So What's the Big Difference Between 3G and 4G?

More than you'd think, actually. 4G, also known as WiMAX, is the fourth generation of cell phone technology, which will eventually replace 3G just as 3G replaced 2G, and on. 3G was the first network to bring high speed data access to wireless phones. 4G looks to go beyond this. Although it has yet to be established as the standard in the industry, the 4G network promises video chat and high quality streaming anytime, anywhere that wireless coverage is available.

The big difference between 3G and 4G is the speed and bandwidth of the network. WiMAX 4G speeds have the potential to operate 10x faster than 3G, upwards of 10Mbps download speeds. The peak download speeds for 3G are about 3.1Mbps. Most WiMAX networks will operate at MHz bandwidth, but options are also available from 1.25, 5, 10, and 20MHz. With these speeds, High Definition streaming should be at consumers fingertips. All 4G networks should easily be able to stream high quality video chat such as Skype, and it is even possible that we could see downloads for not only music, but also movies become mainstream for future smartphones or iPhones that will likely be equipped with large hard drives.

Sprint has been the first to jump into 4G with WiMAX, investing about $5.4 Billion into the technology starting in 2006. Earlier this year the WiMAX 4G network was finally up and running, although service is still few and far in between. June 4th, the companies first 4G phone, the HTC Evo 4G smartphone will be available at retail and some orders have been available through Sprint for about a week. Sprint has also begun offering 4G hotpot stations that can be used much like a wireless router to connect to all wireless enabled devices. Sprint plans to extend 4G coverage to over 120 million people by the end of 2010.

However, WiMAX is not the only 4G network that will be deployed throughout the world. WiMAX was simply Sprint's option of choice for 4G. LTE (Long Term Evolution) is the option in which other carriers such as AT&T and Verizon Wireless have chosen to migrate to from 2G and 3G. LTE has the potential to offer faster data rates, up to 100 Mbit/s and bandwidths from 20-100MHz. It is most likely though, that WiMAX and LTE will have comparable actual download/upload speeds. More details on LTE will be available when the network officially launches sometime in 2010.