Wireless transmission rates will improve as carriers roll out new networks, and this should aid in the growth of wireless data services. In the United States, the evolution from the current CDMA-based networks to 3G networks involves the adoption of 1XRTT as an interim step. Bond indicated that widespread adoption of wireless data service is hindered by what customers perceive as the high cost of the per-minute pricing model. Instead, service providers will charge either by the packet or offer a flat rate for unlimited use. Filling Business Needs Strategis Group's Hswe says wireless ASPs have a better chance of making money right now by providing wireless capabilities for business needs such as field sales.
Consumers are more difficult.
That's not something wireless ASPs have the funding to do, nor do they want to do it. The business market, however, has immediate needs that wASPs can fill. Previously, salespeople needed to seek an analog line to dial up an Internet connection. Arguing the higher value of such business applications to service providers, as opposed to consumer applications like wireless stock trading, Sam Farraj, executive vice president of marketing and product development at Vaultus, says continued use of this type of application is guaranteed. For service providers, this means committed revenue.