In recent years, the mobile communication industry has evolved and changed tremendously. From merely a telecommunication tool, it has now become a dependent device by people from all over the world. Customers and users are now using the mobile phones for scheduling, source of information, staying online with networks and many more.
One can view the industry to have come through in 3 main stages or generations, all of which were designed to improve the generation before that as well as offering better flexibility, convenience and services.
Analog Signals is a history
In the first generation, mobile communications used analog signals. This is where one is only able to utilize voice calls and was typically limited to geographical boundaries where one could only reach others in the same country.
The second generation of mobile communications saw more advancement in technology where digital signals and data were used. This included the used of fax, data and messaging capabilities. This had allowed for faster and better communication where voice calls were extended to other countries and across geographical borders.
Availability of Rich Mobile Content with 4G or LTE Technology
From there, the third generation of mobile communications were developed where operators began offering multimedia services with richer content. High speed data transfer between mobile devices were provided and this had provided content providers to develop messages that include video, audio, animation and other media through mobile devices. This generation of devices also allowed for mobile phone users to gain better and more access to sources of information where one could now connect to the internet through their mobile devices. This was the age of 3G and currently, the likes of 3.5G and 4G have already been introduced into the market that provides mobile phone users with access to a wider range and better performing applications that include high definition video and audio as well as real-time streaming facilities.
Markets around the world used to pursue different standards during the first 2 generations of mobile communications but as the industry enters the 3G era, most markets are steadily moving towards a single platform which was designed based on CDMA.
Utilization of Packets
In 3G, packets are extensively used. This is the technology which is used by data communication networks which have, over the years proved to be reliable, fast and accurate. 3G utilizes this technology where information is broken into ‘packets’ and then sent out into the networks before they are ‘patched’ together at the recipient’s end. In contrast, packet switching is better than the conventional circuit switching technology which was used in old telephone systems.
Wider use of Internet
The current mobile market has been widely influenced by the increasing popularity and dependency on the internet and hence, it is normal for mobile devices in the current 3G market to be internet ready and connected. This is where users of mobile devices are using the internet as their main source of information with SMSes becoming a major communication tool while one would also require to have access to their emails, social network accounts and such for faster and updated information.
Mobile Data Speed
The 3G technology will allow for high speed data communication. This is where one will be accorded with up to 2Mbps (Megabits per second) data transfer when using their devices. This however, is dependent on the service provider and the services that are being offered in a particular country.
Mobile applications
With faster and better data transfer and communication, more new mobile applications will be expected. This is where one will now be able to have access to a wide range of applications which can be utilized in the mobile phones not provided for in the past.
In order to utilize the features of 4G services, one would need to have a 4G mobile device, an attachment with a 3G or 4G service provider usually offered by a telecommunications company, knowledge on how to use the 3G applications and some background information about the technology.