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? ;-)

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.

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: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!