The killer application for 3G is not about downloading content, it is about uploading content.
Every mobile phone operation which offers 3G is talking about how fast one can download content with their 3G connection.
The 3G mobile phone can do more than downloading and playing the downloading content.
It has a video photo camera mobile phone which allows users to take videos and photos of wherever they are, whenever they want to, as long the mobile phone doesn’t run out of batteries.
Hence, let users take photos and videos and let them upload the content to a community server, hosted by the mobile phone operator.
Thus, instead of the mobile phone operator looking for that killer application or content, let the users be the one providing the content.
The mobile phone is more than able to do this.
The moblog (mobile blogging) site at www.moblog.com.sg by Singtel is an example of how such upload approach has made MMS popular with users.
Singtel should also start looking at letting users upload videos recorded from the mobile phone and share it within the community.
Look at blogging, its about uploading.
Look at YouTube, its about uploading.
The next Internet generation will be the upload generation.
The mobile operators have to be really open with their 3G standards as it is hard to really find what upload speeds do 3G provide
Given the current Internet bandwidth themediaslut gets in Singapore, upload bandwidth is usually 3 times slower than download speeds.
It could be the same for 3G and thus the mobile operators should be looking at increasing 3G upload speeds too.
The optimum would be a 1:1 ratio of upload and download speeds.
The cost of creating such a server with storage space will definitely be negligible compared to the revenue earned from 3G subscribers.
Furthermore, the mobile phone operators could work with the big Internet players like MSN or Yahoo or Google to co-promote such uploading activities.
For example, what if Starhub worked with MSN Space to enable 3G subscribers to upload their .3gp movies on MSN space.
After uploading the content into Space, the 3G subscriber might instantly want to connect to MSN messenger and tell friends that a new video has been uploaded, though MSN Messenger immediately updates contacts of new content on Spaces.
Now, the mobile phone operators will have people actually wanting to use 3G.
Lisa
Happy New Year! Happiness and success in 2011.
Posted by: school_dubl | December 29, 2010 at 06:59 AM
now I'll be in touch..
Posted by: Monkey Sexe | October 27, 2009 at 02:02 AM
Very interesting article. Glad to have stumbled upon your blog. Will definitely be back!
Posted by: myspace design | August 07, 2008 at 09:12 AM
It is not just 3G. Take a look at present internet. We SHARE more then TAKE. We want a more easy way to share out picture,video over the net or 3G network.
Posted by: Tze-Chien Chu | May 03, 2006 at 04:25 PM
Well, it is not just about 3G. It is present internet status. We will upload more then before. We want to SHARE not TAKE.
Posted by: Tze-Chien Chu | May 03, 2006 at 04:23 PM
Dear Sir,
Thank you very much for your comment.
For me, it’s a great idea that uploading is a killer application than downloading for 3G. In fact, I’ve found this information in one web site: www.3gportal.com. I’m sure that Mr. steve Jones will be very happy to know that.
Best regards,
Lisa
Posted by: Lisa | April 28, 2006 at 06:53 AM
Couldn't agree more Lisa, I've recently picked up the nokia mblog application (designed for the indian market) which shows a similar tendancy. Also the Yahoo Go! integration with the camera (take picture and be immediately offered the opportunity to upload it) are showing the way forward.
However, as you rightly point out this will not move forward with the leaps and bounds required until and unless the up/down ratio is narrowed.
It seems a common failing both with the web at large and with the mobile web that "content provided to users" is seen as far more important than "content provided by users" - on the plus side though this does seem to be beginning to change - I guess we just have to keep up the pressure on the corporates and networks!
Cheers,
Chris
Posted by: Chris Borrowdale | April 27, 2006 at 06:43 PM
Uploading content? look @ ShoZu.com
Uploads photos and videos to Flickr, Kodak Easy Share, TextAmerica, Buzznet, Webshots, personal blogs, blogger, wordpress, typepad, personal email addresses, CNN, BBC and more!
Uploads blog quality to size costs.
Downloads people's comments from web albums.
Reply to comments from phone.
Contacts Address book backup.
Posted by: ricky | April 27, 2006 at 01:43 PM
Check out, www.thumbtag.com (Launching 8th May) will allow users to do just that, upload images and text and more! It will also be location specific.
Posted by: Devin Cheevers | April 27, 2006 at 12:45 PM