Date Published: 04/03/2008
UMTS. EV-DO. HSDPA. Acronyms are everywhere in the mobile telephony market and it’s important to know what your phone is getting itself into. All three of these abbreviations stand for third-generation (3G) networks and all offer speedy connections and swift downloading. But within these technologies there are quite a few disparities. Below is a discussion of the services and what you can expect from each. Before addressing the networks and their speeds, keep in mind that phones in the United States fall primarily into one of two camps: GSM or CDMA. GSM carriers include AT&T and T-Mobile, while CDMA carriers include Sprint PCS, Verizon and Virgin Mobile. Also keep in mind that the download speeds reported below vary according to many factors, including your phone itself and how far you are from a cellular tower. Real-world rates are often up to one-third of these rates, but as networks are upgraded in 2008 and beyond, their efficiency will increase.
Cell phone networks include 2G, 3G and pre-4G.
Motorola V365 PTT Gibraltar
Second Generation (2G)
Second generation networks are on the way out, but as of the end of 2007 they still account for about 90 percent of the market. With comparatively sluggish speeds, 2G networks generally use one of three technologies: EDGE, GPRS and cdmaOne. EDGE and GPRS are employed by GSM phones and the former is sometimes considered a 3G network. But techies who insist on accuracy often refer to EDGE as a 2.75G network because it provides downloading rates of about 384 kilobytes per second (though real-world estimates are closer to 100kbps). GPRS offers download rates that are about a third of EDGE’s capacity. Meanwhile, cdmaOne (or IS-95) offers download rates at around 64kbps, similar to that of a dial-up connection. Because of the 3G options now available, these rates may seem inadequate, but if you’re someone who merely sends text messages, small documents or low-quality camera photos, 2G networks should be fine.
There is yet another technology that is usually classified as 2G, and that is Nextel’s iDEN network. But Sprint bought out Nextel in 2005 and has indicated plans to slowly phase iDEN out. It still does have a strong presence however, particularly in the U.S., and certain professions have a cult-like following for its Push-to-Talk features. The good news is that this walkie-talkie application will eventually be shifted to Sprint’s EV-DO networks.
Third Generation (3G)
With their speedier downloading and ability to stream video relatively hiccup-free, 3G networks are definitely the preference for the newest cellular phones. Though the worldwide rollout has been somewhat slow due to spectrum licensing wrangles and fees, the higher-speed networks are gaining popularity fast. As phones continue to add multimedia features that require broadband capacities, 3G compatibility will become the norm for mobile phones. More specifically, if you want to videoconference or to access streaming media, you’ll want a 3G phone. If you download songs and want them in under a minute’s time (as opposed to six minutes or more), 3G is the way to go.
Depending on which technology is used, GSM or CDMA, third generation networks have a few variations. For GSM phones, most carriers use either UMTS or HSDPA. Actual rates vary widely, but both are occasionally referred to as 3.5G technologies because they boast speeds as high as 14.4 megabytes per second. On the other hand, most CDMA phones use EV-DO technology. As of December 2007, EV-DO is not as quick as its GSM competitors, but it does offer rates of about 3.1 megabytes per second.
Helio Ocean is classified as a 3G phone that uses EV-DO.Wi-Fi
Despite the ubiquity of mobile phones, there are still a lot of areas in the world where you cannot receive a signal. Some newer models allow for a great workaround to this problem: Whether you are in a remote country or just in the far reaches of a building, another option to gain broadband network access is through regular Internet channels-- specifically, landline telephone lines and cable modems. Provided that you're nearby a wireless router connected to its provider, some phones can now allow you to access open Wi-Fi networks for free. This permits you to surf or converse without a cellular signal. Most important, download speeds are as if you were using a computer on the network, and you don’t waste those precious minutes on your wireless plan in the meantime.
The Future of Wireless Networks
Faster networks are always being developed, and in a few years, 3G will replace 2G as the technology being left behind. Currently, the newest additions to the wireless fray are termed "Pre-4G" networks and include UMB, LTE, and HSOPA. They will offer download rates of up to 1gigabytes per second and will stream high-definition television. A very limited number of 4G networks have gone up in Germany and elsewhere, but most consumers will not see these speeds until 2009. When they do, the human desire for advancement will think of new must-haves for our devices and we will strive for even greater technological efficiency.
