Third Generation Cellular service is finally becoming available. By the end of 2005, Verison Wireless, the leader in the US in 3G service will have it's 3G network in place in most US cities. Verizon says it expects to spend about $1 billion over two years rolling out the technology. As of January 2006 Verizon had rolled this service out to 171 Major Metropolitan Markets. Cingular, Sprint and Qualcomm are also interested in this marketplace. At the current price of $80 monthly for Verizon's data and Internet for service it is not for the masses. To use the Verizon service you will need to add a PCMCIA card (PC5220) from Sierra Wireless to your laptop at a cost $149 to connect to their Broadband Access Service. Verizon says the main uses are multiplayer gaming, music, and video content and video messaging. Verizon has a new PCMCIA card, PC 5740, at a cost of $99.99 with a 2 year agreement and a $25 activation charge. Cingular offers a similar service and a long list of PCMCIA cards, but it was not obvious by looking at their website the extent of their coverage.

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So, what does all this mean for you, the consumer? Not much yet, unless you're lucky enough to live or work in one of the cities with 3G and can afford the $60 per month. However, when 3G starts spreading across the country, one day you'll be able to engage in live two-way video calls over your cell phone, browse standard Web pages, and read your office e-mail just as if you were using a wired broad-band connection. Verizon, reduced the monthly cost of their service to $59.99 late in 2005. SBC/ATT is offering what they call FreedomLink, which is a combination of local hot wireless hot spots and a roaming service with Partners and costs between $1.99 and $39.95 per month plus some hardware costs if you do not have a PCMCIA wireless card. Sprint/Nextel don't tell you the extent of their coverage, as you have to put in your zip code to figure out if you can get their service. Sprint PCS Connection Manager Software is needed to access their service. Sprints Wi-Fi Access is designed to work with specific 802.11b wireless PCMCIA cards equipment. Their service is around $50 a month and their on line site does not cleary explain what they are offering. Laptops and wireless for the cellular providers is just beginning and they appear to be a long ways from having cost effective products for the general public.

Another caveat is that if you plan on using the BlueTooth functionality that is included that allows you to transfer files, photos or work as a wireless modem read carefully the fine print, as some of these functions may be disabled. It seeems the cellular providers want to charge extra for photo-sharing or multimedia-messaging service, alas they have disabled the blue tooth features they don't like. Check out the details regarding this in Molly Wood's article at ZDNet.

Of course, as with all these technologies the vendors are also defining the specifications for "Super 3G standard" for 2007 or 2008.