How do GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA, Wi-Fi, WiMax offer mobility to your internet service and work with speed?

Thanks to the rapid development of technology, mobile phones nowadays can do so much more than merely cellular communication. They have become smarter, not only name-wise, but also application-wise.  Incorporating wireless data access technology, mobile phone has brought communications to another level -- offering mobility to the formerly fixed internet service. Web browsing, online video streaming, emailing and instant messaging previously monopolized by computers are now penetrated by third-generation mobile phones.

The wireless data standards are the keys to the world of World Wide Web. You may want to be familiar with the following terminology as the first step of get-online-with-your-mobile-phone knowhow.

1. GPRS
Phones with GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) might also be known to you as 2.5G. It delivers data rates up to 114 kbit/s theoretically, yet its typical rate is usually around 56kbit/s.  Video conferences and interaction with multimedia websites are for the first time made possible, but often with frequent lagging. The a bit dated technology allows you to download some ringtones and games, some pieces of news on GPRS connection, but it will not be the choice for those with heavy internet consumption.

Phones with only GPRS connection: Sony Ericsson R306

2. EDGE
EDGE (Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution) reaches an effective data rates to around 180kbit/s, enabling transfer of multimedia and the delivery of some broadband application. It is defined by ITU as 3G technology, but is most commonly described as 2.75G.

Phones with up to EGDE connection: Samsung M610, Nokia 7210 Supernova, Sony Ericsson W380i, Nokia 3600


3. UMTS
UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) is what we usually refer to as 3G technology.  It improves the data transfer rate to an effective rate of 384kbit/s. (Yes, the 2 Mbit/s is again, theoretical).  It is fast enough for a smooth video streaming experience. However, some countries like the US and Japan who use a different banding, are not the beneficiaries of 3G technology. UMTS handsets though can still be operated since they usually can switch themselves back to previous GSM modes when UMTS connection is not available.

Phones with up to 3G connection: Nokia 8800 Carbon Arte, Nokia E63

4. HSDPA
HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) generally known as 3.75G technology, provides a speed of 400 to 700 kbit/s in usual practice. It is currently the most upgraded data transfer standard launched in the commercial market. (It is the beginning and you know how fast things are changing in the technology world!) Most of the latest models of Smartphone nowadays are heralded to have accelerated by HSDPA to allow a wider collections of media downloading and higher-speed web surfing.

Phones with up to HSDPA connection: Samsung M7500 Emporio Armani, Blackberry Storm 9530

5. Wi-Fi
Phones that support Wi-Fi allow internet access on a data speeds between 3 to 20 Mbit/s depending on the network attached. Places with Wi-Fi coverage are also called hotspots. If the café, restaurants, airports, libraries in your cities are hotspots, you can get online with your Wi-Fi compatible phones.

Phones with up to Wi-Fi connection: hTC Touch HD T8282, Sony Ericsson G705

6. WiMax
WiMax is short for Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access. It’s a hopeful candidate along with LTE to achieve the 4G standard of 100 Mbit/s mobile and 1 Gbit/s fixed-nomadic bandwidth set by ITU. HTC has announced in November 2008 the first WiMax/GSM phone whose name HTC MAX 4G and it is expected to be launched in November 2009. It seems that to 4G destination is only at a distance!

If you want to access the internet with your mobile phones, you may go to the connectivity menu to see if your phones are equipped with the data transfer technology above. If they do, you will need to subscribe for a plan from one of your mobile phone service carriers to get your phone hooked to the net. Usually, the icon “G” or “Wi-Fi” will appear on the phone screen if you are connected.  The stability and speed of connection however, will vary depending on your service carriers, your phone models and the network of your location. You can go to your local mobile phone service carriers to make further enquiries.

Want to benefit from wireless communication technology and have email support, watch YouTube videos and conduct Google search on your phone, here are the newly-launched devices you need: ENJOY!