It is expected to see customers lining up outside of the Apple flagship store for getting the new-generation iPhone on June 24 - the date where Apple has recently announced to launch iPhone 4; however, many reports miswrote the product name to iPhone 4G, and it may mislead customers to think iPhone 4 is a 4G smartphone. On the other hand, most people do not know the 4G technology they called have not yet been qualified as true 4G, but are branded as 4G for marketing purpose.
iPhone 4 Is Still 3G Smartphone
To say iPhone 4G sounds reasonable if explaining Apple's newest smartphone model as the fourth generation of iPhone, while 4G usually refers to fourth-generation wireless standard, a successor of 3G standard which has higher networking speeds. Apple does not name its new model as iPhone 4G probably to avoid such confusion. Apple iPhone 4 still comes with 3G (802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi) connection. The only difference compared to iPhone 3G S is iPhone 4 has 802.11n capability.
"4G" Phones In The Market
The only two "4G" phones in the market are both WiMAX capable handsets introduced by Taiwan-based smartphone vendor HTC (High Tech Computer) - HTC EVO 4G and HTC MAX 4G. The former is the first WiMAX handset in the US launched in June 4, 2010 using Sprint's network; the later is the first WiMAX handset worldwide launched in Russia in November 2008 using Scartel (brand Yota)'s network.
Upcoming LTE "4G" Phones
Korea-based vendor Samsung Electronics has recently announced the first LTE-enabled phone - Samsung SCH-r900, will be available in the second half of 2010 in the US using MetroPCS Communications' service. Another Korea-based company LG Electronics is also speculated to LTE handset this year, according to Digitimes.
The "True" 4G Technology
However, so-called 4G technologies, including LTE (Long Term Evolution), WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) and UMB (Ultra Mobile Broadband), are just networking service projects proposed to ITU (International Telecommunication Union) to be defined as 4G technologies. To be accorded the official designation of 4G, the transmission speed has to reach the requirement of 100Mbps (mobile networks) and 1 Gbps (fixed networks).
So far the above so-called 4G technologies have not yet fully complied the transmission requirements of 4G standard, and should be called 3.9G, or pre-4G technologies, ITU noted.
ITU has received six technology submissions and is currently in the evaluation process for determining which can be qualified as true 4G technology. The determination will be made in October 2010, according to ITU's earlier announcement.
Meiling Chen - Meiling Chen is an experienced writer who has been working for DIGITIMES, a leading Taiwan media and consulting company focusing on the IT ...
