Carriers Go to Battle Over Faster Networks June 30, 2010 by Walter S. Mossberg
Most media attention in the cellphone arena is focused on the battle between sexy super-smartphones like Apple's new iPhone 4 or the latest models based on Google's (GOOG) Android software. But there is a parallel war under way among U.S. wireless carriers to roll out new, faster data networks to link such sophisticated hand-held computers to the Internet at greater speeds, and to increase the capacity to handle all the data their owners are downloading. This network competition is less visible and flashy, and it involves complex engineering, long time frames and techie terminology. But it is crucial to the future of these super-smartphones, of tablets like the iPad and its coming competitors, and even of laptops that run on cellular networks when their owners are traveling. The goal is to make wireless Internet access on the street as fast or faster than the access people get in homes and offices, and to overcome capacity limitations. So, here is a very simplified explanation of what is going on, plus the results of some tests I've been running on the least known of these new speedier networks: T-Mobile's "HSPA+" system, now available in some U.S. metro areas. In a nutshell, most of the industry is gradually moving from networks dubbed as "3G," or third generation, to faster networks called "4G," or fourth generation. This will take several years and billions of dollars, and will be turned on city by city. ... http://ptech.allthingsd.com/20100630/carriers-go-to-battle-over-faster-networks/ _______________________________________________ Medianews mailing list Medianews@etskywarn.net http://lists.etskywarn.net/mailman/listinfo/medianews
