A few years ago, the term 3G conjured up visions of some future technology that would allow those of us with cell phones to view web pages without having to wait several minutes. It seemed amazing but impossible.
Now, 3G is here and is now an option on most mobile devices. It's good. It's fast. But what exactly is it?
Simply put, 3G means "third generation." It's the third generation of wireless technologies and has been in existence for most of the past decade, but it has taken a while for telecommunications companies to upgrade their technology to support the protocol. Each wave promises new enhancements, new features, and with 3G, it's no exception. You get faster speeds for downloading information from the Internet, and faster speeds mean better support for audio and video. For example, with 2G technology, it would take about 8 minutes to download a 3-minute mp3 song. With 3G, the time is only 15 seconds.
Video streaming is supported, which means Internet TV and videoconferencing is a possibility, especially if the user is solitary. You can send and receive faxes, and open email with large attachments. Geolocation is also supported, so you can find nearby businesses or get personalized information such as weather and traffic based on your location.
3G is similar to WiFi – the kind of Internet connection you can get at your local coffee shop – but it is portable. You get fast speeds when stationery, but with 3G you take the connection with you. Although speeds aren't as fast when you are moving, it still allows for a longer range than regular WiFi technology. Speeds for 3G range from 144KB/sec to 2MB/sec.
Finally, 3G offers more security than its predecessors. The technology allows the device to authenticate the network to prevent any rogue networks to connect. However, some serious vulnerabilities have been found in the encryption.
Thanks to 3G, you can finally get acceptable speeds on your mobile device. It's a huge improvement over the glacial speeds of 1G and 2G. But don't get too comfortable. 4G is already making inroads, and the speeds will make 3G look like dial-up. Get ready to fly.
Related posts: