2004 likely to usher huge gains for wireless industry here
By Rosli Abidin Yahya

The year 2004 is likely to see huge gains for Brunei Darussalam's wireless industry, with the introduction of advanced technology enabling mobile phone users to make purchases on-the-move.

Third generation (3G) technology is also expected to drive growth.

Rounding out the picture will be widespread acceptance of the 'Bluetooth,' which enables wireless connections between digital devices such as handsets and computers, and GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) networks, which uses a network to transmit data at higher speeds.

Palm-sized, all-purpose digital devices complete with wireless video imaging and multimedia features will appear on the local market in the first half of the year.

Nokia has sketched out a 'multimedia roadmap' of new ventures in entertainment, music, gaming and imaging, according to a source from a local mobile phone shop.

However, their introduction depends on whether local mobile phone providers can provide such services.

"If services are made available this year, Nokia will introduce Multimedia and Java-download gaming as well as a series of multimedia and video phones with better colours and simpler keypads in the first quarter of 2004. The new handsets are expected to integrate digital imaging devices, interactive television and wireless networking," he added

The phone company also plans to introduce more games and content to stimulate local demand for its cutting-edge phones.

Digital wallets, mobile commerce, mobile payments, mobile ticketing, mobile banking, location-based services, push-to-talk and see-what-I-see or video imaging, are also expected to be introduced to the market, he said.

The new products - dubbed m-commerce services - would be suitable either for retailers that offer on-the-move services such as food delivery or stand-alone food chains and vending machines, he said.

M-payments could be made secure using similar technology to that used in ATM or credit cards, which require a password.

"The 'always-on' convergence of the Internet and mobile phones will allow users to do more with their mobile phones.''

He believes that m-commerce and m-payments markets would gain a foothold this year with the early-adopter crowd, bolstered by the growing acceptance and the popularity of high-tech gadgets. But he admitted the new features would take a few years before catching on with mainstream consumers after such services have been introduced here.

However, an industry analyst said that Nokia's domination of the mobile phone market was likely to be squeezed by the growing presence of other Asian consumer-electronics brands including Samsung and LG of Korea.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin