Computer Technology Information

Megabytes per second or Megabits per second, 802.11b or 802.11g, 3G Technology or 4G Technology ' with all of the technical terms surrounding cellular phone service, wireless internet, cell phones themselves, and laptops, it seems as though one needs a degree in engineering to make a simple purchase these days.  Consumers are constantly bombarded with obscure technological references on a daily basis, but the reality is, most consumers don't care about data rates, spectral efficiency, bandwidth, or any other terms coined by a guy wearing a beanie with a propeller on his head.  What they want to know is what new technology enables them to do that older technology did not allow for.  

Two of the most commonly used terms in advertisements today are '3G and 4G Technology' however, very few people actually understand what these terms mean, how they differ, or why they should be interested.  The first thing that consumers need to understand is that the term 4G Technology refers to the fourth generation of wireless telephone technology.  Knowing that there is 4 and 3G Technology, it also stands to reason that there are examples of 2G and 1G Technology, which is in fact the case, and is where the explanation of these cryptic terms starts.   

The evolution of cellular phone technology goes back to 1945, and since has grown in large increments referred to as 'generations' ' the 'G' in the terms listed above.  The invention of the cellular phone is now referred to as 0G, however, since there were no telephone networks at this time, callers had to connect these phones to a base station, which connected them to an operator, then connecting their calls.  Much later, in the early 1980s, 1G Technology debuted, featuring large cellular phones, sometimes referred to as cellular radios, connected to limited networks of stations.  Some consumers may remember the large car phones of the 80s, which were an example of 1G Technology.    

The late 1990s brought about the next generation in cellular phone technology, and marked the first time that the general public began widespread use of this type of technology.  Second generation (2G) cellular phones were the first cell phones to feature cameras and some mail options, and introduced the public to portable phones.  Networks were still somewhat limited at this time, with many cellular phones subject to roaming charges when their users wandered outside of a specified geographic area, and the vast majority of these devices were used solely for phone calls.

3G Technology marked the first time that cellular phones could directly connect to the internet, transforming the technology from a phone-based technology to a technology used in a wide array of devices.  3G cell phones allow for internet access, email, instant messaging, and a host of other functions at one time performed only by computers.  Additionally, this technology allows laptop computer users to connect to the internet wirelessly, with some entire metropolitan areas being wired for wireless internet connections.  Most cellular networks today operate on a 3G Technology.

The quickly arriving future of wireless technology is that of 4G Technology.  This technology aims to provide users with much faster connections capable of transmitted much larger amounts of data.  For example, 4G Technology will allow users to download a full-length feature film to their cellular phones, laptops, or other devices within 5 minutes, meaning that travelers in an airport can download a movie or two to watch on a flight.  Devices will also be able to stream high-definition television and radio to hand-held devices, and allow users to walk from one network to the next without an interruption in reception.