Related topics: UMTS 3G Cellular Worlds Cellular Technologies GPRS Wireless Application Protocol Bluetooth Wireless Conectivity HSCSD Mobile Data Focus SmartPhones Glossary of Terms

3GIG
The GSM MoU's Third Generation Interest Group (3GIG) propose a gradual evolution of current cellular technology like GSM - and it's cousin systems - PCS 1900 in the US and DCS 1800 in Europe - towards what is now being called UMTS, or Universal Mobile Telecommunications System. A political mandate has already been given by the European Parliament to establish a UMTS Forum as the central body charged with the elaboration of European policy towards the implementation of UMTS and based on industry-wide consensus.

Global Roaming
UMTS, as a Third Generation System promises a wide range of personal mobility features using a multimedia-like phone. Some of the new features promised with the new devices include home shopping, interactive education and training with virtual reality support, navigation, multi-media multi-party consultation, entertainment, multi-connection surveillance, information seeking and retrieval, communicating laptop PCs and video communication. It also promises to standardize cellular technology around the world, so that your phone will be just as useable in another corner of the world as it is in your home or office. International roaming is already a reality, but UMTS takes it one step further - to Global Roaming.

Mobile Satellite Systems
Here's where the new generations of Mobile Satellite Systems (MSS) like Globalstar come in. MSS satellites will be launched in the next 18 months and promise digital voice, data and SMS coverage to users on most parts of the globe using handsets not that much larger than current GSM cellphones. The idea is that Third Generation phones that can work on both Globalstar and GSM would allow a user to automatically connect to a Globalstar satellite whenever they are out of GSM range, and back to GSM when in range of the GSM network. This satellite "roaming" will however require special dual phones that will only be available sometime in 1999.

DECT & GSM
Another aspect of UMTS is to integrate cordless phones in homes or offices with cellular networks to ultimately dispense with the need for a cellphone and a fixed-line phone. This convergence would mean that the phones in an office/home would connect to cordless phone-like base station when in the office/home, and then when the user moves out of this environment, then connect to a cellular network. The user would then only need one telephone number - and only one phone. Already Ericsson have unveiled a prototype system using a phone that auto-switches between a digital cordless telephone phone standard called DECT, and GSM. This will go on trial in Europe later this year. One of UMTSs' main goals in fact is that there will always be a path to it from existing 2nd-generation digital systems like GSM 900, DCS 1800 and DECT.

Built-in LCD colour screens
While UMTS promises to ultimately provide the user with phones that offer seamless connectivity throughout the world, network and phone features will also be spruced up. The phones and networks promise high-speed data transmission - up to 1000x faster than current systems - which could even allow video conferencing from cellphones using built-in LCD colour screens and mini-cameras. The phone could in fact become a lightweight multi-media terminal that could even view movies-on-demand. The Japanese have already demonstrated a rather bulky prototype version using their PHS cellular system. The high speeds will have a significant impact on mobile office users who no longer need to suffer relatively slow GSM speeds.

Upgradeable Phones
Third Generation cellular phones will also be upgradeable over the air to allow more internal features to be added without the need for going into a workshop. When roaming, a user will also be able to use the settings, keyboard shortcuts, and commands they normally use on their home network. The user interface will be completely customizable, so that even if your swap phones, you'll still have the same menus and numbers. Last but not least, the boffins predict that the new generation phones will be under 100g, and have up to 10 days standby time.