Everyone wants that new 4G network. Only problem is there is no such thing

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sc-biz-1119-4g-20101119,0,7583382.story

Are phone carriers getting their 4G signals crossed?

Debate rages over latest network label

By Wailin Wong, Tribune reporter

November 19, 2010

<snip>In the wireless industry, various agencies coordinate how the radio spectrum is used globally and set technology standards, which are important for interoperability between communications systems. In October, the International Telecommunication Union, a United Nations agency, announced its designations for "true 4G technologies." All of the U.S. networks touted as 4G fall short of ITU criteria.

"None of the networks today meet the ITU's specifications for 4G," said Chris Nicoll, a distinguished research fellow at the Yankee Group. "It's like saying, "My bicycle is a car because it has wheels and has the same (technology) roadmap to get to the automobile.'"

Still, with so much momentum behind making 4G a household name, the carriers aren't giving up the term. And because there is no agency with legal authority over how 4G should be used in advertising, carriers are free to describe their technology however they please. This dynamic mirrors how "all natural," for example, has become a ubiquitous yet hazily defined term.

[KharmaTrain]

1. Why I Tell People To Wait For The "Smartphone"...

Nope...we're not there yet, but should be soon. All the major carriers are upgrading to 4G systems bit by piece just as they did with 3G. There are some carriers that offer 4G features but still use the 3G infrastructure. As is generally the case, it'll take about 5 years for a new network to take root and become the standard. I'll wait for that ultimate cellphone...