New Hope For Wireless Data

Wireless guru Andrew Seybold sees light at the end of the tunnel for wireless data in the US. Carriers are getting smarter about how and what services they offer to consumers and enterprise users. There is clearly a future for wireless data in the US, but what that future holds is still unclear. Most of the success in the US market such as ringtones and the rapid growth of text messaging is just replicating similar trends in Europe and Asia. By that logic, we should be a bit worried. European carriers are struggling to get users to upgrade to 2.5G networks and services. Even in the US, consumer are attracted to new color handsets but they aren't adding on data plans that take advantage of the new handsets' capabilities. Carriers are still struggling with marketing consumer data services. The key is the youth market. Carriers have to get more aggressive about making data accessible to kids. The enteprise side is being held back by costs, coverage and speed, all three of which will improve over time.

Filed Under: 2.5g