All you can eat?

When you are looking to roll out a mobile data network there used to be three simple choices- SMS/Text, GSM or Circuit Switched Data CSD and GPRS. Now though, advancements in hardware in both network and remote end mean that there are two additional options to consider.

3G has been out for a while and much heralded as the deliverer of video to handhelds and laptops. Where it really comes into its own for Mobius and our customers is as a widespread method of delivering high speed, generally 384k bps and Vodafone will cover 80% of the UK population by the end of this year. Until recently most implementations have been limited since hardware manufacturers have been reluctant to push 3G embedded engines into an uncertain market. This has left those with a need using 3G enabled PCMCIA cards which can lead to a less-than-optimum design.

High Speed Downlink Packet Access or HSDPA is a newer standard that the networks have launched into the market with a much lower profile. It is much faster delivering 1.8Mbits/s with the right hardware and Vodafone HSDPA will have the same footprint as 3G by the end of 2007. Because of the speed of deliver it is sometimes referred to as 3G Broadband.

At the same time a number of manufacturers have produced modems with an impressive array of standards supported- SMS/ GSM/ GPRS/ EDGE/ 3g/ and HSDPA. Some like Huawei have an almost plug and play USB/XP Modem while Sarian and Sonicwall provide sophisticated Dual Media Routers that add in PSTN, ISDN and line Broadband for a truly comprehensive comms package.

So hardware and network are in place for a true Broadband Failover or Broadband replacement. The issue now then is pricing. Often resellers in the voice channel are selling an “All you can eat*” tariff. They tend to bury what the ‘*’ means somewhere on p22 of the contract. What that Asterisk usually means that the network reserves the right to cancel a SIM if it is ‘misused’, that is, goes consistently over 1Gig. Or they reserve the right to charge £2 per 1Mb or more above the nominal 1Gig cap.

If you are planning to run CCTV over mobile 4-5Gigs a month are easily done and could cost £4500 per camera per month. The same figures can also be achieved on large scale digital signage products. Such un-forecast costs kill a project dead.

Recognising this Mobius Networks and Vodafone have been working to produce a set of volume data tariffs built for the market from the ground up. This includes the existing Dynamic Data Allocations system, a Gig Tariff and a Super Gig Tariff. This means that you can roll out your product, taking advantage of 3G or HSDPA delivery and be sure of your costs.

Mobius Networks can deliver all of these technologies down the same pipe to your server backed up with our Fixed IP, Peer to Peer or Secure Internet Access options.

For more details contact us on:

enq@mobiusnetworks.co.uk
+44 1530 511 180