4G Means Speed

The latest cell phone speed craze is 4G which is available only from Sprint right now.  However, all carriers will be rolling out their 4G networks over the next year or so.  This article from Inc.com provides an in-depth description of 4G and why it matters.  It basically comes down to the speed:

“If I’m getting mail from my server, with 4G it takes micro-seconds. With 3G, it could take 5 to 10 seconds to download the same email,” Abramson says. In general, he adds, though service providers may claim faster speeds, most 3G transmissions are in the 1 megabyte per second range. “With 4G, I’m getting speeds that are three to four times faster, he reports.

As some people have migrated away from land lines for their telephone, some companies will migrate away from a land-based Internet connection and switch to a 4G network.

“It can replace broadband for a very small shop,” Ganguly says. For some small businesses it might make sense to have every laptop enabled with 4G, or to use a card that broadcasts wireless Internet to up to five devices, such as the MiFi or Overdrive, he adds.

I am still stuck on 3G which has mediocre speeds.  4G does seem like it will be a real game changer and well worth considering an upgrade.