Verizon Palm

Verizon Palm

In short, 3G technology offers wireless Internet at broadband speeds to your cellphone. What this means is that in addition of voice calls, email and text messaging, 3G compatible phones will be able to surf the Internet, listen to streaming audio, watching videos on demand, play network games, including video conferencing from your phone. Speeds can vary from 144 Kbps (three times faster than dial-up) at 2.4 Mbps (approaching speeds of cable modem). High speed available depends on many factors, including your phone, your cellular provider, buying services the same, and the network coverage in your area.

The old standard for cellular networks, 2G, was designed for voice and small, slow data transmission (text messages, for example). This was insufficient, however, for larger and higher data speed required for Internet browsing, games and live audio and video. The new 3G standard was created to address this deficit. However, providing such data to a volume and velocity requires upgrading the entire network-modifying of all cell towers with new equipment. Because of this, the new 3G network is slowly unfolding across the country, from large cities and gradually becoming available in small towns and rural areas. In other words, merely buying a 3G compatible phone is automatically provided with no Internet access High speed you need to verify that you live or work within the coverage of its 3G network supplier.

Am I on the 3G network?

If you are in a coverage area depends on your cellular provider. Currently, Cingular / AT & T has the broadest coverage with over 280 U.S. cities and Puerto Rico. Verizon is second with almost 260 cities nationwide. Although Verizon has 3G in fewer areas of Cingular, their coverage areas are bigger, covering large areas around of large cities. Sprint / Nextel lags behind in third place with around 220 quoted. T-Mobile is only now launching its 3G network and is available only in 88 of the CITES. You can check your provider's 3G coverage using the links below. Remember that coverage areas will only increase with time as the cellular companies expand their 3G networks.

What devices can use the 3G network?

Combination of phones, devices that combine the functions of several tools such as phones, pagers, MP3 players, PDAs, cameras, camcorders, and PC gaming systems on one machine can make the most of the 3G network capacity to transfer large amounts of data quickly between your phone and the Internet. Examples of these phones are the Motorola RAZR2, RIM Blackberry or Palm Treo. Not surprisingly, 3G compatible cell phones are expensive, high-end multipurpose devices.

Another very useful device that uses the 3G is a variety of PC cards and USB modems to connect a laptop to the network of cellular provider's data. When using Wi-Fi to connect to the Internet, computers PCs require constant being close to open wireless access point, usually limited in scope to a particular building, like a house, office building, or cafeteria. Using a 3G modem, however, a laptop can connect to the Internet anywhere with 3G coverage area, which usually covers cities whole. Imagine, for example, can surf the Internet on your laptop while in a moving car.

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