All About 4G Wireless Trends

4G Trends: Faster Speed and More Bandwidth

4G service allows wireless users to have faster speeds and bandwidth than 3G service currently offers. Streaming multimedia, online gaming and Voice Over IP applications all can run without problems or extra time delays.

WiMAX vs LTE

The choices for a 4G network are either WiMAX or LTE. WiMaX stands for Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access. It is type of 4G telecommunication protocol similar to Wi-Fi, but offers much faster speeds. WiMAX has the first mover advantage in the US, since their 4G service is currently available for sale.

The other type of 4G network is called LTE or Long Term Evolution. Many experts believe that LTE will be the dominant 4G force in the US marketplace, according to market trends. LTE will not be available in the US until Winter 2010, but nearly all the major wireless carriers will use it.

New Trends: 3G/4G Service

Many users are also worried about network congestion on the 4G. This issue is currently a problem with many popular 3G mobile networks. Wireless carriers may offer 3G/4G service in the near future. With this 3G/4G service, all regular voice calls would be carried over the 3G network. All data services would be transmitted over the 4G network for faster speed and to relieve network congestion.

4G Trends for Devices and Pricing Plans

New WiMAX enabled phones are now being sold. The first 4G LTE phone was approved for sale by the FCC in the US in Fall 2010. However, the number of 4G smartphones for both the WiMAX and LTE networks will grow as phone manufacturers develop more products. Eventually, consumers will have more choices. Beyond smartphones, new tablets, laptops, netbooks and other mobile devices will also be developed to cater to 4G trends.

As 4G trends and new smartphones become more common, users will demand more features with the faster service. Features like a large touchscreen, a powerful processor, a high powered operating system, live TV feeds, GPS navigation and dual mode 3G/4G service may be standard in the near future.

Many wireless carriers have changed from offering unlimited data plans to tiered data plans for smartphones using 3G service to ease congestion and increase profits. As the 4G network expands and gains traction in the future, nobody knows which 4G trends in pricing will dominate the marketplace. Smaller wireless providers may offer unlimited 4G data plans to entice customers to switch over from their competitors.