subject: Mobile Phone Users Ask If 4g Is Worth It [print this page] Mobile Phone Users Ask If 4g Is Worth It Mobile Phone Users Ask If 4g Is Worth It
Many people who use mobile phones now find their internet connectivity to be indispensible. Whether sending emails, chatting, social networking or simply getting some basic browsing in for pertinent information on the go, having the internet anytime, anywhere is obviously a big convenience. There have been many changes in the technology used for such devices, such as the jump from 2g to 3g, and there have been changes in the way that plans are structured. Once once per month' deals just like regular internet service, now many providers are treating such plans more like a cell phone package and charging based on usage. While a person who only makes a few phone calls now and again but sends lots of text might need one basic package, a person who spends 8 hours a day taking calls and emailing via Blackberry will obviously need a bigger, better plan, and will have to pay more for their service. The idea with the internet is that providers can charge based on the amount of wireless data consumed. For example, many plans at the moment are capped around 5GB per month.
At the moment many mobile phone internet users are excited about the new 4g service coming out in cities across the country, and are chomping at the bit to get those faster speeds. However, for the price increase, many customers are asking if it's really worth it? The differences between 2g and 3g wireless in terms of speed and functionality were dramatic, but the jump up to 4g might only make big waves for people using the features it will improve the most. Namely, anything to do with video, streaming images, live chat or other similar weighty' internet activities will be a world better. Besides that and faster reaction time, the overall clicking' speed will remain relatively unchanged from the very best of 3g networks. The question is, then, if mobile phone users really need to make the jump up when it means paying for it.
The issue is that the promised speeds of up to 20Mbps are probably a few years away, and many users know that. The current 5 to 10Mbps might not make as much of a difference as those 20 in the future. For those using their computers and laptops on a mobile basis, this service will make a huge difference in their ability to upload and download big items, and generally use the internet as they would from any terrestrial high speed connection. According to many such networks, the idea is not to replace what people are using with their cell phones anyway. The real target audience includes people who are constantly fighting over space and connectivity to Wi-Fi networks in public places, who really just want a fast, reliable connection no matter where they are, as long as they have a computer with them.
With the economy still not as strong as it once was, the market for technologies not deemed necessary' is still not very good. That combined with hit and miss connectivity in cities across the country due to a lack of necessary infrastructure may hold back 4g wireless networks for the time being. Current users, however, are already raving about the superior speed and service. It would seem that each user will have to decide for him or herself if it's really worth' it!
