[@NickyColman]

We are barely into the 3G-era. 3G take up is still slow and 3G networks are no where saturation point. 2G handsets still seem to rule the roost.

But already eyes are on 3.5G and itll not be long before 4G is on the scene (as it is in Japan).

But what will 4G bring? Obviously increased speeds but what else?

3G was obviously advertised to start, with videocalls and downloading videos. Now it seems mobile tv and downloading music is pushing the technology.

Will 4G allow megapixel quality videocalling? Better tv solutions? Along with instant messaging systems and full internet?

But what else? What will be that killer app?

Discuss.

[solo12002]

I dont know, what I can say is the net works are dam slow in rolling 3G out over the whole of the UK, some of the networks dont even give a good service in respect of what they offer on 3G half the time I log onto three I think its dam all other than a porn site.

Virgin offerings on the other hand are CRAP. i cant see how the networks can rool out 4g having not rolled out 3g and what they have done is crap no wonder most are staying on 2.5G

[crowfield99]

In my area Orange is the only network that you get full 3g Signal. All the others are not worth talking about.

To be honest, if I was not on Orange I would be back to 2.5G.

[Ben]

I'd like to think that 4G will herald fully IP-based mobility, with all calls and data being transmitted over the Internet. Things like push-email should be the norm, as should being able to make a video call between a computer and a mobile handset.

I think 4G risks such a level of convergence that the networks might even be largely frozen out of their own markets, with handsets automatically connecting via the cheapest IP based connection, such as the WLAN in the home, and VoIP providers coughing up clients and tariffs that cater for all your phones, at home and mobile, on just one account.

Data, then, would be the new measure of mobile phone contracts when we hit 4G. Maybe :)

[miffed]

Not sure I am ready for another "revoloution" yet , as a child of the last one I remember going from a hassle free service to something that frankly didn't work , and used handsets that looked more primative that those used 10 years earlier :( !

Oh dear ..... now I'm frightened :eek: :mad: :( :eek:

[Hands0n]

From all my readings on the subject, 4G will be an "umbrealla" method over a number of access techonolgies such as 2G, 3G, WiMax, WiFi etc.... and not a distinct network protocol in its own right. The idea being that a 4G terminal will [likely] be compliant with all of the subordinate network access technologies. That would alleviate the user from having to conscientiously selecting which access technology to use at any given moment.

Thus, as you move into and out of the various airspaces your 4G device will automatically switch between the access technologies behind the scenes. You will work away unaffected.

So, you see, 3G does not need to go anyplace any time soon! 4G will simply assimilate it (and the other existing and yet-to-come network access technologies).

One of the biggest problems is not so much the technology but how to accurately track and bill the user across all of these technologies.

I'm not sure where they are with all of the practical and logistical issues, but to me at least, 4G sounds like it simply has to come about to bring some sense of order to the user's access methodology. Simply integrating greater numbers of such technologies into devices (i.e. Dell's or is it Acer's recent addition of 3G into its laptops - now carrying Bluetooth, WiFi and 3G(2G)) is going to get confusing if not unmanageable in due course. In a 4G compliant laptop the user would simply start up their application and the physical network access would be taken care of by the 4G engine, completely transparently to the user.

[@NickyColman]

Thanks for that HandsOn, ive always wondered what 4G would be. I think a complete umberella service would be excellent!!