4G broadband , long-term evolution technology, is a step up from 3G for wireless cellular users. That sounds simplistic but in reality, it is. The G stands for generation.
When multi-media and Internet became available for cell phones through new technology, it was the change to 3G broadband. 4G takes the mobile technology goes even further and makes the data transfer faster than the 3G and equal to the speed you’d have on a desktop.
Cell phone data speed increase
The new technology will increase the data speed to the cell phone and eliminate some of the problems associated with 3G speed. For instance, the actual rate of data speed varies by several factors. If you’re moving or stationary, the number of users in the cell/sector, the distance of the user from the cell and the network operator capacity are all factors.
The new technology would overcome many of those problems and give the user seamless global roaming and the potential of always on mobile broadband.
While Smartphones created a stir, allowing people to check their emails and do other basic functions from their wireless, they found they didn’t have the capacity to do everything they normally did on the Internet. The data transfer speeds were slower and so downloading streaming videos or playing online games was impossible. The new 4G broadband changes all that.
When cell phones first began, there wasn’t a rush to sign up for the services. The service started in 1946 and the first call came from a vehicle in St. Louis, Missouri. The cell phone wasn’t the type you’d chat on easily while driving. In fact, the equipment weighed about 80 pounds. You purchased the AT&T service for about $30 per month plus 30 to 40 cents for each local call. While that doesn’t sound like much, in today’s dollars, the monthly charge would be almost $300 with each local call costing $3 to $4.
The growth of cell phones
Of course, the wireless jump took place in the 1990s when cell phones became smaller and competition for business lowered the rates. As of 2009, about 91 percent of Americans subscribed to mobile phones. That’s approximately 285 billion users and up 15 million over the previous year. In fact, the growth of cell phones is so dramatic that it is now the dominant form of telecommunication and exceeds landline usage.
The 3G technology took a while to gain momentum, but not nearly as long as it took for the cell phone itself. 3G phones were out in 2001 but they never received the stamp of public approval or the burning desire to own the technology.
In 2007, Apple changed all that with their introduction of the iPhone. That was the beginning of a dramatic new phase in not only the technology but also the culture of America. Suddenly, everyone wanted an iPhone and the capability to go on the Net.
Despite other businesses losing revenue during the recent economic crisis, the wireless industry continues to grow. However, the growth was only small for the wireless service but a whopping 26 percent year-over-year for the wireless data service with 3G capable laptops being responsible for the majority of the growth.
4G will change the way we use traditional technology
Just like cell phones overtaking landlines, the new 4G wireless broadband will make traditional broadband unnecessary. Chaining yourself to your desktop computer to receive and send the information with lightening fast speed will be so passé. Why would anyone sign up for traditional technology when they can receive the same services anywhere on the globe and do their work sitting by the ocean or lazing in a quiet forest with a picnic basket and a soft breeze?
Of course, the companies still have a massive amount of work to do before there’s a complete take over of 4G technology. The 4G technology isn’t everywhere and it will take time before it is. Right now most of the major players are leaping on the bandwagon. Sprint jumped ahead of the pack using WiMAX as the transmission standard. It has plans to roll out several 4G devices including a laptop with a 4G data card.
Clearwire and Sprint initially competed for the market of 4G but now are collaborating with Comcast to provide nationwide coverage. Each company plans to offer their 4G mobile services under their own brand. Right now, the launches are in selected cities and far from nationwide.
There are 32 major markets covered by the services of Clearwire and Sprint. However, Comcast only has select markets. By the end of 2010, Clearwire hopes to make the service available to as many as 120 million users compared to the 41 million at present.
No matter how great 4G sounds, unless you’re in an area with 4G capability, you simply don’t have any benefit. If you are traveling then you’ll often end up with either no service until you get to an area with 4G capability or starting a process and losing it due to leaving an area of 4G capability. It will take time before you can use 4G technology nationwide with smooth transitions from one area to another.
There are two major players in the 4G technology game, WiMax and LTE. Even though WiMax, used by Clearwire, Sprint and Comcast is further on the rollout stage, LTE, chosen by major networks such as Verizon and AT&T is also a major player. However, their rollout phase won’t be until 2012 and by then the WiMax will have given service to a large Net using audience for a minimum of a year and up to three years.
Which one will be the technology of choice? According to the WiMax site, they both will. Some places will only have the choice of WiMax for their 4G services and others will only be able to use LTE. However, also according to the WiMax site, they feel that eventually many cities will have more than one option, WiMax and LTE, so the quality of the service will be the deciding factor, just as it is for cell phones today.
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