4G : Computer Hardware Buyers’ Glossary

4G (4th Generation) cellphone protocols. It describes how cellphone 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 cellphones. 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 cellphone and tower which allows the beam to be shaped and directed to its target, giving a stronger signal with less power.

Devices supporting it include: Google Nexus S 4G, HTC (High Tech Computer Corporation) EVO 4G, Motorola Atrix 4G, LG Revolution, Samsung Droid Charge, Kindle Fire 4G.