What are 4G phones?

Answer 1

4G refers to the fourth generation of cellular wireless standards. It is a successor to 3G and 2G standards. The nomenclature of the generations generally refers to a change in the fundamental nature of the service. The first was the move from analogue to digital (2G), which was followed by multi-media support (3G) and now 4G, which refers to all IP packet switched networks and increases in data speeds.

Answer 2

3G phones are as common as water these days. 3G is the primary protocol by which phones send and receive data from the cellular networks. Now, a new protocol dubbed 4G is set to replace 3G. As you might expect from a numerical upgrade like this, 4G phones are, in general, faster than their 3G counterparts. Unlike 3G, however, 4G refers to a few different technologies.

What are 4G phones?

4G is a new mobile data standard. Some implementations of this standard are up to ten times faster than 3G. Normally, because of mobile bandwidth limitations, it takes at least a few seconds for a page to load up on the internet, whether you are browsing Facebook, CNN or a blog. 4G phones can effortlessly stream both video and audio without the annoying hiccups and stuttering that are common with 3G.

Multitude of standards

Unlike current 3G technologies, the term "4G" does not refer to a single data transmission standard. There are several different technologies called "4G," each with different capabilities. For example, the Long Term Advanced (LTE) protocol theoretically allows transfer speeds of up to 125MB per second. Real world speeds on modern networks typicall vary between 1-2 MB per second. Evolved HSPA (HSPA+) is a competing technology that offers slightly faster real-world performance, but is not as widely deployed as LTE. Those who buy their own phones outright rather than buying subsidized phones should ensure that the phone matches the carrier's 4G network; different protocols are not compatible with each other.

Where to pick up your 4G phone

Telephone companies which already carry 4G phones include: AT&T, Sprint, Verizon and T-Mobile. Perhaps you have heard about AT&T's Infuse 4G and Inspire 4G. These smart phones are not only fast, they equipped with high-megapixel cameras and can import and play high resolution media files. Verizon's popular brands include the HTC Thunderbold and Samsung Droid, while Sprint carries the Motorola Photon 4G as well as the HTC EVO 3D. Do not forget to research which phones are best for video streaming, video gaming and social networking as each phone has different capabilities.

4G is in a transitional state at the moment. The big four cell phone companies are just now rolling out their 4G networks. Thus, they are underutilized and undersupported. As such, treat any real world speed benchmarks with caution.

The world has changed so much in the last fifty years. We have seen the birth of so many different types of technologies that we only have to imagine how life can change in a decade or two. People no longer have to sit at their computers to communicate. They can communicate and transfer files seamlessly, on the go. Emailing, business transactions, personal banking, shopping, dating and sharing photos are done on phones that weigh less than 140 grams. This is a true fore shadowing of new age technology.