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What Is 4G

What is 4G?  Almost every I know has a phone but most of them have no clue what 4G is or if they have it on their phone.   As of the date of this article there is a good change they do not have 4G.  I have a brand new (December 2011) Apple iPhone 4S and it operates on Sprint’s 3G network.

The short, non-technical answer to 4G is this: In telecommunications, 4G is the fourth generation of cellular wireless standards. It is a successor to the 3G and 2G families of standards.  In other words, it’s faster.

Back in the 80s phones were 1G (analog ) the first generation of cellular standards.  They went 2G (digital) in 1992.  They went 3G in 2001.  Finally, the fourth generation 4G began in 2011.  Each generation represented an advancement in the wireless technology which translates to greater speed, greater ability, and greater functionality.

A 4G system is expected to provide a comprehensive and secure all-IP based mobile broadband solution to laptop computer wireless modems, smartphones, and other mobile devices. Facilities such as ultra-broadband Internet access, IP telephony, gaming services, and streamed multimedia may be provided to users.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4G

Requirements for 4G

Peak speed requirements for 4G service at 100 Mbit/s for high mobility communication (such as from trains and cars) and 1 Gbit/s for low mobility communication (such as pedestrians and stationary users).  What does that mean?

Basically, for you and I this means 4G gives us up to 10 times faster speed than 3G.  Err… it should.  If it actually does is debatable.  Finding the actual speeds for each carrier is a chore in itself.  They love to tell you their network is SUPER FAST, but how fast is that?

• Sprint’s says it’s 4G average speeds = 3 – 6 Mbps (download)
• Verizon says it’s 4G LTE average speeds = 5 – 12 Mbps (download)
• AT&T says it’s 4G LTE average speeds =  Um… yeah ATT, how about a number and not just “fast” (contact me if you have this number)

Of course, speeds may vary based on plan and other factors – but the short version is this:  4G is faster than 3G and you probably have 3G since 4G isn’t available everywhere.  Yet.

Related articles

• Breaking Down 4G – LTE vs WiMAX vs HSPA+ (electronics-lab.com)
• AT&T’s 4G network is faster than Verizon’s (cnn.com)
• Sprint plans for LTE-Advanced 4G in early 2013 (electronista.com)
• Consumers Say 4G Is an Important Feature, But What Exactly Is It? (gottabemobile.com)
• Mobile 101: What is 4G? (cellfanatic.com)
• Report: Verizon offers nation’s fastest 4G service (cnn.com)

Samsung Galaxy Tab 16GB

Samsung Galaxy Tab 16GB

Carrier: – –

Price: *$446.10

Connectivity: supports WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n and Bluetooth v2.1

OS: Android 3.1 (Honeycomb)

Screen: 10.1-inch WXGA (1280×800) HD display

Camera: rear/3mp, front/2mp

Video: 720p

Battery: up to 10 hours

Weight: 1.25 pounds

Dimensions: 10.1 x 6.9 x 0.34 inches

What’s in the box: WiFi Galaxy Tab 10.1 (16 GB), 30-pin IF connector, USB 2.0 cable, charger and plug, earphones, product registration, and instruction manual.

* Amazon.com product description & pricing as of the date of this post – subject to change

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Samsung Galaxy Nexus

Samsung Galaxy Nexus

Carrier: Verizon Wireless

Price: *$149.99 varies based on service type

Connectivity: 3G/4G LTE

OS: Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)

Screen: 4.65-inch HD Super AMOLED touchscreen

Camera: 5mp

Video: 1080p hd

Battery: 1850 mAh lithium-ion.  Up to 12 hours talk time/150 hours (6.25 days) standby

Weight: 5.29 ounces

Dimensions: 5.33 x 2.67 x 0.37 inches

What’s in the box: Samsung Galaxy Nexus handset, rechargeable battery, wall/USB charger, stereo headset, quick start guide

* Amazon.com product description & pricing as of the date of this post – subject to change

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HTC Rezound

HTC Rezound

Carrier: Verizon Wireless

Price: *$199.99 varies based on service type

Connectivity: 3G/4G LTE

OS: Android 2.3 (Gingerbread)

Screen: 4.3-inch HD multi-touch display

Camera: 8mp

Video: 1080p hd

Battery: 1620 mAh lithium-ion.  Up to 6.75 hours talk time/261 hours (10.9 days) of standby

Weight: 6 ounces

Dimensions: 5.08 x 2.58 x 0.54 inches

What’s in the box: HTC Rezound handset, rechargeable battery, charger, iBeats headset with storage bag, USB cable, 16 GB microSD card, quick start guide

* Amazon.com product description & pricing as of the date of this post – subject to change

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HTC DROID Incredible 2

HTC DROID Incredible 2

Carrier: Verizon Wireless

Price: *$0.01 varies based on service type

Connectivity: 3G

OS: Android 2.2 (Froyo)

Screen: 480 x 800 4″ WVGA capacitive touch screen

Camera: 8mp

Video: 720p hd

Battery: Li-ion.  Up to 390 minutes talk time/361 hours (15 days) of standby time

Weight: 4.77 ounces

Dimensions: 4.75 x 2.52x 0.48 inches

What’s in the box: DROID Incredible 2 smartphone, standard lithium-ion battery, micro USB cable, AC adapter, getting started guide, gobal roaming buckslip, microSD card, pre-installed SIM card, warranty card

* Amazon.com product description & pricing as of the date of this post – subject to change

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Barnes & Noble Nook Color

Barnes & Noble Nook Color

Carrier: – –

Price: *$199

Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n

OS: Android

Screen: 7-inch VividView Color Touchscreen

Camera: – –

Video: – –

Battery: Up to 8 hours of continuous reading

Weight: 15.8 ounces

Dimensions:  8.1 x 5 x 0.48 inches

What’s in the box: Nook Color device, USB cable, quick start guide, power adapter, rechargeable battery (installed)

* barnesandnoble.com product description & pricing as of the date of this post – subject to change

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Amazon Kindle Fire

Amazon Kindle Fire

Carrier: – –

Price: *$199

Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n

OS: Android

Screen: 7″ multi-touch display with IPS (in-plane switching) technology and anti-reflective treatment

Camera: – –

Video: – –

Battery: up to 8 hours of continuous reading

Weight: 14.6 ounces

Dimensions: 7.5 x 4.7 x 0.45 inches

What’s in the box: Kindle Fire device, U.S. power adapter (supports 100-240V), and quick start guide

* Amazon.com product description & pricing as of the date of this post – subject to change

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Apple iPad 2 WiFi + 3G 64GB Black

Apple iPad 2 WiFi + 3G 64GB Black

Carrier: AT&T

Price: *$829.99 data plan required

Connectivity: 3G/WiFi

OS: iOS

Screen: 9.7-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit glossy widescreen Multi-Touch display

Camera: see below

Video: front VGA, rear 720p hd

Battery: lithium-polymer.  Up to 10 hours in-use time

Weight: 1.35 pounds

Dimensions: 9.5 x 7.31 x 0.34 inches

What’s in the box: Apple iPad 2, 10W USB power adaptor, dock connector to USB cable, documentation

* ATT.com / Apple.com product description & pricing as of the date of this post – subject to change

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Apple iPhone 4S 32GB

Apple iPhone 4S 32GB

Carrier: Sprint

Price: *$299.99 varies based on service type

Connectivity: 3G

OS: iOS

Screen: 3.5-inch (diagonal) widescreen Multi-Touch retina display

Camera: 8mp

Video: 1080p hd

Battery: lithium-ion. Up to 8 hours talk time/200 hours standby

Weight: 4.9 ounces

Dimensions: 4.5 x 2.31 x 0.37 inches

What’s in the box: Apple iPhone 4S handset, Apple earphones with remote and mic, dock connector to USB cable, USB power adapter, SIM card inserted

* Sprint.com product description & pricing as of the date of this post – subject to change

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Samsung Galaxy S II Epic Touch

Samsung Galaxy S II Epic Touch

Carrier: Sprint 

Price: *$99.99 varies based on service type

Connectivity: 3G/4G

OS: Android 2.3 (Gingerbread)

Screen: 4.52-inch Super AMOLED Plus multi-touch display

Camera: 8mp

Video: 1080p hd

Battery: 1800 mAh lithium-ion.  Up to 8.7 hours talk time/10.5 Days standby

Weight: 4.55 ounces

Dimensions: 5.1 x 2.7 x 0.38 inches

What’s in the box: Samsung Epic 4G Touch handset, rechargeable battery, charger, USB cable, quick start guide

* Amazon.com product description & pricing as of the date of this post – subject to change

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