Mobile broadband technology keeps evolving. That’s because people will always want a faster and better internet connection. There are many buzzwords you hear related to mobile broadband. So, what do they all mean?
Clearing things up
All of these terms describe high speed internet which works on a cell phone network. How did all this jargon come to be? Well, there’s many companies out there competing with each other. They all develop new technology. Many of it is similar, yet subtle differences allow them to differentiate themselves. Here are the differences.
3G and 4G
These are broad terms which describe all the others. The G stands for generation. So a 3G network or device is third generation for example. The latest is fourth generation, and it offers the fastest speeds. These two broad categories allow you to understand all the other acronyms. They are either 3G or 4G. That’s it.
Alphabet Soup and Where it Fits in
Let’s jump right in. The most common terms for 4G are WiMAX and HSDPA. You can think of these as synonyms for the fastest mobile broadband available on the market today. The 3G terms most commonly used are EVDO, UMTS, WCDMA, and EDGE. They are still fast but nowhere near the speed of 4G.
Don’t let the alphabet soup boggle your mind. 4G is the latest emerging technology for faster mobile broadband. It’s only available in certain cities right now, so don’t let that put you off when it comes to getting a 3G device.
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