G’s and LTE

The various G’s denote the various generations of mobile telephony in the technological evolution. First generation G devices used analogue signal transmission technology. 2G devices were the first to use digital signals. 3G technology can handle multimedia traffic whereas 4G can transmit HD quality content. Currently 3G and 4G devices are the most popular but service providers are working on the introduction of 5G technology offering broadband and ultra-fast data transmission. LTE practically involves 4G technology. LTE stands for Long Term Evolution and is currently the most modern mobile data transmission technology.

What kind of mobile device should I choose?

It is good to know what the G’s and LTE stand for but, of course, this know-how should be put to good use in our everyday lives. When shopping for a mobile, your options range from traditional devices to smartphones. The pros of traditional phones include their low prices and battery capacity for up to a week with a single charge, yet you can be reached just like in the case of a smartphone. The big pluses of smartphones clearly include internet connectivity and the plethora of applications that make your life easier, as is the case, for instance with GPS navigation. When shopping for a mobile, you should also take into account what type of mobile internet you can access with it. A 4G or 5G network in your neighbourhood does not help if your device is not 4G or 5G ready, i.e. it cannot use the network. In addition to internet connectivity, also take into account your needs that basically determine what the ideal parameters of your mobile should be. Check out display size, battery capacity, the phone’s internal memory, camera quality, and decide which of the three popular operating systems (Windows Phone, Android, iOS) you would like to use.

Internet of Things

Can you imagine using your mobile phone at work to issue a command, even a voice command, to your home heating system to ensure that the temperature is just right by the time you get home? For more information on the Internet of Things (IoT), please visit the Technology tab of our Internet subsite.

Why is Viber or Facebook Messenger so special?

Classic messaging applications like Viber, Skype, Facebook Messenger or WhatsApp offer services without guarantees for service quality as it depends on the quality of your internet connection. Nowadays these apps are typically used from smartphones. Services available via the open internet are called over-the-top (OTT) services. Their operation is largely dependent on network neutrality as they can only work effectively if service providers ensure that these applications can access the internet. For more information on network neutrality, please visit the Technology tab of our Internet subsite.