3 have this info and they are not allowed to say until the set date, that being September 1st.

i did hear a few months back that September would see full ned access but like i said over and over on forums, i will only believe it when i have seen it myself

[bsrjl1]

No I'm not talking about the forum postings on that other site. A mate works in a 3 point, got a bulletin today talking about new tarriffs & also 2 new bundles - Add Mobile Web & Add Internet. 1st is £2.50 and gives 5Mb to mobile WAP sites, other is £45 (!) & gives 512Mb of internet.

Which isn't that bad compared to other operators but obviously not great if you only want to check your mail. Wonder if the first option is full internet access - how can they limit to just WAP sites?

[Ben]

That's the most concrete information I've seen yet, bsrjl1 - thanks! My guess is that there's going to be more to this than meets the eye, mind...

[jman]

"1st is £2.50 and gives 5Mb to mobile WAP sites, other is £45 (!) & gives 512Mb of internet."

The rates seem very reasonable, but, im with Getti, "i will only believe it when i have seen it myself" been here to many times.

[frazzel]

I will belive it when I see it!

[frazzel]

More info:


http://www.e2save.com/e2001/php/cus...oceeded=0&&ig=0

[Hands0n]

@frazzel - that page appears to have been and gone!

[Ben]

LoL @ e2save after you've selected the tariff:

"Mobile Websites @ £2.50/mth
Wireless Web @ £45.00/mth"

It's going to happen :) Now we just need details.

[3g-g]

Who's going to undertake the first "proper internet" session for T3G... could there be a special badge for the first full report?! ;)

[Hands0n]

Still nothing on the Three website - although there does appear to be a placeholder for something new in the [contract] Add Ons page http://www.three.co.uk/explore/howmuch/addons/payMonthlyindex05.omp

[gorilla]

Well I must say I'm a little disappointed today, but I can wait another week.