We've seen the billboards all over town: an oversized phone slathered with the words "first" and "4G." But those of us who don't accept "sometime later this year" for an answer have been left to ask: "So?" "When?"
Sprint today announced plans to "officially" launch 4G WiMax mobile internet service across L.A. December 1. Sprint users have been reporting more and more 4G coverage across the metro area since the HTC EVO was released in early June.
In other words, this is a press release about an upcoming announcement amounting to a public acknowledgment of what has already been lit up. But we thought you should be the first to pre-know.
What is 4G? It's what comes after 3G -- literally: "fourth generation." Sprint's 4G network (about 2-3 times faster than 3G) runs on WiMax via a partnership with Clearwire.
Verizon, T-Mobile and AT&T are turning to technology called LTE (Long Term Evolution) for 4G speeds. Verizon recently said its speedy 4G LTE network will be lit up across 38 cities and 60 airports by the end of the year (including L.A. and LAX).
T-Mobile's upgraded network is already live in L.A. and they even have a map. AT&T's fourth-generation HSPA+ network is expected to be launched mid-2011.
Are you ready for speedier mobile internet services or is 3G fast enough? (Note: this will not impact the [lack of] quality and coverage for voice calls).
