(Image From info.unicaen.fr)

HSDPA stands for High-Speed Downlink Packet Access. It's basically a new mobile standard that promises high-speed data transfers on your smartphone. If you're using an HSDPA-capable mobile in a fully set-up HSDPA network, you'll be able to download files with your phone at speeds faster than many home and office internet connections.

In technical terms, HSDPA allows speeds of 1.8 Mbps, and future versions promise a maximum of 7.2 Mbps. From personal experience though, I've rarely reached the maximum, since the data's being transmitted with radio waves, after all. Another limitation of HSDPA is that uploading isn't possible; the information goes only one way, from the source to your phone.

Though many service operators around the world like globe telecom have made HSDPA commercially available (Globe was the first in South East Asia), the technology's future is uncertain. Especially since the 3GPP is already considering HSOPA, a standard that promises speeds of up to 100 Mbps(!). And there are competing standards like WiMax.

But one thing going for HSDPA is that it's essentially the grandchild of GSM (and the son of UMTS); setting up networks usually involves upgrading existing infrastructure, while competitors like WiMax require a totally new system.

Check out The Smart PDA's HSDPA-related articles.