3G vs. 4G

In the cell phone market, technology is growing so rapidly. Right now, there is a gap between the third generation phones and the fourth generation. Since 2003, phones have been built on 3G software. Over the course of a few years, manufacturers have been able to upgrade this 3G software to 4G. This 4G technology has enhanced speed, clarity of calls, and internet applications. Overall making it a better phone. Third Generations phones can reach up to 3 Megabits per second (Mbps), with average speeds tending to be closer to 1Mbps or lower. This means 1 million bits, or 125,000 bytes, of data are being transferred per second in equivalent speeds to most standard home DSL Internet connections. This takes 1-2 minutes to download a 4 minute MP3 file. 3G phones are everywhere. They are more popular in the city areas.

3G phones are becoming old. 4G phones are now being made by all cell phone companies. The 4G phones are smaller and a lot faster than the 3G ones. This means for a 4 minute MP3 file download would only take 4G users seconds!

4G is the shorthand for fourth-generation wireless (3G is third-generation), though the version of 4G currently available in the United States could be more accurately be described as advanced 3G. A 4G network can be up to 10 times fasterthan 3G, letting consumers browse the web, download songs and stream movies more quickly -- and potentially -- more often. U.S. wireless companies also promise that building out their 4G networks will help bring broadband to the rural areas that currently lack reliable high-speed Internet. It is the data rate which makes the difference. Both 3G and 4G have a bandwidth of 5 - 20 MHz. For 4G network, the data rate has been set at 100 Mbit in moving vehicles and 1 Gits in stationary and walking users. The data rates specified by International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for 3G are 2 Mbps for stationary or walking users, while it is set at 384 kbits in a moving vehicle.

Although most users think 4G will help dropped calls and have better service, it will not. There are still some issues with 4G phones which ultimately might make higher phone bills.