Knowing The Different 3G Types

3G, just like other types of technologies also come in various kinds. You can take advantage of the many features and developments by simply knowing how one type differ from the other. You can save more money by investing only in the right product that actually offers you all the right tools and applications for personal use and work. You also need to know a bit about the existing networks to know how much speed you are actually getting.

The Types

The two main types of 3G are UMTS or Universal Mobile Telephone Service and CDMA 2000. UMTS is spread out over the present GSM networks, while CDMA2000 takes 3G speeds to CDMA networks. The two types have a couple of high-speed misses, the voice-plus-data 1xEV-DV and the data-only 1xEV-DO, which are currently available in chosen suburban regions and major cities.

More expansion is underway in the near future. The speeds for both UMTS and CDMA2000 are estimated to be about the same as a regular DSL. AT&T has also released a 3.5G speed network in 2006. This is called HSDPA, which stands for High-Speed Downlink Packet Access. This begins at a speed of about 1.8 Mbps up to an excellent 14.4 Mbps. More devices and networks are being developed at present, introducing the 4G technology, such as WiMax.

3-G Capability

To get the benefits and features of 3G technology, individuals will need a 3G phone or smartphone. The start was kind of slow, but there is now a wide array of handsets, featuring 3G technology from different carriers. All the mobiles will try to provide support for the recent 3G networks. These appear in different styles, ranging from trendy to stylish. Some of the best examples include the Samsung SPH-M520 and LG Venus VX8800. The best 3.5G phones are supported by HSDPA phones, such as the AT&T Tilt and the LG CU720 Shine. Prices of the products will differ, depending on the available features and the brand.

The Different Technologies

Both PC and laptop users can get benefits from 3G networks for mobile broadband, excluding a Wi-Fi network. Individuals will only need a carrier-supplied PC Card. There are PC cards available for both EV-DO and HSDPA networks. Knowing the evolution will help you choose the right product and assess how much you are actually getting.

1G technology include AMPS, the speed is still very slow compared to today's standards with voice only analogue feature. The 2G technology includes iDen, CDMA and GSM, with speeds less than 29 Kbps. Included features are the push-to-talk, voice, conference calls, caller ID and SMS. 2.5G technology includes EDGE, GPRS and 1x RTT, featuring speeds from 30 Kbps to 90 Kbps. The included features are MMS, web browsing, images, short video and audio clips, applications, ring tone downloads and games.

Recent Technologies

3G technology includes UMTS and 1xEV-DO ranging from 144 Kbps up to 2 Mbps. Some of the included features are full-motion video, quick web browsing, 3D games and streaming music. 3.5G technology includes HSDPA which is an upgrade for UMTS and 1x EV-DV, with speeds ranging from 384 Kbps up to 14.4 Mbps. Features include video conferencing and on-demand video. 4G and more features speeds from 100 Mbps up to 1 Gbps.

Some of the outstanding features include high quality video conferencing, high quality streaming video and voice-over-IP telephony.