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4G will set
you free

We have pretty fast 3G mobile Internet connections in the UAE and most of us are happy with what’s on offer from the two telecommunications providers.

There are options for connecting our Macs, iPads and iPhones, of course, to the wider online world and check email, chat, browse the Web and more. What we don’t have though, at least not yet, is a converged 4G mobile Internet alternative; we don’t, but Malaysia does.

I’ve just attended the launch of ‘Yes’ in Kuala Lumpur. Yes is the latest project by the Malaysian conglomerate YTL and the company calls it the “world’s first fully converged 4G mobile Internet service with voice.” Basically that means that you use one wireless connection for your data as well as your voice needs. With Yes you get one phone number and email address, and that’s what you use to ‘log in’ from any device you have available, like a USB dongle, router, or compatible phone.

The speed Malaysians can enjoy on Yes is beyond anything we see in UAE. YTL claims that they can “safely guarantee” 3-5Mbps. Telcos in UAE may claim that speed in theory but here we’re talking about practical, in-use speed.

A software application, called Yes Life, installed on your Mac, is the hub of your digital life. It gives you access to email, chat, instant messaging, as well as voice and video calls, all in one application. After briefly testing it at the launch in Kuala Lumpur I can safely say that having access to something like this is a game changer for any country and its population.

It’s not just about the Yes Life application on your computer though. YTL also offers a Mi-Fi, a small, battery-operated device, which allows up to five people to get on the Internet with Wi-Fi. There’s also a home router and a 4G mobile phone from Samsung. None of these require a SIM card, mind you. You just provide your Yes ID and log in to the service from any device you happen to want to use. And you can use all of them at the same time, if you like. If you would happen to get a phone call, they will also ring at the same time.

I’m very excited about the possibilities this kind of technology offers personally as well as in terms of business. If I could have my Apple gear constantly connected to such a fast Internet connection and integrate my voice calling as well, that would take the experience to a different level. Imagine having one phone number, which is accessible from your iPhone, iPad or Mac, and you can do voice and video calls from any device. Imagine, also, that Internet speed is measured in megabits per second rather than kilobits. Would you want that? I know I do. Now, thanks to Yes, Malaysians can have it. I guess in the UAE we have to wait a while yet to be able to take advantage of the same, game changing technology.

emiratesmac@gmail.com

Magnus Nysted is Managing Editor of Shufflemagazine.com, Tech Lifestyle Magazine based in Dubai. With an aim to to educate, inform and entertain consumers, he reports on what’s happening in the world of tech, gadgets and gaming with a local and regional perspective. Follow him on twitter as @mnystedt.

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