Edit: Now they are talking about 5G. Most of this is still applicable.
Originally posted August 9, 2011 on AIXchange
Just what are these strange devices we’re all carrying around these days? Are they phones or PDAs? Are they small computers? (They do have greater processing power available than some of the larger machines I cared for 20-some years ago.) Are they replacements for a cable modem? Does the name “smartphone” do them justice?
On my device, I can play games like Scrabble or hangman. I can shoot birds at pigs. I can take pictures and videos. I can use it as a GPS or a map, complete with turn by turn directions. I can use it as a flashlight. I can use it as an alarm clock.
I can, of course, use it to browse the Internet. I can check my e-mail. I can use it to locate nearby hotels and restaurants. I can use it to track flights and get weather information. I can use it as an ssh client. I can ssh to it. I can use it as an external drive and move data around with it.
I almost forgot–I can also use it make phone calls and texts. And I’m almost certainly forgetting several other uses.
I’m not here to argue for particular brands or wireless carriers. For one thing, it wouldn’t be practical. Readers from this blog live around the world, and not everyone has access to every model. Besides, it’s indisputable that all of these devices–iOS on the iPhone, the Android operating system, BlackBerry OS, among others–can do so many things.
Here in the U.S., marketing folks are calling faster network speeds 4G, so that’s what I’ll call them as well. I am shocked at the amazing real-world speeds that I am seeing throughout the country when I get on these 4G networks.
If you’re wondering what sort of speed you have in your hand, check out an app called Speed Test.
As I travel throughout the country installing Power servers, I find more and more locations are enabling 4G, so I get to enjoy these fast speeds while I’m on the road. Depending on my location, I’ve seen 4G speeds in the 16-29 Mbps range. That’s faster than hotel wifi; sometimes I can’t even get that speed at home. As a guy who used to plug in a 14.4Kbps modem to get online while on the road, I’m just amazed.
The best part is I can enable my device as a hot spot, which means that my laptop runs this fast as well, even while I’m on the move in a car. The benefits aren’t just work-specific, either. This summer I’ve learned that letting the kids stream Netflix is a good way to keep them occupied during long road trips. Now the cry from the back seat isn’t “are we there yet?” it’s “how much further until we get 4G?” My children are quickly learning the difference between 3G and 4G. (Side note: Keeping the youngsters entertained gets really tough when you’re, say, traveling California’s Pacific Coast Highway. For hundreds of miles, you’re lucky to have 1X speed, if you have cellular coverage at all.)
So why do you care? If you’re in an area that’s served by these faster speeds, and you can get an unlimited data plan, you should see if it’s worth it to switch over. Keep in mind you don’t have to use your phone to get the faster network speeds on the cellular data network. The data dongles will work fine on your laptop. I appreciate this because I can bypass a company’s network. If you’re consultant, you understand. So many companies don’t want us connecting to their network, either from network security or physical connectivity points of view. In many cases, companies simply aren’t set up to accommodate us, so having this alternative can be a big help.
Sure, I’ve been able to get e-mail and download files at customer sites for awhile–I used cellular cards for years–but it’s so much easier and faster now. (Only occasionally do I find myself in computer rooms or buildings where I can’t get cellular coverage.) Basically, I’m carrying my own network wherever I go.
So how much do you love your devices? More importantly, how much do you need them? And how much more do you love and need them in light of the faster speeds? Are there other things that I should be doing when I’m mobile? Let me know in Comments.