Third Generation or 3G is a generic term used for the next generation of mobile communication systems.

The 3G network gives you the power of higher speeds to enjoy multimedia services , high speed mobile broadband and internet access with the ability to view videos on your mobile handset. With a 3G phone and access to the 3G network you can make video calls, watch live TV, access high speed internet and enjoy live streaming at never before speeds.
Running on technology called High Speed Packet Access (HSPA), 3G networks can send data many times faster than the rates of earlier 2G networks, which means that in addition to audio, graphics and text, 3G customers can also send and receive video content in 3G coverage areas WCDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access) is a 3G technology version that allows data connections up to 384 Kbps per user in good coverage and quality conditions.

Codec - "compressor/de-compressor - makes the audio/video data "small enough" to be practical for sending over expensive network connections. A codec takes analog signals, compresses and digitizes them, and transmits the signals over digital phone lines.

The goal for the next generation of mobile communications system is to seamlessly integrate a wide variety of communication services such as high-speed data, video and multimedia traffic as well as voice signals. The technology needed to tackle the challenges to make these services available is popularly known as the third Generation (3G) Cellular Systems. One of the most promising approaches to 3G is to combine a Wideband CodeDivision Multiple Access (WCDMA) air interface with the fixed network of Global system for Mobile communications (GSM). In this thesis a signal simulator was implemented according to the physical layer specification of the IMT-2000 WCDMA system. The data is transmitted in a frame-by-frame basis through a time varying channel. The transmitted signal is corrupted by multiple access interference which is generated in a structured way rather than treating it as Additive White Gaussian Noise (AWGN). The signal is further corrupted by AWGN at the front end of the receiver. Simple rake diversity combining is employed at the receiver. We investigate the bit error rate at both uplink and downlink for different channel conditions. Performance improvement due to error correction coding scheme is shown. The simulator developed can be an invaluable tool for investigating the design and implementation of WCDMA systems. Read more: 3G Mobile Computing [ Paper Presentations ] |Paper Presentations

Video conferencing made its first appearance at the World's Fair in 1960 when AT&T introduced its first picture phone. Since it was very expensive and there was a lack of consumer interest in the "Picturephone," as it was called, the concept of video conferencing didn't really get off the ground until decades later.

1. The 1970s
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The concept of being able to see people you're talking to remained a fascinating concept through the '70s, but at the cost of approximately $160 per month in 1970, it wasn't a practical or inexpensive venture for consumers. Video conferencing, however, did start to take root with the commercial sectors of the economy. Ericsson first introduced true video conferencing to businesses when it performed the first transatlantic video telephone call. Once other technology companies got wind of this dynamic invention, they began working on refining video conferencing to bring it closer to what we know it today. By 1976 video conferencing was taking place in Japan from Tokyo to Osaka. Video conferencing remained laboratory work and did not make it into the mainstream business world.

2. The 1980s
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By 1982, things in the video conferencing arena were moving along. IBM Japan introduced a video conferencing unit to link IBM in Japan through video conferencing to IBM in the United States. The purpose of the internal video conferencing system was so that the two divisions could conduct their weekly meetings. During this same time period, Compression Labs introduced its video conferencing system to the rest of the world. The system sold for $250,000 and the cost for use per hour was $1,000. The video conferencing system was huge and because it drew so much energy to use, it often tripped circuit breakers while in use. Comprehension Labs had a monopoly on the market, however, until 1986 when PictureTel introduced a less expensive video conferencing system at a cost of $80,000 with a fee of $100 per hour of usage. While there were some attempts to refine and introduce refined video conferencing systems in between, none of the video conferencing systems took off.

3. The 1990s
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The 1990s, however, would see the introduction of one of the most famous video conference systems in history. When a Macintosh version of the video conferencing system entered the race in 1992, the world was able to experience the CUSeeMe system. The best part about this system was that the picture clarity was the best out of all of the systems that had been introduced to date. The disadvantage was that the system did not have any sound. By 1994 though, the unit was fully functioning with sound capability and brought the world a step closer to having true video conferencing capability. In April of the same year, a Windows version of the soundless CU-SeeME system was invented and by August of 1995 this version too was fully functioning with sound. Until 1992 when AT&T introduced a $1,500 video phone, the concept of video conferencing had remained in the commercial market. Now technology companies were trying to move the concept of video conferencing into the consumer market. Even with the introduction of picture phone units by other companies, video conferencing still hadn't taken off with this market.

4. Today
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Moving into the 21st century, video conferencing still remains in wide use in the commercial sector. In 2001, the world's first transatlantic tele-surgery took place through a video conferencing system, which gave a whole new use for video conferencing beyond business meetings. This not only brought video conferencing to the attention of the medical profession, but it also peaked interest with the general public, which created a video conferencing explosion. By October 2001, television reporters were using portable satellites and videophones to broadcast live reports from the war in Afghanistan. This was the first time video conferencing was used live in a war zone and one of the first times most consumers saw the power of video conferencing in action. Off-campus classrooms were invented and able to function because of video conferencing by 2003. And 2004 saw the invention of a voice-activated camera so that the camera could move according to who was speaking and video conferencing became popular for conference calls. The past few years have seen a further explosion of the use of video conferencing. No longer do companies have to spend thousands of dollars flying executives and employees all over the world for meetings.

5. The Future
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As technology advances, the video conferencing market is expected to continue to evolve as well. Not only does it continue to be part of one's professional life, but it's also part of many people's personal lives too. This is especially true as video conferencing systems become more affordable for the average person to afford.

Read more: When Did Video Conferencing Start? | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/about_5384414_did-video-conferencingstart.html#ixzz1SYQWV0b2