4G : Computer Hardware Buyers’ Glossary

4G (4th Generation) cell phone protocols. It describes how cell phone communications with the towers will change to make more efficient use of the bandwidth, and to get higher transmission rates. Each tower acts much like an Ethernet LAN (Local Area Network) sending digital IP-based Internet packets to the cell phones. It manages 100 Mbit/s when the cell phone is moving rapidly and 1 Gbit/s when it is stationary. Roaming is smooth and seamless. It is able handle audio, high speed data, HDTV… It is spectrally efficient to allow the more users to pump through the more data through a given tower. It uses multiple antennae in both the cell phone and tower which allows the beam to be shaped and directed to its target, giving a stronger signal with less power. You might start seeing it in 2010.