14 DAY TRIAL // A trial run of fourth-generation mobile technology has been launched in Shanghai, China. Although over 80 million customers were anxiously waiting to switch to 3G, such networks and services are still not available in China and have been constantly delayed by the Chinese government.
But now it looks like people from China are going to get something much better than 3G. As a response to the delays, engineers have moved on to developing the ultra-fast 4G technology that provides wireless services at considerably faster speeds.
The technology will improve high-quality images and data services, possibly also allowing features such as multi-channel high-definition TV broadcasting.
The trial of the fourth-generation technology in Shanghai cost 150 million yuan (approximately $19 million) and according to the Chinese government, it was the first rollout of the 4G in the world.
"It testifies that the technology we've developed is feasible and brings us one step closer to put it into commercial use," the China Daily quoted You Xiaohu, a leading expert involved in China's 4G development program, as saying of Sunday's trial.
South Korean Samsung Electronics has also unveiled the world's first fourth-generation mobile technology last August. The demonstration took place on a bus that traveled at about 37 miles per hour.
Samsung representatives claimed that even if the bus traveled at up to 70 miles per hour, 4G would work just as well. The Korean company expects to put the technology into commercial use by 2010. After several more field tests, China aims to put the fourth-generation technology into trial sometime before 2010.