When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works

Home / News / Techspeak – What the hell is… 4G?

Techspeak – What the hell is… 4G?

4G? The iPhone’s not even 3G yet!Yep, we know. But never fear 4G is some way off yet. It’s the next big thing for wireless though, with No

4G? The iPhone’s not even 3G yet!

Yep, we know. But never fear 4G is some way off yet. It’s the next big thing for wireless though, with Nokia and Sony Ericsson hooking up this week to create LTE (Long Term Evolution), so they can share their patents for the speedy tech.

So what is it then?

Basically it’s faster and covers more distance than your regular 3G. On top of that, Nok reckons it’ll replace your regular Wi-Fi. That means the potential for a one–stop–shop provider, serving up hi–def movies, tunes and anything you fancy downloading on the move and at home.

Isn’t Wimax supposed to be taking Wi-Fi’s crown though?

Er, yeah. Intel, who are behind Wimax says 10 million people will be using their wireless standard by 2009 with “hundreds of millions two years after that.” Still, Nokia’s Wimax–toting N810 will be the last the Finnish mobile mavens crank out, as they focus on LTE instead.

Okay, so when does this 4G action begin?

Don’t hold your breath. Experts reckon we’ll need to wait until wired and wireless tech converges, offering anything up to 1Gbps. Considering the UK averages a lowly 4.6Mbps at the moment, and Ofcom wants to stick cables in the sewers to speed things up, we’ve got a long wait ahead. The US and China will get the LTE version of 4G first anyway. Rubbish.

Confused about tech speak? Head over to our Jargonbuster to get the knowledge and make your mates look like idiots down the pub.

 

Profile image of Dan Grabham Dan Grabham Editor-in-Chief

About

Dan is Editor-in-chief of Stuff, working across the magazine and the Stuff.tv website.  Our Editor-in-Chief is a regular at tech shows such as CES in Las Vegas, IFA in Berlin and Mobile World Congress in Barcelona as well as at other launches and events. He has been a CES Innovation Awards judge. Dan is completely platform agnostic and very at home using and writing about Windows, macOS, Android and iOS/iPadOS plus lots and lots of gadgets including audio and smart home gear, laptops and smartphones. He's also been interviewed and quoted in a wide variety of places including The Sun, BBC World Service, BBC News Online, BBC Radio 5Live, BBC Radio 4, Sky News Radio and BBC Local Radio.

Areas of expertise

Computing, mobile, audio, smart home

Enable referrer and click cookie to search for eefc48a8bf715c1b ad9bf81e74a9d264 [] 2.7.22