What’s the difference between 3G and wireless internet on the iPhone? ?
November 7th, 2009
Alex asked:
I’m getting an iPhone 3G for Christmas and was just wondering what’s the difference between the wireless and the 3G features on it? With 3G, can you go on the internet while your out and you don’t need a connection. Whereas with wireless, you can only use it at home with a wireless router?
I’m getting an iPhone 3G for Christmas and was just wondering what’s the difference between the wireless and the 3G features on it? With 3G, can you go on the internet while your out and you don’t need a connection. Whereas with wireless, you can only use it at home with a wireless router?
And after a year, you have to pay for 3G internet on the iPhone don’t you? But is the wireless internet free? Thanks.
First of all, the difference between U.S. and abroad 3G bands is the operating frequencies. In fact, T-Mobile’s 3G network also operates on a different frequency than AT&T’s 3G network here in the U.S. So, if you buy an unlocked phone, it’s important to make sure it supports your carrier’s 3G frequency. Here’s an overview of the 3G frequencies:
AT&T Wireless: 850/1900 MHz
T-Mobile: 1700 MHz
Europe: 2100 MHz
The lower the frequency range, the better reach a frequency will offer and the fewer base stations are required to get the cellular fun flowing. Recently, Verizon Wireless won a large portion of the 700 MHz band auction, which will enable the carrier to build a mobile broadband network that could be truly nationwide. And the technology they will deploy for this network is LTE (Long Term Evolution), which is 4G technology offering significantly improved network stability and response times as well as higher data speeds.
That said, a lot of your cell phone usage actually goes through the Internet backbone, which is also why the major carriers are usually major Internet providers. So the difference between 3G and Wi-Fi actually mainly comes down to the way of wirelessly connecting to the Internet backbone. If you have a private Wi-Fi network connected to a reliable Internet provider, nothing will beat that. Most carriers will not allow you to connect your cell phone to a Wi-Fi network for making calls though, and especially not for free (unless you’re using VoIP clients), despite the fact that you may have arranged for everything to work smoothly yourself. On the other hand, a Wi-Fi network of course have limited reach, so if you’re on the road, there’s currently no other option than choosing 3G in those scenarios.
In the future though, the lack of theoretically available bandwidth may force network providers to use whatever is available in a more rational way, which will ultimately let you pay for only one data subscription, and then use it however you wish. Sprint, Clearwire and Google have already taken the first step to that future by starting the deployment of the Xohm network in Baltimore, based on long-range Mobile WiMAX network technology.
3G uses cellular signal to access the internet. The idea is wherever you have cell signal you have internet via 3G. It is however slower than wi-fi & you would be charged by AT&T on the iPhone’s data plan for using it.
Wi-fi on the other hand is faster than 3G & free to use, but may not be as available as 3G. You could use wi-fi wherever you can pick it up. Does not have to be home.
3G is a fast connection without WiFi. It’s about twice as fast as the Edge network, but not near as fast as WiFi.
What city do you live in? 3G capability is only available in major cities. Where I am, in Amarillo Texas, we don’t have it.
I’m not sure about this, but I believe iPhone contracts cost $10 a month more since the launch of 3G. There isn’t a way out of that. I repeat, I’m not sure about his.
As far as WiFi goes, it’s free if you have access to any WiFi point. It will connect automatically to a WiFi if it’s available because it’s faster than 3G and Edge.
You have to be connected to WiFi to access iTunes and the App Store on your phone.
AT&T is planning on making most of America 3G capable, it’s just a matter of time.
The speed of the internet is still shocking, even on the slow Edge network.
Congrats on the awesome Christmas gift!