| What exactly is 3G? Well first of all, let's start off with | | | | Generation technology will be able to access large |
| the "G." G stands for ‘Generation' in terms of cell | | | | amounts of digital data for uses like GPS, broadband |
| phone technology. 3G is the third generation of | | | | internet access, and multimedia. The implementation of |
| standards pertaining to accessibility and speed for | | | | the 3G networks has been relatively slow but it is |
| mobile devices. These technological standards are set | | | | advancing and hundreds of networks are now in |
| by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). 3G | | | | operation worldwide. The only disadvantage to 3G is |
| technology enables wireless telephone usage, | | | | its sometimes spotty service when traveling through |
| broadband internet access and video calls over a very | | | | areas where 3G networks are not available. There |
| wide area and is only accessible by 3G capable | | | | may be loss of data service and possibly dropped |
| phones. 3G capability not only enables these services | | | | calls in these areas although they should be few and |
| over a wide area, but it does so with increased speed | | | | far between. |
| and bandwidth. 3G capable phones can be used in | | | | The most well-known 3G capable device is the iPhone, |
| most worldwide locations thanks to intentionally | | | | however, hundreds of cell phones are available that |
| engineered compatibility in the system. | | | | utilize this technology. The most widely used 3G |
| To understand where 3G comes from, we must first | | | | capable devices for business users are the Blackberry |
| explore 1G and 2G technology which were used by | | | | and Palm devices. The HTC Touch, HTC Hero and |
| the first widely available mobile phones. Remember the | | | | Samsung Instinct are other popular 3G capable |
| "brick" phones? These cellular networks were analog | | | | devices. The HTC Hero is the latest and greatest 3G |
| and were called AMPS or advanced mobile phone | | | | capable phone and takes advantage of all that 3G |
| service networks. When technology capabilities and | | | | technology has to offer. It is highly customizable with |
| popularity of mobile phone service increased, | | | | thousands of applications available for download and |
| innovations were needed to upgrade service | | | | use. Outlook email and calendar, contact |
| networks. Second generation technology began in the | | | | synchronization, games and productivity suites are all |
| 1990's and used digital voice transmission for the first | | | | available on most 3G capable phones. |
| time. This allowed multiple calls per channel and the use | | | | Rate plans for 3G phones are relatively inexpensive |
| of more than one band of frequencies. | | | | and enable anyone to take advantage of this |
| Compared to 2G, 3G is extremely advanced because | | | | technology. So jump on the 3G bandwagon and |
| it includes much more than just phone calls. The 3rd | | | | stream, download and text your heart out. |