It’s another darn mobile acronym, that’s what it is. But it’s actually quite exciting if you’re into mobile content. To take the basics first, HSDPA stands for High-Speed Downlink Packet Access, although it’s probably easier to think of it as ‘mobile broadband’ or ‘3.5G’.
In short, it’s an upgrade to the operators’ 3G networks that gives you more bandwidth, making it faster to get content – whether that’s streaming video and music, or downloading games, video or music.
As a rough guide to what it means in the real world, while 3G currently gives you around 384 kilobits per second, HSDPA will allow 1.8 megabits per second for most of the handsets that the operators will launch later this year, although this will go higher in the future.
All the operators are upgrading their 3G networks to HSDPA, with 3 announcing last week that the first handsets would go on sale before Christmas. So what does it mean for mobile content? Well, for music, it means the operators will be able to start selling you full albums rather than individual songs.
Meanwhile, for video, it will improve the quality of streaming video, while making video downloads much faster. It’ll either be quicker to get content, or the operators will be able to up the quality, and get rid of some of that unattractive pixelisation that you see even on a 3G connection.
It remains to be seen whether the operators will let you use the increased bandwidth to use Voice-over-IP software to make ‘free’ phone calls. As you can guess, they probably won’t be keen.
What will the handsets be like? Well, 3 was showing off a prototype LG mobile last week that was an extremely slinky clamshell, so they won’t be bricks. Meanwhile T-Mobile has already announced plans to launch the MDA Vario II, a smartphone equipped with a QWERTY keyboard.
Hi,
Regarding HSDPA, does the sim card have anything to do with this? The reason I ask is that I have seen someone on eBay selling 3network usim cards that they claim that you must use in order to be able to use the 3 mobile broadband USB modem. As they are different than a standard mobile phone sim card. Is there any truth to this?
Regards,
William Vogelsang
Yes this is correct, it is correct of all 3 network phones and mobile broadband modems.
Rob
Yes, as per Robs reply above, some older type sim cards do not support 3G I have recently bought a new phone which supports 3G and HSDPA and i found i couldnt use it or the sim was not recieving a 3G signal until i upgraded my sim card via my provider and now i get both with no problems at all. but as ive previously worked in the mobile industry, it is all NETWORK provider dependant!
Hi I beleive I have just had an upgrade to this on my Sony Ericsson W910i ( on 3 ), I usually have a G near the signal stregnth indicator but it is now a H, and a 3 advisor has told me it has something to do with HSDPA, I also have a problem with texting if i’m not in a 3G area ( like my mums house ) I can recieve but not send ( this happens on the train too) thanks for your help with what the hell it means too!!!
Hey all,
Just bought a c902 (on orange) and I too have this ‘H’ symbol… one question, is this costing anything whilst its on/any extra each moth etc? And will it stay there forever orgo away at some point? Sorry if these are obvious questions haha.
Thanks!