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Cutting Through the 4G Hype

Posted by kdawson on from the sitting-out-a-generation dept.

crimeandpunishment writes "Cell phone companies are about to bombard us with advertising for the next big thing — 4G access. The first 4G phone, Sprint Nextel's EVO, comes out this week. But just how big a deal is 4G? Is it fast enough to warrant the hype, or are consumers better off waiting a while? AP technology writer Peter Svensson looks at the differences between 4G and 3G technologies."

6 of 283 comments (clear)

  1. 4G? by Yvan256 · · Score: 4, Informative

    Canadian carriers just upgraded their networks to 3G, so I'm guessing we won't hear about 4G until 2015.

    1. Re:4G? by uvajed_ekil · · Score: 4, Informative

      I'm in the US, in a somewhat outlying suburb but certainly not in the "country," and still waiting for 3G at home. Verizon seems to have 3G coverage here (I will not use them), AT&T's 3G is very spotty, while T-Mobile and Sprint have no 3G coverage here. How about bringing the networks up to date before hyping the crap out of the next technology?

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      This is a hacked account, for which the owner can not be held responsible.
  2. a brief experience with 4G, since november by Texodore · · Score: 4, Informative

    Raleigh-Durham, 4G since November as my primary home internet connection.

    It doesn't work well in the rain or a thunderstorm. 6-7 Mbit down 1.5 or so up. That is as fast as the DSL connection I could get. I refuse to give money to Time Warner so that's out of the question.

    The connection isn't as reliable as DSL or cable modem. It's kind of flaky and the DNS servers that come with Clearwire service are bad. Use Google's or opendns.

    That said, it is basically a wireless DSL connection. It is way way faster than a 3G signal. Don't know how it will be on the EVO, but unless the iPhone 4G/HD blows me out of the water, when my iPhone 3G contract comes up in July, I'm going to Sprint to take advantage.

  3. G definitions by bhaktha · · Score: 5, Informative

    Technically speaking. The various G definitions are based on the underlying technology that is used for hauling the bits over the air interface 1G - Analog technology (AMPS et al) 2G - Digital transmission (GSM, TDMA, CDMA et al) 3G - WCDMA (UMTS (aka the orginal 3G), HSPA, EVDO et al) 4G - OFDM (LTE, WiMax et al)

  4. Actually one other large difference - data + voice by SuperKendall · · Score: 4, Informative

    So, I take it that the author of this article is happy just using EDGE, right? Since that's only distinguished from 3G by its speed?

    You can't use data on EDGE during a phone conversation (nor receive calls). It's actually more annoying than you might think.

    With both 3G and 4G you can do both at once.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
  5. Simultaneous voice and data by tepples · · Score: 4, Informative

    When Sprint & Verizon roll out their 4G networks will they be able to handle simultaneous voice and data

    My sources say yes because 4G treats voice as VoIP.