I think there are many applications that can make good use of IP and mobile data. Voice over IP is once such application. At this stage VoIP is a good gap filler in the market but i don’t think the voice quality is quite there yet to appeal to the masses. Uncontrollable end user factors such as jitter can impact greatly on the quality, for some users they can see past this but the vast majority will find it an annoyance.

Its certainly something to keep abreast of, I believe when radio networks are at a stage where ping/packet loss issues are negligible then certainly I see no reason it wont take off. Will it replace traditional voice carriage or be a complimentary service? or will carriers even use IP to carry the voice? time will tell

Interesting reading indeed and good points raised. The experience that users have whilst accessing the internet via your mobile certainly is dependent on handset manufacturer and the carrier’s network. Whilst the carrier I use is excellent, the handset I currently use has many limitations when accessing the internet, especially when comparing to use via a PC or laptop (of course, we expect that). But in saying that, I recently borrowed an iPhone for a few weeks, and I found accessing data and using the internet both easy to use and professional. If manufacturers can raise the bar, as Apple and RIM have done regarding data access and internet usage, mobile data usage will continue to grow exponentially.

Jono – you seem to be a man in the know. Do you think VoIP via iPhone will take off?

Mobile internet is a great boredom killer for me. That and i’m a serial ‘status’ updater.

This post was mentioned on Twitter by fictillius: Satisfying the hunger for mobile data by @JonoH on Telstra Exchange http://tr.im/Eht0...

You make an excellent point. I wonder though if the Next generation smart phones such as Apple’s iPhone are a key part of feeding this hunger, then why does Telstra downplay iPhone and instead choose not to “get in bed with Apple” in terms of tethering and promote what consumers want

You make an excellent point. I wonder though if the Next generation smart phones such as Apple’s iPhone are a key part of feeding this hunger, then why dopes Telstra downplay iPhone and instead choose not to “get in bed with Apple” in terms of tethering and promote what consumers want.

To Reveka’s point around how people ever survived without mobiles, I often wonder this too. Today it seems an impossibility to even meet a friend without first putting into your calendar, texting them the meeting place and finding out how to get there via google maps….

It’s going to continue to grow and it’s exciting to think about the next phase…

I often wonder how people organised themselves pre mobile phones, I’d imagine most people would feel a mobile is an absolute necessity. Before long if not already, will be a generation that feel the same way about mobility devices and the ability to access data.

Nice post and very accurate, particularly about UX being way behind the times I’m hoping to change that

I had planned to use my Australian (My3) phone & data service plan, was told this would work, but when I arrived I could not get any phone connectivity/service. I thus resorted to free wifi as the only option (without having to purchase a local sim card with a data plan). Thus, I used no phone services the entire 3 weeks, I only used data to make all travel and other plans and bookings, all using free public wifi or friend’s services. Service was good in some places, not in others, and annoying that even major US hotel chains, such as Marriott, were still trying to charging for very poor limited wifi ($10 hr!)

However, at home my BB is always in my hand, on the tram, walking down the street, in the elevator, at my desk, and I am constantly messaging, emailing etc, sending photos etc, and only rarely do I now use voice, because BB makes it easier to hook up in person.