What is 3G and 4G

RaiderHammer

Hi can ayone explain what is 3G and 4G in laymans terms please lol...

What does it do, do yiou need to pay for it etc?

Thank you.

kwikbreaks

3G is high(ish) speed data transfer on mobile devices (mostly smartphones)

4G is not yet available

Only you know if you need 3G and you can't get 4G anyway

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3g
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4G

freyal

4G networking allows even faster network data speeds than 3G and has been rolled out over parts of America (expected here in the UK ~2014)

All networks here in the UK offer, and most smartphones are compatible with, HSDPA, which is an intermediate technology between 3G and 4G - it allows high speed downloads and will provide you with far better quality videos than 3G.

lucylucky

freyal wrote: »

4G networking allows even faster network data speeds than 3G and has been rolled out over parts of America (expected here in the UK ~2014)

All networks here in the UK offer, and most smartphones are compatible with, HSDPA, which is an intermediate technology between 3G and 4G - it allows high speed downloads and will provide you with far better quality videos than 3G.

It doesn't actually improve the videos just the transfer/streaming speed.

RaiderHammer

Is 3G free on pay as you go phones or is this something you need a package for or need to pay for when you use it? Thanks.

lucylucky

You can buy a PAYG phone and use a SIM which will be 3G capable, assuming it is available in your chosen location.

It is not an extra service.

RaiderHammer

lucylucky wrote: »

You can buy a PAYG phone and use a SIM which will be 3G capable, assuming it is available in your chosen location.

It is not an extra service.

Stupid question I know but what can I do with 3G for free?

lucylucky

3G is a faster connection speed than some others so you can connect to the internet more quickly for example.

RaiderHammer

lucylucky wrote: »

3G is a faster connection speed than some others so you can connect to the internet more quickly for example.

Sorry stupid question time again. Is the internet available all the time for no charge on a PAYG mobile? Or can you just connect to cafe wifi's / home wifi etc?

Darksun

RaiderHammer wrote: »

Sorry stupid question time again. Is the internet available all the time for no charge on a PAYG mobile? Or can you just connect to cafe wifi's / home wifi etc?

I think some PAYG packages include free mobile internet when you top up by so much every month. Others will charge by the kB/mB, or charge a flat rate.

For example, I'm with Tesco PAYG, it's £2/week for 'unlimited' internet (actually limited to 100mB/week), which comes out of my normal credit. I can cancel at any time or if I don't have available credit it just automatically cancels (so I can't end up with bills)

lucylucky

RaiderHammer wrote: »

Sorry stupid question time again. Is the internet available all the time for no charge on a PAYG mobile? Or can you just connect to cafe wifi's / home wifi etc?

Access to the internet via 3G is chargeable by some means. It may be built into your allowance or you may have to pay on a per use basis.

You can of course connect to free wi-fi (or pay to connect to chargeable wi-fi) or connect to your home wi-fi but that has nothing to do with 3G.