4G Wireless Broadband Options

Wireless broadband is on an upward path to take over many of the applications that have long been the domain of wireline technologies. Wireless has the convenience of portability and mobility. What’s held back deployment and more powerful applications is the limited availability and speed of wireless connections. The move to 4G wireless looks to be a potential solution.

4G or fourth generation wireless doesn’t have a strict definition, but it is roughly stated as the bandwidth typical of Cable broadband or Ethernet over Copper business connections. With this level of transmission speed and a city-wide reach, 4G wireless can take over service for desktop as well as mobile devices.

One might throw WiFi into the 4G category. The bandwidth for a, b, g, and n WiFi technologies fall into the right bandwidth category. However, WiFi is a short distance system. It works well within and nearby particular locations, such as homes, offices, restaurants, hotels, airports and even park benches. But you can’t get in your car and drive away with a WiFi connection. It will disappear as soon as you leave the parking lot. In a way, WiFi is more of a PAN or Personal Area Network like Bluetooth.

The higher power wireless technologies, including 2G & 3G are associated with cellular phone service. These are based on using networks of fixed transmitters and receivers arranged as cells with signals that fill-in the coverage between towers. The trick of turning this system into a metropolitan or wide area network is to coordinate the handoff of an existing wireless connection as the user moves from cell to cell.

The most popular wireless technology right now is 3G. It offers bandwidths similar to T1 lines and basic DSL of around 1.5 Mbps on average in metropolitan areas. You may get two or more times this speed if you happen to be near a tower with few users. This is more than adequate for many mobile uses, such as Web browsing, email and viewing video clips on smartphone screens.

Beyond limited speed, 3G also suffers from limited bandwidth availability. It shares channels with cellular telephone on the same towers. Those channels were originally sized to support expected voice traffic. They’ve been overwhelmed by the higher bandwidth requirements of Internet data traffic. That’s why carriers are so insistent on bandwidth caps.

There are a couple of different approaches to 4G wireless. The one taken by the cell phone companies is to view 4G as an upgrade to their 3G systems. There are two differing cellular system that co-exist. One is a US-centric system called CDMA that is used by Verizon, Sprint and others. The other is a more global standard called GSM that is used by AT&T and T-Mobile.

Right now, AT&T and T-Mobile have upgraded their 3G networks to a faster version of the same thing called HSPA+ that delivers up to 6 to 8 Mbps. Verizon has moved to a 4G technology called LTE that offers downloads of 5 to 12 Mbps. Sprint has gone with another 4G technology called WiMAX that delivers downloads in the 3 to 6 Mbps speed range.

As wireless continues to evolve, 4G is expected to move into two camps. LTE is the technology most discussed as a truly universal standard. WiMAX deployment actually predated LTE and has installations worldwide. Both LTE and WiMAX have technical upgrade paths that can boost download speeds to over 100 Mbps and even 1000 Mbps. This is competitive with many fiber services and ensures that 4G wireless will be with us for a long time.

One thing we’re also seeing with 4G wireless is the use of lower frequency bands that can more easily penetrate buildings. These bands came from the re-deployment of those channels from UHF TV as part of a federal auction. Clear offers 4G fixed and mobile wireless service with a telephone option over WiMAX in over 80 cities nationwide. Right now, this service offers unlimited broadband service.

DROID 2 Global is a World Phone

What would you call a smartphone with a 1.2 GHz processor that can make and receive calls from over 200 countries? You’d call it the DROID 2 Global.

Just a second. This is a phone for Verizon and yet it works worldwide? How to they do that?

Verizon has excellent coverage in the United States and is the preferred carrier for tens of millions of users. The one little hiccup is that most of the world operates on the GSM standard and Verizon works on CDMA. It’s pretty much a VHS/Betamax argument. The two standards are mutually incompatible. So how does a Verizon phone work overseas?

Ah, the trick is to make it two phones in one. The Motorola DROID 2 has built in support for multiple networks. It covers WCDMA 850/1900/2100, CDMA 800/1900, GSM 850/900/1800/1900, HSDPA 10.2 Mbps (Category 9/10), CDMA EV-DO Release A, EDGE Class 12, GPRS Class 12, and HSUPA 1.8 Mbps. That’s pretty much everything you can use for telephone calls, Internet access and messaging.

Your DROID 2 comes with CDMA international roaming, but you’ll need to activate a pre-installed SIM card and a Global Service plan or feature to enable roaming outside of the US when using GSM and UTMS networks. You’ll want a global data plan so you can message and access the Web in those 200 countries, with 3G speeds in 125 countries. Why, it’s all the comfort of home!

Oh, by the way. The GSM feature doesn’t work on AT&T or T-Mobile networks here in the States. Verizon isn’t about to have any part of that.

Multiple network access may be the future of cell phones, at least in the near term. The idea of multiple incompatible networks is an idea who’s time has come and gone. Technology has advanced to the point where you can have both CDMA and GSM access designed into the same device. Look for this idea to spread to tablets and other 3G/4G devices.

The way things are going, it looks like most 4G wireless data networks are going to be LTE in a few years. Yet, WiMAX is enjoying popularity too. Next we need LTE/WiMAX dual-mode transceivers for smartphones and computing devices.

What other tricks does the DROID 2 Global have up its sleeve? A slide-out QWERTY keyboard for one. That makes high speed messaging and email a lot easier. The camera is a 5 Megapixel model with a dual LED flash and DVD-D1 video capture.

You also have the ability to make your DROID 2 Global a 3G mobile hotspot so you can share your data connection with up to 5 other devices.

This is truly a breakthrough smartphone design with a lot of advanced features for the Android user. Did you catch the 1.2 GHz processor? That should make your apps scream!

Are you interested in owning a cutting-edge phone with international capability? If so, learn more and order your Motorola DROID 2 Global for Verizon Wireless now. You can also browse the extensive selection of Android and other smartphones and feature phones, all at significant discounts and some even free.

T-Mobile G2 With Google is 4G

T-Mobile has upped the ante on smartphone performance with the introduction of the G2. The “G” in G2 stands for Google. That means integrated access to Google Voice, which can automatically transcribe voice mails to text so you can read them like an email or text message.

The G2 is also an Android phone, running Android 2.2. It has a 3.7 inch full touch screen with 7 customizable home panels. You can download thousands of apps and widgets from the Android Market to customize your smartphone. It’s just one click away.

Here are some more interesting features about the T-Mobile G2. Unlike a certain other smartphone that will remain nameless (think: it keeps the doctor away), the G2 is enabled with an Adobe Flash Player. It also comes with a slide out full QWERTY keyboard that opens and closes using unique “z-hindge”. That means real keys for fast and sure text entry rather than tapping on the glass to write your messages.

But what about the 4G? Is that WiMAX or LTE? Neither one. T-Mobile is leapfrogging the other 4G players by rolling out HSPA+ (High Speed Packet Access). It’s a GSM technology that has been evolving for years rather than something completely new. As such, T-Mobile expects to have it available in 100 major markets serving 200 million people by the end of the year.

But is it fast? It screams. Theoretical peak download speeds are up to 21 Mbps, with peak upload speeds up to 5.7 Mbps. In actual service, you probably won’t see that much bandwidth, perhaps a third of those peak values, but it is enough of an advance from 3G to deserve the 4G designation.

What else does the T-Mobile G2 have that’s eye-opening? The digital camera is a 5.0 Megapixel model that includes auto-focus and HD video capability. You can record HD videos in 720 resolution. Send and receive picture and video messages using multimedia messaging. Or, stay with SMS text messaging, IM, or email, as your fingers fly on that QWERTY keyboard.

There are, of course, the usual multimedia niceties that we’ve come to expect in smartphones. The MP3 player supports MP3, AAC, eAAC+, WMA, MPEG4, WAV and MIDI formats. There’s an FM radio on-board in case you tire of your tunes collection or want to catch the latest news and sports scores. Social networks are easily accessible. You can get to Twitter, Facebook and MySpace quickly. After all, quick is the name of the game in social networking. If you must work, then you’ll have attachment viewing of Word, Excel and PowerPoint files with Word and Excel editing possible with apps from the Android Market.

Is G2 the one for you? If so, learn more and order your T-Mobile G2 Android phone with service at a terrific online discount.

Of course, you can shop to your heart’s content for Android and other smartphones plus standard cell phone models. They’re all available discounted or even free at Cell Phone Plans Finder now.

Xperience the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10

The Xperia X10 could be the smartphone experience you’ve been wanting. Consider the 8.1 Megapixel digital camera and 4 inch touchscreen. Do you really need to be carrying another camera? Do you?

Before you answer, note that the Xperia camera has flash, 16x zoom, touch focus, geo-tagging, smile detection and a send to Web feature. Optimize for landscape, portrait, night shooting, beach scenes and more. You can edit your photos right in the phone using apps from the Android Market. Capture video wherever you happen to be and share it with whomever you please via multimedia messaging. Here’s something else unique. The face detection software recognizes up to 5 faces in a photo and stores them in your contacts.

Yes, this is an Android smartphone. It runs version 1.6 of the Google Android operating system on a 1 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. Combine that processing power with AT&T’s 3G/UMTS HSPA network and download at up to 7.2 Mbps. You can choose to connect to personal and corporate WiFi networks and have free access to AT&T hotspots nationwide.

This is also a world phone running on the GSM bands. You’ll be compatible with nearly every cellular tower worldwide on the 800, 850, 1800 and 1900 voice bands and the UMTS/HSPA 800, 850, 1900 and 2100 data bands. This phone is already a success overseas and now available for users in the US.

The Xperia X10 has been designed with social networking in mind. Sony Ericsson Timescape puts all of your status updates from your social networking sites in one place. The equally impressive Mediascape brings all of your music, videos and photos together. You can surf the Web, check email and chat using instant messaging with the full HTML browser. Enjoy streaming multimedia with real-time video streaming support for YouTube and AT&T Radio.

Could this be the new smartphone you’ve been waiting for? If so, you can get it at a terrific online discount right now. Learn more and order your Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 for AT&T.

Of course, there are many more smartphones you can choose from, including a number of Android models. All are available at deep discounts, with many free. Check out today’s specials at Cell Phone Plans Finder.

BlackBerry Torch Fires Up Mobile Business

Like the torch that heralds the start of a new Olympics, the blackBerry Torch heralds the introduction of a new approach to mobile business communications.

The two big changes you see in this smartphone are the combination of touch screen and slide-out QWERTY keyboard, plus introduction of the new BlackBerry 6 operating system. Some of BlackBerry’s claims for the new OS are the ability to see all your social and RSS feeds in one place, faster Web browsing with multiple pages open, universal search for everything on your BlackBerry smartphone, improved multimedia with a build-in YouTube app, simple setup and personalizing, an intuitive fluid design.

If it sounds like BlackBerry has gone social, it has. This simply reflects the fact that social networking is now an important element in business, especially customer service and new customer acquisition. Of course you want easy and fast access to Twitter, FaceBook, YouTube, Linkedin and your other social networks. You need those interactions on an impromptu if not continuous basis.

Other key features of the BlackBerry Torch 9800 for AT&T include the impressive 5 Megapixel digital camera with flash, continuous auto-focus, digital zoom, face detection integrated GPS location tagging and video capture. The GPS services support also works for location-based services like AT&T Navigator.

The full touch screen features a full HTML Web browser with pinch-to-soom and tabbed browsing. You’ll be able to access email, read important documents or surf the Web while you are on a call, thanks to the AT&T network that has this multitasking ability enabled. Others don’t. You’ll be able to download view Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint documents on the go. The next generation messaging capability allows you to send group messages and maps. Visual voicemail lets you listen to your voicemail messages in any order and easily manage your inbox without calling in.

By the way, this is not just a BlackBerry device but a 220 country world phone as well. It is compatible with the GSM 850,900,1800 and 1900 bands and UTMS 800, 850, 1900 and 2100 bands. That pretty much covers the globe. You’ll have 3G data speeds where available and WiFi that autoconnects at AT&T HotSpots. Don’t worry about running out of storage for everything you carry with you on your BlackBerry. The Torch lets you expand up to 36 GB using a microSD memory card.

Are you a BlackBerry user that’s ready to move up to the latest technology? Or have you been eyeing BlackBerry devices with envy? Here’s your chance to get a leg up on your colleagues at a tremendous online discount. Learn more and order your BlackBerry Torch 9800 for AT&T now.

Of course, you’ll also find excellent deals on free and heavily discounted smartphones at Cell Phone Plans Finder. Be sure to check the today’s special deals.

HTC Aria Social Networking Smartphone

Need a friend on the cellular networks? Don’t get a dog. Get FriendStream. It let’s you stay in touch over Facebook, Twitter and Flickr. You’ll be connecting with the HTC Aria, one of the newest and hottest Android smartphones.

It starts with a single block of jet black aluminum that forms the smooth and seamless case of the Aria. Small enough to fit in your shirt pocket. Powerful enough to use for both business and personal needs. Its large 3.2 inch touchscreen features pinch-to-zoom, which automatically reflows text for easy reading as you zoom in and out of websites.

Yes, this is an Android smartphone. It runs Google’s Android 2.1 operating system and HTC Sense user interface. You can create and save multiple customized home screen layouts. You’ll be able to access thousands of apps and widgets on the Android Market. The Aria comes to you preloaded with Google Maps, Gmail, Google Talk, search and YouTube video access. Being on the AT&T 3G network, you’ll be able to surf and talk at the same time. That’s not true on all cellular networks.

The HTC Aria is set-up for messaging. The Email client accesses and syncs your corporate Email, Push Gmail and POP/IMAP regular email accounts. Or use your Web-based email account. There’s an HTML Web browser that gives you PC-like viewing and navigating of the Web with pinch and zoom capability. Multimedia messaging lets you send and receive picture and video messages. You’ll take some nice ones with the built-in 5 Megapixel autofocus digital camera that doubles as a camcorder.

The Aria is loaded with connectivity. It works on the worldwide GSM standard networks at 850, 900, 1800 and 1900 MHz. It also supports UMTS on 850 and 1900 MHz. You’ll be downloading at 3G speed over the AT&T HSDPA network. Want even more speed or to save your data plan? Use the WiFI capability with AT&T HotSpot support.

Mind you, this is a small phone that weighs-in at just 3.9 ounces. Dimensions are 4.1 x 2.3 x 0.5 inches. Yet it sports 384 MB of RAM and expandable to 32 GB using plug-in microSD memory cards.

Like Music? you can stream stereo music to and from A2DP compatible Bluetooth devices. The MP3 player supports AAC, MP3 and WAV formats. It’s also a high performance streaming multimedia phone. Watch full length TV shows with AT&T Mobile TV and stream music and videos.

Does this sound like the kind of high performance phone you’ve been looking for but not sure you can afford? Relax. You can get the HTC Aria for AT&T for FREE when you order it with new cellular service online.

Of course, there are many more free and low cost cell phones available to you right now. Check out the current specials and see what meets your needs. You’ll probably have a hard time picking just one.

Daddy Wants a BlackBerry

Father's Day is fast approaching. What do you suppose he wants? Could it be a nice new tie? One of those automotive "gift" sets? No, I think what Dad's been longing for is a high technology business and personal BlackBerry device. So this year, be bold. Give him a BlackBerry Bold. Shhh. Don't let him know you got it for a huge online discount.

The BlackBerry Bold is as powerful as it is attractive. With sleek black styling, it looks like it's ready for business. Oh, it is. This BlackBerry's email client offers the amazing BlackBerry "push" email that will integrate with up to 10 accounts. It supports VPN, POP3, IMAP, & SMTP, with a spell checker onboard. The BlackBerry Messenger is also preloaded for instant messaging.

What about Internet access? He'll have full HTML Web browsing available with one touch access and BlackBerry Maps support. The GPS receiver is part of the circuitry. Wouldn't want Dad getting lost, would we?

Speed will be no issue. This BlackBerry runs on the AT&T 3G data network and has connectivity for WiFi hotspots for blazing fast downloads. It's also a world phone, with access to all 4 GSM cellular bands. Have dad take it with him on those international business trips.

The huge color display, with 480 x 320 pixels, sets this BlackBerry apart from earlier devices. That comes in handy for viewing the print quality photos he can take and share with the built-in 2 Megapixel digital camera. Some high resolution family photos would be nice, right?

Just below the color display is a backlit full QWERTY keyboard. Yes, this is the mechanical version and not a touchscreen. BlackBerry aficionados will be up to speed messaging in no time.

What are the hottest cell phone deals available right now, including free cell phones? Use the Cell Phone Plan Finder to check out the top phones and associated wireless service plans.

I'm Not Paying For That Aircard

Office wireline business Internet connections offer fast and reliable broadband service... as long as you stay in one place. For mobile operation you need to hunt down WiFi hotspots or get a wide area wireless service, such as cellular broadband. But very few laptop and notebook computers have the communications interface for cellular broadband built-in.

What you need is a carrier specific interface called an aircard. Sounds expensive, right? Well, they can be but not if you know where to look. What you want is the best free aircard you can get that will work with your particular computer. Fortunately, there are lots of choices available.

An aircard, sometimes called a wireless modem, is not all that different from a plug-in WiFi access card. A few years ago, laptop computers came with built-in telephone modems as their communications solution. If you wanted to connect with a WiFi router or wireless access device, you needed to buy a special card. Most often these plugged into the PCMCIA port on the side of the computer.

Nowadays, nearly all portable computers come with WiFi capability built-in and only some still offer telephone modems. But WiFi is only good within a few hundred foot radius of the connection point. If you want to travel around town, cross country or have broadband service available in a client's place of business, you need a wider ranging wireless Internet service. The best option right now is usually cellular broadband.

Cellular broadband is exactly what it sounds like. Every cell tower transmits both voice and data channels. The voice channels are used to carry cellular telephone calls. The data channels carry broadband Internet service to cell phones and other devices that can access them. A cell phone doesn't need an aircard since the data access circuitry is built-in. All it needs is a data service plan in addition to the usual voice service plan.

A notebook computer needs both the aircard interface and the data service plan for the carrier you want to use. That's another difference between WiFi and cellular broadband. WiFi is more standardized and compatible. Cellular systems generally fall into two distinct technologies. GSM is the worldwide standard and the one used by AT&T and T-Mobile. CDMA is popular in the United States and is used by Sprint-Nextel, Verizon and Alltel.

GSM standards include the 2.5G standard called EDGE and the 3G standard called HSPA. There's also a fallback to an earlier standard called GPRS. CDMA carriers support EV-DO as the 2.5G standard and EV-DO Rev A for 3G. Sprint and Clearwire are starting to deploy a 4G standard called WiMAX, but it is only available in a few places right now. Verizon and AT&T have stated they'll both be using another 4G standard called LTE, with build-outs just starting later this year.

If you want cellular broadband service right now, it's available with speeds that rival DSL, T1 lines, and Cable broadband service in most medium and larger cities. Farther out, you may have to settle for the slower 2.5G services or even dial-up level performance in some rural areas. If you can get solid cell phone service, you can probably get at least some wireless Internet connectivity. It's best to check the coverage maps for the carrier you are interested in to get a better idea of what speeds you can expect.

The other decision you need to make is how to connect the aircard to your computer. Some PCMCIA cards are still available. Newer interfaces include ExpressCard/34 and USB. Nearly all computers now have USB connectors, so that is the most universal interface.

So, where can you get a free aircard that works with your computer? Right now, there are just under a dozen different models available for the major carries. They're all the same price... free... so your decision will be based on size, connector, carrier of choice, Mac or Apple compatibility, and other features that include things like built-in memory card slots. Check the selection of free aircards now. Be sure to click on the features of each card you are interested in to get a summary of the specs. You can also compare multiple aircards side by side. When you find the one you want, click on the order button for more details on the aircard and data service plan. It's that easy to get mobile Internet access for your business or personal needs.

Have SIM, Will Travel

SIM Simminy, SIM Simminy, SIM SIM Siree
If you want to travel, you'll need one of these.

What could be more fun than heading overseas on the trip of a lifetime, only to find out that your cell phone is little more than dead weight. No mobile calls for you, my friend. You get to use the hotel phone to call home. Hope you brought lots of extra cash. They're going to take it all.

There's a way to avoid this ugly scenario with only a little bit of planning. What you need is a cell phone that works in the country you're going to. Now, that might be the cell phone you already have. But it has to be enabled for overseas calling.

How do you do that? Well, first of all you need to know that not all cell phone services use the same standard. Most of the world is using something called GSM or Global System for Mobile communications. In the United States, AT&T and T-Mobile are the major service providers on this standard. Verizon, Alltel and Sprint use another system called CDMA or Code Division Multiple Access. Nextel uses something completely different called iDEN or Integrated Digital Enhanced Network.

What this means is that you'll need a GSM phone to work on GSM networks found in other countries. The best GSM phones offer quad band service. That means they operate on all 4 of the radio bands assigned for GSM cellular service. That's 850 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 1900 MHz. Next step down is a tri-band phone with 900/1800/1900 MHz capability. The 900 MHz band is the one used most frequently for services outside the United States.

Wait! Don't get on the plane or boat yet. Before you leave, you'll need one more little item called a SIM card. SIM stands for Subscriber Identity Module. It's a little circuit card that looks like one of those removable memory cards. You'll find it inside your cell phone. Don't bother looking unless you have a GSM phone.

What's important about the SIM card is that it is what enables the phone to work on a particular network. The cellular provider that sold you the phone is the one the SIM card works for. Move out of its coverage area and your service goes dead or you get hit with roaming charges.

But, you can get a replacement SIM card for your GSM phone that lets you take it overseas without incurring those high roaming charges. A good choice for this is the OneSimCard international mobile service SIM card. It works in over 150 countries and saves you up to 85% compared with your current service provider charges. Plus you can receive calls free in more than 54 countries.

All you need to do is buy an International SIM Card and use it to replace the one now in your quad or tri-band GSM phone. Save the one you take out. You'll want to put it back when you get home.

You should also know that some carriers lock their phones so only their own service can be used. Sometimes they'll unlock yours if you ask nicely and have proven yourself to be a good long term customer. It's best to give the International SIM Card a check in your phone to make sure it is unlocked to avoid a nasty surprise on the road.

No GSM phone or only a dual band model? Is your head swimming from too much information and no desire to go poking around inside your cell phone? Why not rent or buy the right mobile phone with service for where you are going? That way you can be sure you'll have what you need to communicate in the countries that you plan to visit. Bon Voyage!

HSUPA Joins HSDPA for Cellular Broadband

AT&T is nearly finished building out its upgraded cellular broadband network called HSPA or High Speed Packet Access. Just in time, too. The new BlackBerry Bold and the rumored iPhone upgrade will make good use of the higher data bandwidths that are now online at the cell towers. While most of the attention has focused on the download link, AT&T has quietly been upgrading the upload link also. What does this tell us about the next generation of mobile applications?

HSPA is part of the alphabet soup that is mobile technology. It's a network upgrade to the first installation of high speed cellular data for GSM networks. EDGE or Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution was good for jump starting applications such as video and music downloads, email, and Web browsing. But with speeds at the low end of what is available from DSL, around 230 Kbps, EDGE starts to feel noticeably poky for general Web browsing and streaming video. The HS in HSPA implies something much faster.

There are actually two pieces to the HSPA puzzle. HSDPA is the first and most important for most users. HSDPA stands for High Speed Download Packet Access. The download link has a maximum capacity of 14.4 Mbps or somewhere between 1 and 7 Mbps in practice. It's a huge improvement from EDGE and similar to Cable broadband speeds. Like most data links designed around Internet access, the uplink speed is much less. For HSDPA, it's 384 kbps maximum. That's perfectly acceptable if most of what you do is request Web pages, corporate data packages, software upgrades, email, music and video. The uplink requests are relatively small and infrequent. The big data blast is on the download link.

AT&T has pretty much completed its upgrade to HSDPA and now in the process of adding the second piece of the HSPA service, HSUPA or High Speed Uplink Packet Access. What HSUPA does in increase the uplink capacity from 384 kbps to a range of 500 to 800 kbps out of a maximum theoretical value of 5.76 Mbps. That complements AT&T download speeds of 1.4 Mbps.

Why bother upgrading the uplink? You don't need it for casual Web browsing, but it does have value for uploading larger files or running real-time applications such as mobile video conferencing. It also speeds things like posting to blogs, updating Web sites, or sending photos with high resolutions or video clips. Our impression that the nature of mobile services is changing is confirmed by wireless network upgrades such as HSUPA.

HSPA gives AT&T a fully functional 3G network, just in time to start working on further upgrades to 4G. HSPA has an evolutionary path called HSPA+ that increases downlink speeds to 42 Mbps and uplink speeds to 22 Mbps. Whether that path will be fully exploited remains to be seen, as AT&T is also committed to another technology called LTE or Long Term Evolution that ramps up the data bandwidth to 300 Mbps on the downlink and 75 Mbps on the uplink. This technology won't be fully deployed for at least a few years, giving us time to come up with HD video and other applications that can make good use of these incredible 4G speeds.

BlackBerry's Bold Move to HSDPA

Research In Motion, the maker of BlackBerry wireless devices, is introducing a new model called "Bold." Some of its bold features include a higher resolution display, 1 GB on-board storage memory, 624 MHz processor, and 2 Megapixel digital camera. But its boldest move is in its wireless connectivity. It has blown past the common EDGE data services in support of tri-band HSDPA plus Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g. No longer is email going to be enough for enterprise users. Now it's desktop-style Web browsing and streaming video.

A related story that's buzzing in the media is that the Apple iPhone is selling out in places without apparent restocking. The best guesses are that Apple wants to unload current stock before the arrival of the new improved iPhone with, you guessed it, HSDPA cellular broadband.

So, what is HSDPA and why is it the big news instead of cool looking phone designs? HSDPA implementation is a move toward a faster mobile Internet to support higher bandwidth applications. Not mentioned as much is that it is also a way to nip WiMAX in the bud before it takes over as the mobile broadband standard. Within the last week, Sprint and Clearwire's struggling WiMAX effort got bankrolled by a consortium that includes Intel, Google, Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks.

AT&T certainly can't sit still if it intends to be a wireless powerhouse. Indeed, it has been upgrading its cellular network from EDGE technology that barely qualifies as broadband with download speeds of around 100 to 200 kbps. The replacement is HSDPA which stands for High Speed Download Packet Access. HSDPA tops out at 14,400 kbps or over 14 Mbps. That's faster than most Cable broadband services and even many business wireline Internet connections.

The BlackBerry Bold, the Apple iPhone and other smartphones have included Wi-Fi access capability as a way to access the Internet and company networks in areas where cellular service is spotty. A better reason is to get decent access speeds when you just can't stand the poky performance of over the air data services. With the upgrade to HSDPA, it's likely that the WiFi capability is going to get less of a workout. The availability of broadband on the go is just too appealing.

HSDPA is a data transmission technology unique to GSM cellular networks. In the U.S., AT&T is the major network using GSM. But the "G" in GSM means global. People don't just buy GSM phones because they like AT&T service. They also like the ability to use their phones overseas, especially on business travel. T-Mobile is the other major network using GSM in the U.S.

The other two major carriers, Sprint and Verizon, are based on CDMA instead of GSM. They are both digital cellular services, but are technically incompatible. Your phone is either CDMA or GSM, but unlikely to work on both. Sprint and Verizon have been aggressive about rolling out their own wireless broadband data services known as EVDO. The Rev A version of EVDO has a download burst speed of 3.1 Mbps, with an upgrade to speeds similar to HSDPA in the upcoming Rev B.

RIM has upgraded the color display on the BlackBerry Bold to be a half-VGA with resolution of 480x320 pixels. This is similar to the resolution of the iPhone, but not physically as large. Instead, the Bold uses the lower portion of its stylish case for a full QWERTY keyboard. But the high resolution display and high speed wireless data connection underscore that the importance of text is going to be increasingly augmented by streaming video in the corporate environment.

What are the hottest cell phone deals available right now, including free cell phones? Use the Cell Phone Plan Finder to check out the top phones and associated wireless service plans.