Fly Me to the Moon

Last month, Senator John Glenn was cleared to fly into outer space once more. The 76-year-old Glenn would be the oldest human being to fly for NASA. This famous astronaut, who originally circled the earth, persuaded NASA that he and it would benefit from studying the effects of weightlessness and space travel on senior citizens.

My hat is off to Glenn and a salute to the value of the senior set. Actually, he's an inspiration to all of us. As for the space mission itself, I have to ask, "Why?" Has there been some segment of society clamoring to live on another planet? Is there any viability for humans, especially older adults, to live in space? What benefit comes from considering different age brackets in outer space unless there is some intent to live there?

To some extent, I think we conduct these types of experiments to make use of technology we have created.

I find myself asking the same "why" question with regard to third-generation (3G) developments. Customers have not been clamoring for exotic new features for their wireless devices. As a matter of fact, today's "exotic" features of data, digital and advanced feature sets have been slow to take off. Carriers are a pragmatic bunch. If they need something, they ask for it. Fact is, they haven't asked for 3G equipment. Carriers have had their hands full trying to get today's features up, running and profitable.

Although 3G technology may have a place further down the road, I wonder if we are developing the technology for the sake of technology.

Second-generation standards and equipment just recently have been implemented. Digital wireless does not replace or eliminate the need for the analog network. Therefore, we now have one complete nationwide analog network and three digital networks (CDMA, TDMA and GSM) in various stages of development. Depending on the technology that a carrier uses, 3G technology could be a further evolution of this second-generation equipment, or it could prove to require another set of networks altogether. Is the option of additional disparate networks practical for the customer even if it does bring bundles of new features?

This practicality brings up the issue of cost. What will the cost of 3G likely be for the subscriber? Take a look at what happened in the early days of wireless data. Customers weren't clamoring for it. Carriers weren't driven to promote and sell it. Ultimately, it was an exorbitantly expensive venture for customer and carrier alike. The only thing that kept wireless data from being labeled a failure was the occasional flicker of hope from unique applications and the loving devotion of an almost cult-like following of believers. Beyond that, it has taken years for the price of wireless data transmission to plummet from out-of-this-world rates to something a little more land-based. The same economic equation keeps satellite communications from exploding. So what will the cost of 3G be for subscribers? $3 a minute? $2 a minute? If it is, it will be a very slow sell to subscribers, even businesses.

Don't get me wrong. Brilliant technology and its creators have been responsible for many of the developments that have made our lives a little more enjoyable. But let's make sure that the technology fits where the customers and carriers are and want to be, rather than making the market fit the technology. This strategy will only stymie 3G's potential success. Imagine NASA showing up at your door to transport you to the moon in its space pod. After all, it plans to prove that living there appears to have no ill effects on your aging process.