3G technology and apps already in place

       Although further delays and unclear legal issues continue to hamper the roll-out of 3G in Thailand, it has already been proved that the devices and applications can support the technology. Only network readiness is missing.
       In the seminar "Business Development in Cloud Computing and 3G Technology" by University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, DTAC's Thinakorn Thianprathum said that currently Thailand has 15 million devices ready to connect to mobile wireless broadband networks. The figure is comprised of 10 million installed base computers and 5 million 3G-enabled phones. But there is no available commercial service yet.
       When the network becomes available,it will encourage business development in many areas, especially mobile advertising and internet payments.
       In an existing example, some mobile operators in the UK offer free airtime or text messages to users in return for them accepting mobile advertising.
       It is possible that the system can learn user behaviour and send advertising that suits the individual as well as open more opportunities to sell to target audiences,including traditional media providers.
       Supreecha Limpikanjanakowit, Managing Director of Advanced mPay under AIS, added that when combining broadband and cloud computing technology,IT costs can be significantly reduced because users can use 3G devices to access applications on the cloud.
       Using software as a service will help businesses reduce license costs with a pay-per-use model and standardising IT in the organisation, while scaling use of software can help align business growth.
       That can help businesses stay in touch with the public as well as stimulate internet payments.
       Kittipong Tameyapradit, Senior Executive Vice President at ToT Corpor-ation, said 3G services will enable a better quality of life, especially in distance learning and tele-healthcare in rural areas where Wi-Max and Fiber to the node technology is not suitable or incurs a higher cost of implementation.
       Meanwhile, Peerapol Chatanantavej,True Move's assistant director of 3G marketing, said there are many applications offering consumers a safer and more convenient way to connect wirelessly.
       For example, consumers can use a 3G camera home monitor with built-in 3G sim which can connect to live views and record movements at their home at any time. Or the 3G door phone, which can snap a visitor's picture and send it to the owner via MMS.
       "The door phone can initiate a VDO call to the homeowner if they're not at home," said Peerapol.
       He continued that consumers could also use 3G Wi-Fi routers to share small wireless groups instantly or use 3G Fem-tocell, which acts like a small home base station allowing users to connect to nearby wireless services with an ADSL broadband router.
       Pathom Indarodom, General Manager,AR Information & Publications, shared his view that 3G services in Thailand will help stimulate digital content business opportunities, especially in business applications such as push mail.
       He said wireless broadband will encourage more new services and a 5-10 percent increase in online advertising revenue - although this figure is still behind the global average increase of 20-30 percent.
       The company expects that within two years, 50 percent of notebooks and netbooks will be 3G-enabled, increasing to 70 percent within 5 years. Today, just 5 percent are 3G-ready.
       "Studies show that if 3G is made available in Thailand, it will help boost gross domestic product growth by around 0.3-1 percent," Pathom noted.