Independent networks on cell phones and old consoles (if that means anything)--is it possible?
March 7, 2006 3:28 PM Subscribe
Independent networks on cell phones and old consoles (if that means anything)--is it possible?
I can safely say I'm 'good' with computers, but forgive me if I noobed the terms here a little. Here's what I'm referring to:
There are cell-phone companies, no? That give you a service--this service is a wireless phone network. No doubt it is extremely difficult and expensive for an independent to set up (if one can at all), but my question is theoretical: is this possible? Is there a way to go through many hoops and hopelessly convoluted steps and essentially create 'my' own cell-phone network? Assuming it's possible, would it be able to communicate with other cell-phones? How much would it cost to maintain it?
My question also branches into things like the old Nintendo Satellaview--is there any way that through a combination of reverse-engineering, different programs, and again, time/money, one could 'trick' the system into connecting to a network of your own creation? Could this network further be funcitonal to the point where at least one other person in another location with a Satellaview could download content off of it? Let's say only proprietary software long-since faded into the annals of history can 'shake hands' with such systems. Can this be reverse-engineered a la Gamecube's XLink?
I can safely say I'm 'good' with computers, but forgive me if I noobed the terms here a little. Here's what I'm referring to:
There are cell-phone companies, no? That give you a service--this service is a wireless phone network. No doubt it is extremely difficult and expensive for an independent to set up (if one can at all), but my question is theoretical: is this possible? Is there a way to go through many hoops and hopelessly convoluted steps and essentially create 'my' own cell-phone network? Assuming it's possible, would it be able to communicate with other cell-phones? How much would it cost to maintain it?
My question also branches into things like the old Nintendo Satellaview--is there any way that through a combination of reverse-engineering, different programs, and again, time/money, one could 'trick' the system into connecting to a network of your own creation? Could this network further be funcitonal to the point where at least one other person in another location with a Satellaview could download content off of it? Let's say only proprietary software long-since faded into the annals of history can 'shake hands' with such systems. Can this be reverse-engineered a la Gamecube's XLink?
Your question is a bit garbled, but if you were actually trying to do this the most cost effective way would be becoming a Mobile Virtual Network Operator, which means renting space on an existing network.
posted by cillit bang at 3:49 PM on March 7, 2006
posted by cillit bang at 3:49 PM on March 7, 2006
I would agree with the above, although in a way you're also right. When wi-fi becomes more ubiquitous (give it a couple more years), there will undoubtedly be competition felt by mobile carriers from some sort of portable Skype device. If you wanted to be forward-thinking, you could plan a company to exploit or ride that trend when it happens.
There's a brisk business in building independent cell-phone towers, which then lease themselves to carriers. I don't know how successful it really is -- there's a huge upfront capital investment, and you usually have to share the revenue with the person leasing you the site for the tower. But it's booming right now.
posted by dhartung at 6:25 PM on March 7, 2006
There's a brisk business in building independent cell-phone towers, which then lease themselves to carriers. I don't know how successful it really is -- there's a huge upfront capital investment, and you usually have to share the revenue with the person leasing you the site for the tower. But it's booming right now.
posted by dhartung at 6:25 PM on March 7, 2006
This thread is closed to new comments.
The mobile carriers paid a LOT of money (in the billions in some cases) for exclusive access to the frequencies cell phones operate on. Even old phones work on the same frequencies as news ones - analog bands (850 Mhz in the US/Canada) have been converted for GSM use by most carriers, so although the phone is old, it still uses the same radio frequencies as modern phones.
Other than the spectrum licensing issue, all you'd have to do is stick up a antenna tower and buy a cellular base station (a few hundred thousand $ probably).
Once upon a time there was a different cell phone provider in pretty much every city in the US. Over time, they consolidated. But there were a lot of mom-and-pop cell phone companies once upon a time.
posted by GuyZero at 3:44 PM on March 7, 2006