If the 3G you are talking about is EDGE (often claimed to be 384Kb/sec), there are a few things you should know:
1. That data rate assumes that you are using all 8 timeslots on the GSM channel. -Most EDGE phones only allow the use of 2 slots up and two down, or down and one up. -You must have almost perfect signal (not just strength, but freedom from interference, including reflections from buildings) to hit the maximum data rate. -You only get as many timeslots as the operator is willing to give you. -You only get to use your timeslot(s) when the operator says you can.
(in other words, the total throughput can be very low)
2. The wireless network adds significant delays. Expect a ping time around one second.
3. Moving a lot of data may take more power than you charger can supply to the phone (assuming you use a phone and not a PC card)
I have heard good things about the wireless broadband service Nextel is selling (completely different technology than EDGE), but they block voice over IP and act as a NAT router (so your IP address isn't visible directly to the internet.
The article talks about EvDO and HSDPA. I don't know how those relate to EDGE (I've only got about 0.1875 of a clue about this so far, if that much).
I'm already using NAT with my dialup, but at least the (dynamic) IP address of my gateway machine is visible, which is how I can telnet/VPN to it ... I can see the disadvantage to not even having that exposed, but I mostly use it to access my house from elsewhere, so if I were carrying a do-everything laptop, I'm not sure how much it would bother me. (OTOH, it's a good reason not to use it as the main Internet connection for a stay-at-home machine, and blocking VOIP would certainly be an issue unless I could use it as a conventional cell phone at the same time as I had a data connection going.)
(no subject)
1. That data rate assumes that you are using all 8 timeslots on the GSM channel.
-Most EDGE phones only allow the use of 2 slots up and two down, or down and one up.
-You must have almost perfect signal (not just strength, but freedom from interference, including reflections from buildings) to hit the maximum data rate.
-You only get as many timeslots as the operator is willing to give you.
-You only get to use your timeslot(s) when the operator says you can.
(in other words, the total throughput can be very low)
2. The wireless network adds significant delays. Expect a ping time around one second.
3. Moving a lot of data may take more power than you charger can supply to the phone (assuming you use a phone and not a PC card)
I have heard good things about the wireless broadband service Nextel is selling (completely different technology than EDGE), but they block voice over IP and act as a NAT router (so your IP address isn't visible directly to the internet.
(no subject)
I'm already using NAT with my dialup, but at least the (dynamic) IP address of my gateway machine is visible, which is how I can telnet/VPN to it ... I can see the disadvantage to not even having that exposed, but I mostly use it to access my house from elsewhere, so if I were carrying a do-everything laptop, I'm not sure how much it would bother me. (OTOH, it's a good reason not to use it as the main Internet connection for a stay-at-home machine, and blocking VOIP would certainly be an issue unless I could use it as a conventional cell phone at the same time as I had a data connection going.)