2G! 3G! GPRS! GSM! Edge! HSDPA! A Brief Explanation.

Mobile networks! Right now it has become a part of our lives. We can't think of life without mobile networks. However most of the people are confused with the differences between them. I was also confused about all these things. But now these things are quite clear to me.
Right now the most important & the most widely used is the GPRS.

 

GSM

Initially GSM modems came into existence. Does anyone remeber the times we used those horrible 56K modems to connect your desktop to the internet by plugging it into your phone line?  Well at first thats how it was done!  Very low data rates of 10kbps and also the fact that we paid for the time we used the service were the main down points of this.

 

2G/GPRS

However with the take up on mobile phones rapidly increasing we saw the switch to digital networks which allowed for better call quality and the SMS service. We started to see the potential for data to be sent using them. 2G was born in the form of GPRS. This allowed data to be sent over a network that was a lot more optimised for data communication.
GPRS was and still is a little bit slow at no more than about 114kbps and unless you have a class 3 device, it can’t support sending data at the same time as a GSM voice call is in session.  However this is more than enough for many peoples needs, even today and to add weight to that, the first iPhone was a GPRS device.

 

Edge/2.5G

3G was on the way but we saw one more incremental step before this was rolled out.  Edge, eGPRS or 2.5G was a technology that gave us 3 fold better data rates with typical 400kbps being heralded by Cingular in the USA by using better coding methods than GPRS.  However 120-200kbps is probably more realistic.

 

3G

Finally full 3G was released and it not only gave us more reliable faster data rates of up to 384kbps but it’sbased upon a far better better platform that allows syncronous voice and data usage.  With 3G browing the web performing more media intensive data work becamse a reality and in some cases still rivals some broadband connections we have in out homes.

 

HSDPA and 3.5G, 3.75, 4G

Currently HSDPA is the standard for most mobile phones.  Running at 1.3mbps it rivals most broadband connections and networks are being upgraded across the UK to run at speeds of up to 7.2mbps, coined 4G.
We’re now even starting to see our first 4G devices in the HTC 4G MAX, although we’re actuallky seeing a trend in 3.75G HSUPA devices being released at the moment, which are actually HSDPA devices but with improved upload speeds too.

 

HSPA is it a spelling mistake!

Well no and HSPA and also evolved HSPA or HSPA+ are all new acronyms in the 3G world.  I’m not going to get technical here, but these protocols are basically the next step in the mobile networks upgrade path.  HSPA (Downlaod) and HSUPA (Upload) are pretty much implemented now and devices taking advantage of this can now theoretically reach speeds of 14MBPs on the downlink and 6MBPS up, some networks in the world have reported even more than this.  HSPA+ further enhances this up to 80 & 22 MBPS which is now surpassing broadband speeds.
With 3.5G, 3.75G, 4G and now HSPA we really now have no excuse to be connected to the Internet where-ever we go and its only a matter of time before the PDA or mobile phone truly becomes the data tool of choice as our lives become ever mobile.

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