The Evolution of Mobile Broadband

Most of us can remember, though not fondly, the days when internet service meant a dial-up connection for a desktop computer and a data transfer speed of 28.8Kbps or, if the stars aligned perfectly, 56Kbps. Fortunately, those days are long gone. We’ve become accustomed to cable or DSL download speeds that are routinely 2 – 4Mbps and we don’t have much patience for anything slower.

While Mobile Broadband hasn’t quite met the mark set by wired broadband, it’s getting ever closer. In North America, the two competing cell phone protocols, GSM and CDMA, have taken different paths to get to our current 3G status, but the current results are about the same.

GSM

AT&T’s and T-Mobile’s networks operate on a system called GSM (Global System for Mobile). As its name implies, it’s become the world standard. Among GSM’s primary benefits is that it is portable to just about every country. EDGE is and enhancement to GSM wireless service which allow for data delivery rates up to 384Kbps in theory. EDGE is still the system that AT&T and T-Mobile use in areas where there 3G networks haven’t been deployed or as a fallback if 3G is, for some reason, not available.

These days, when AT&T or T-Mobile talk about 3G, they’re referring to HSPA (High Speed Packet Access). The potential speed of HSPA exceeds 14Mbps. But that’s in theory. In reality, AT&T’s 3G network can attain typical download speeds of 700Kbps to 1.7Mbps. Going beyond that isn’t likely in the 3G world given the infrastructure upgrades that would be required and the looming of 4G in the not too distant future.

CDMA

The competing technology to GSM is CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access). It’s the basis for the networks of Verizon Wireless, Sprint, Alltel, US Cellular and ACS. EVDO(Evolution Data Only) is built upon the CDMA foundation and is the technology that gets us to 3G. Its first iteration was EVDO 1XRTT and is, even now, the protocol employed by US Cellular. That was followed by EVDO Rev (Revision) 0 and more recently by EVDO Rev A. With EVDO Rev A, one can expect typical download speeds of 600Kbps – 1.4Mbps. The speed ranges quoted for both GSM 3G and EVDO Rev 0 have a lot of overlap which is the basis for the carriers’ contending that their network is fastest. Both systems are affected by environmental factors, physical barriers and network loading.

4G

Even though carriers aren’t even finished with the adoption of 3G system wide, 4G technology is on the rather near horizon. In fact, in a couple of locations, it has already arrived. Though loosely defined at this point, 4G is intended to be an order of magnitude faster than 3G, i.e. ten times faster. Like other theoretical speed claims, real world performance will differ significantly. Sprint has rolled out 4G in the Baltimore, MD, area and Clearwire has launched a 4G network in Portland, OR. The two companies are working in together with one another to implement 4G service in eight additional metropolitan markets in 2009 and four more in 2010. If projections are met, that will make their network available to approximately 120 million Americans by the end of 2010.

Like 3G, there are two competing technologies in the 4G arena. The system in use by Sprint and Clearwire is called WiMax, meaning Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access. Its chief competitor, and the technology back by AT&T and Verizon Wireless, is called LTE (Long Term Evolution). Despite the awkward names, the intent is much faster Mobile Broadband.

Wireless Broadband Devices

Today’s most common platform for using Mobile Broadband is the smartphone. BlackBerry has been the standard for enterprise users for some time but when the iPhone 3G hit the market last summer, the reach and appeal of the smartphone industry exploded. As a result, all manufacturers are scrambling to be top dog by incorporating the button-down efficiencies of BlackBerry with the entertainment value of iPhone. The line between professional and consumer, or prosumer, devices has blurred and, in many cases, disappeared. Smartphones are essentially a combination of the best of cell phones with PDAs. PDAs were among the original platforms for Mobile Broadband users but have become all but extinct with the advent of smartphones. For objective, side-by-side reviews of today's best smartphones, consult our Smartphones Review Site.

Laptop computers, and their leaner cousins, netbooks, are the other device used to exploit the benefits of Mobile Broadband. Both their advantage and disadvantage compared to smartphones is size. To their advantage, the laptop keyboard is large enough that typing on it is fundamentally the same as a desktop computer and screen sizes allow for full web site display, not to mention text that is large enough to read without a magnifying glass or youthful eyes.

The downside of a laptop is also its size. You can pop a smartphone in your pocket or purse. Not so with a portable computer. Similarly, weight can be a factor. Laptops weigh a couple of pounds compared to a smartphones ounces. For clarity of comparison, we classify these portable computers as Laptops, Gaming Laptops, and Netbooks. For details of these devices, we recommend our unbiased review sites.

Regardless of the device you choose, Mobile Broadband will keep you in touch with your business and personal life. And you can be sure that, even though it’s speed and versatility are way ahead of a year or two ago, progress on this front is going to accelerate rapidly in the future. Stay with us for all the latest information regarding Mobile Broadband and other technology news, because At TopTenREVIEWS, We Do the Research So You Don't Have To.™