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Just a few years after most network providers were able to secure the infrastructure needed for nationwide 3G coverage, the race is now on again for them to upgrade to accommodate 4G data speeds. 4G has become the toast of the moment and it has set the community ablaze with excitement. You must have noticed the wave of 4G adverts and marketing campaigns that have hit the TV and other media. While many were still getting used to the possibilities and options that come with 3G phone, data speeds just went faster with the emergence of 4G. But is 4G really that much faster than 3G and is the public accepting it?

Simply put, 4G is an advanced generation technology that is able to provide connection and data speeds at a rate that is at least two times faster than present 3G. This should translate into a quicker and fuller web experience, plus faster uploads and downloads. To enjoy 4G you will need a compatible 4G device and subscription to a 4G service plan. The HTC Evo 4G was the first 4G phone to be launched in the US in May 2010 by Sprint. Since then the list of 4G phones has been increasing with AT&T and T-Mobile also releasing a couple of 4G phones. For example you can get the HTC Inspire 4G on the AT&T platform, or the Samsung Galaxy S 4G released by T-Mobile or even a HTC Evo Shift 4G by Sprint. There are now over a dozen 4G phones to select from in the US.

With all the marketing and promotional activities surrounding the emergence of 4G, many may wonder if 4G is really worth spending extra for. Is the data speed really that much faster or is it just a marketing gimmick? We did a test using the at three various locations that had 4G coverage. We used a speed test utility to test and compare the speed of internet connection as well as uploading and downloading data using 3G and then 4G platforms. The result of the test showed that connecting to the internet and downloading data with 4G was about seven times faster than 3G, while uploading data with 4G was just about three times faster than 3G speeds. 4G makes transferring data so much easier and faster.

A market survey of 2,100 US adults by the Nielsen Company showed that 83% of the respondents sampled were already aware of 4G and what it is. 71% of them said that had plans to buy a 4G phone within the next 12 months. These results show that the awareness campaign may have paid off as more people are aware of the faster data speeds that 4G can provide and a great percentage are interested in grabbing one for themselves.

As time rolls by, it is expected that 4G coverage provided by the major network providers will spread to cover more cities and locations. However, we likely will have to wait until 2013 before most network providers would be able to provide comprehensive national 4G coverage. Till then we expect more exciting phone model options to be released on the 4G platform and service subscription costs to reduce. For those whose locations already enjoy 4G coverage, it may be wise to get yourself a 4G phone and join the excitement of data speeds at the speed of 4G.

Tags: the recent buzz, excitement of 4g speeds, 4g phones, 4g data speeds