Why not build innovative mobile apps with 2G technologies instead of whining about UTMS?

Esther Dyson:

We were driving to a board meeting in Tallinn, Estonia. When we arrived at our destination, Juri Kaljundi picked up his cell phone. “Gotta warn them we’re here?” I joked? “No, I’m parking,” he answered. He was sending an SMS to the city’s parking service. Based on his cell phone number and the license number and the location he entered, the parking service database would register his car as parked, and bill him at a rate tied to the location and time. Later, when a meter minder came by, the minder would see a “mobile parking” sticker on Juri’s windshield and could send another SMS, including the car’s license number. As long as Juri had registered as parked, no problem. Otherwise, the system would fine him for parking without registering.

Estonia is evidence that the current mobile network is just fine for all kinds of cool applications. Imagine what could have been done with all that money that was sunk into 3G licenses by investing it into cool ideas like these? Obviously, there is a shortage of smart ideas and an abundance of capital. I see no other explanation for the recent dumb investments.

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