EDGE Can Out-Perform 3G; Here's Why

goombah99 writes "Blackfriars's communications has an interesting discourse on why the practical difference between 3G and EDGE cellphone data networks is less than it appears to be based on a naive bandwidth metric. Their argument is that the user experience of TCP/HTML is much more impacted by latency, error rates, and processor speed than by bandwidth — and Edge had the edge on all three. Additionally, EDGE may consume considerably less power."

Comments

Is this article sponsored by Apple?

[Corporate Troll]

Or some other iPhone lover? ;-)

On The Edge

[Anonymous Coward]

Edge (EDGE) has the edge on processor speed? You mean processing efficiency? Or is EDGE an embedded processor brand now as well? (Or is that the Edge the summary wants to talk about?) Or are we talking about The Edge the guitar player?

I find this edgy and I'm not a Ubuntu type.

EDGED out?

[LaTechTech]

So according to this; 3G is getting EDGED out?

Re:Misleading title?

[Professor_UNIX]

Problem is, off course, that most of the advantage from 3G comes from other services such as wathing video or video chat on the phone.

Video chat on a cell phone!? What's next, you're going to want to use it as a camcorder and send movies via SMS? I suppose you've got an instant messaging application, 3G, user-customizable ringtones, Bluetooth data transfer, and replaceable battery on your fancy-shmancy European chic phone too right? These things are superfluous on a revolutionary communications device in America.

Rubbish!

[pandrijeczko]

There is no way that U2's little guitarist bloke can outperform the likes of Joe Satriani, John Petrucci & Paul Gilbert!

Lovely

[ArAgost]

I like the "High bandwidth radio networks are more error-prone" part. It's so full of evidence, data, and accurate reasoning that you just can't help but agree with it.

Re:The latency issue is for real

[allcar]

Thanks for all those "layman's terms", like UMTS and HDSPA.

Re:This may be true...

[gEvil (beta)]

Maybe you live somewhere with poor AT&T service?

Yes, we call that "America". : p

Re:Skip 3G for 3.5G

[PopeRatzo]

the gigabit fiber I have at home for $40/month

I just bit through my coffee mug.

Re:Useless article.

[Anonymous Coward]

Please Stop using this word instead. It makes us non-native English speakers without a similar word in our native language sound rude in comparison.

Tired, hungry, and thirsty non-native passenger on an airplane: "Could I have a beer?"

Stewardess: "Only if you say the magic word!"

Now also confused passenger: "WTF? Abracadabra?"

Re:Diggdot?

[oliderid]

Before:
"A mouse with one button is better than a mouse with two buttons."

Now:
"Edge is better than 3G"

Mac fans look sometimes a bit errr...fanatic :-)

Re:The latency issue is for real

[TechyImmigrant]

> seemed better than on 1xRTT than EVDO

That's because you are possibly the only person in the world left using 1XRTT. You had a lightly loaded service.

Re:The latency issue is for real

[drew]

So you're saying that once I upgrade to a 3G cellphone, my network performance should be high enough to support real time voice communication with other people? I can't wait!