This is a continuation to my last month’s article about wireless data services. So what is 4G? It’s not 4 Giga bytes as used for computer memory or 4 Giga bits per second which is a measurement of speed but stands for 4th Generation. 4G is the next step up from 3G (3rd Generation) which is the prevailing wireless data service and is being offered to customers under the services names such as “EvDo” by Sprint or Verizon Wireless and “EDGE” for GSM providers T-Mobile and AT&T.
Similar to 3G, there are two technologies being used to build the new 4G networks: WiMax and LTE (Long Term Evolution). WiMax is similar to the popular WiFi but it provides wireless coverage over a much larger area than WiFi. Clear has chosen to build their 4G network using WiMax, and Verizon Wireless & AT&T have stated they will build their network with LTE. The two technologies are similar but they both claim to have some advantage over the other. At this point, WiMax has gotten the head start building and launching their service. Clear (a company created from the Clearwire and Sprint’s Xolm networks along with a handful of investors such as Time Warner Cable, Intel and Google) have launched in a dozen or so US cities. More cities will be launched by the end of 2009 with many more to follow in 2010 and 2011. LTE is anticipated to launch sometime in 2010 but further plans have not been announced.
The areas that have launched 4G utilizing WiMax have achieved download speeds of 3-6 mbps and upload of 1 mbps. LTE has promised faster speeds but there are no commercially available LTE sites at this point to compare actual speeds. In Hawaii, 4G service is schedule to launch late 2009/early 2010. Cleawire, Sprint and Oceanic Time Warner have all announced that they will have the service available here in Hawaii and they already have the service working in their company's Mainland areas. Exactly what packages and prices will be available in Hawaii is yet to be announced but the customer will have choices to make from these established carriers.
So what will you be able to do with these new 4G services? Currently the 3G speeds allow the user to download text, photos and video that then can be read/watched. Cell phone size devices with relatively low processing power can display fairly low resolution photos and videos using the available 3G speeds. So why would you need faster connection speeds? The Apple iPhone and iTouch utilizing WiFi can stream a good resolution movie or TV show. Also catching on are the “netbooks” which are small laptops (less than 10” LCD displays) without a built-in DvD drive but with wireless data capability. These devices given a higher speed connection will be able to provide much better resolution streaming video and photos than the current cell phone size 3G devices.
At first, there will not be many devices with built in 4G capabilities but in the short term, there is a clever solution to this problem. A converter from WiMax to WiFi service will be available in the form of a portable wireless router. These portable routers will be similar to ones that have been advertised converting from 3G to WiFi but with the additional bandwidth that 4G will provide, they will truly be able to serve multiple WiFi devices with one 4G service. Multiple laptops watching YouTube will work fine. Other devices such as the iTouch, DSi or Sony Playstation Portable could be attached to this portable wireless router and used applications on the Internet which provide video entertainment or gaming.
New and exciting applications are being developed by many companies to work with this new 4G wireless data services. So you haven’t seen anything yet!
Click on this link to find out more about Oceanic Time Warner’s Road Runner Mobile.
