Let's move away from the App Store or the push-email support for a few minutes

Jun 18, 2008 20:06 GMT  ·  By

With all this iPhone 3G talk, everyone is hearing all kinds of new stuff, such as iPhone 2.0, Microsoft Exchange support, the App Store, GPS, etc. But no one seems to focus on the actual 3G part.

Surely all the cool details surrounding the new iPhone have left a good impression on those who haven't even been introduced to the original device, launched last year. Still, its 3G capabilities are probably the least discussed of the lot. So, what are the benefits of 3G networking anyway?

Well, for starters, it's faster. 3G technology gives iPhone fast access to the Internet and email over cellular networks around the world, and makes it possible to do more things at the same time, without having to worry about losing the connection. With 3G, you can surf the web, download email, use the GPS, or watch a video, even while you?re on a call.

All this can be achieved thanks to a technology protocol called HSDPA (High-Speed Downlink Packet Access), that the iPhone uses to download data fast over UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) networks. Email attachments and web pages load about twice as fast on 3G networks than on 2G EDGE networks. Also, iPhone 3G seamlessly switches between EDGE, faster 3G, and even faster Wi-Fi, so you always get the best speeds possible in a certain area. Simply put, if you?re in an area without a 3G network, the device connects you via GSM for calls and via EDGE for data.

Clearly you must already be impressed about the talk-and-browse (at the same time) capability of the iPhone 3G - but how is this possible?

While Apple's original iPhone already allows for mobile multitasking, 3G lets you multitask in more places, without connecting to a Wi-Fi network. 3G networks enable simultaneous data and voice, so you can talk on the phone even while using Google Maps, for instance.

Of course, now you're going to ask why the iPhone didn't boast 3G capabilities from the get-go. Well, Apple was worried about battery life and, also, it needed some more space on the device to "hide" the necessary antennas. A little more research, a little more planning, and it was done! The iPhone 3G delivers UMTS, HSDPA, GSM, Wi-Fi, EDGE, GPS, and Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR, using only two antennas integrated into the metal ring around the camera, the audio jack, the metal screen bezel, and the iPhone circuitry itself. A better battery type, as well as a new, low consuming processor, provide up to 5 hours of talk time over 3G networks, thus solving the battery issue as well.

To sum it up, this hopefully gives you an idea of why iPhone 3G is really called iPhone 3G (and not "the-device-that-brings-the-AppStore"), and why this particular aspect is crucial for its success.

Photo Gallery (2 Images)

3G mobile and complementing technologies
Open gallery