The biggest pros and cons of 4G networks

Image courtesy of JCDecaux Creative Solutions at Flickr.com

Technology changes rapidly nowadays. And mobile technology changes even faster. Mobile networks have been a trend topic since they appeared on the market. Now they are working with 4G networks that bring a totally new game to the market. What are their pros? What are their cons? You are going to find out in this next text where we, alongside Don Burns, analyse the 4G networks and some of its advantages and disadvantages.

Let us first define what 4G networks are so we can then move on to analyse its pros and cons for the market. 4G networks is a collection of fourth generation cellular data technologies which succeed the 3G network and is also called "IMT-Advanced," or "International Mobile Telecommunications Advanced." The 4G network concept was first developed in 2005 in South Korea under the name of WiMAX. It was then spread to several European countries over the next few years. In the United States it appeared in 2009 when Sprint went out of the nutshell to offer a 4G cellular network.

Since 4G networks is a series of networks, as its name says it, all 4G standards must conform to a set of specifications created by the International Telecommunications Union. Download and speed may vary but in the end, 4G networks need to have certain unified terms and conditions in order for it to work around the world. For example, all 4G technologies are required to provide peak data transfer rates of at least 100 Mbps. Also, there is no single 4G standard. The way it works is that different cellular providers use different technologies that conform to the 4G requirements. For example, WiMAX is a popular 4G technology used in Asia and Eastern Europe, while LTE (Long Term Evolution) is more popular in Scandinavia and the United states.

Now that we understand this, let’s take a look at the pros and cons of 4G networks:

PROS:

One of the main advantage of 4G over 3G networks is it amazing speed. It has an increased bandwidth that leads to much faster data transfer speed. These networks allow users to have non-stop connectivity and very fast data transfer for videos, chats and conferences, stream music, videos and movies. Also, all this information is easier to share online with the 4G networks.

The coverage that 4G networks offers is similar to those offered by WIFI connections where there has to be hubs or spots where the signal is retransmitted and where the signal can be captured and used. Well, 4G networks work the same and offer 30 miles coverage and sometimes more.

Image courtesy of Michael Coghlan at Flickr.com

In this connected world, privacy and security are becoming more important as time passes. In WIFI networks the biggest problems are always related to privacy and security, especially in mobile devices. On the other hand, 4G networks offer complete privacy, security and safety. This is beneficial for people that are looking to keep some information private or for business and corporations that handle delicate information and want to retain corporate secrets.

It is an advantage, but honestly, the price is not a key factor in 4G networks. They are affordable, although more expensive than WIFI, but they offer more benefits for the money people pay.

The amounts of plans that can be created with this type of network are very large. Companies take advantage of this as they can offer customers several options on the network, devices and equipment. Many mobile companies offer special introductory offers for new customers that will make them come back to the company and thus to the network.

CONS:

One of the most visible disadvantages of 4G networks are their connectivity limitations as it depends on the region and specific carriers. A lot of big cities around the world have these networks, but it will take some time to get full coverage for the main cities and capitals in the world.

The devices for this technology are cheap and available in the market. This means that equipment needs to be installed and that companies have to include these expenses in their budgets. This is not a con, but only a small setback.

Battery issues are now a big problem in mobile devices. Since 4G mobile networks use multiple antennae and transmitters, the phones will need to use more battery capacity. This would mean larger mobile devices with more battery power so people can stay online for longer periods of time.

4G networks are the rule nowadays, and they are very useful. Some of their disadvantages are now being addressed and overcome. The biggest problem still remains when 4G users have to switch to 3G or WiFi in the areas that do not yet have 4G mobile network coverage. Anyway, 4G still is an amazing system of networks, although they have had minor setbacks since it went live.

Also take a look at this amazing article on Apps and communication advances

Millennials and telecommunications: a love meant to last

The term Millennial is used to describe the generation of people who turned to adulthood in the 21st century. The term was first coined by Neil Howe and William Strauss, authors of the 1991 book Generations: The History of America's Future. Millennials grew up in a world filled with technology and socially-networked. They are the generation that has received the most marketing attention in human history. They tend to be tolerant to difference since they are the most ethnically diverse generation. They were raised by the “follow your dreams” ideal, for this they tend to be confident and a little more optimistic about the future of America than other generations.

In terms of Technology, Media and Telecommunications (TMT), Don Burns knows Millennials are likely to be the first pro-PC users. Even when they compose the smartphone generation, they are still the age group who is more prone to use computers, especially a laptop, to communicate. Statistics show that 85% of Millennials living in developed countries have access to a portable personal computer (laptop). Compared to the access they have to smartphones, this statistic is simply a little bit lower.

Image courtesy of Rachel at Flickr.com

Millennials tend to have all the smart devices since they see each one of them as a complement and not a substitute for each function. Therefore, they have smartphones, laptops, and PCs, and they use them as tools to communicate and work. This general picture is possible because technology prices are lower today compared to what they used to be a decade ago, also because they were raised in a fast-paced world characterized by affordable high-tech devices.

Most people who belong to this generation usually prefer to type on their computers or hold a smartphone on their hands to share a couple words with their loved ones. Surprisingly, they are more prone to use a laptop than a phablet or tablet, simply because the keyboards and trackpads on laptops are easier to manipulate.

How do Millennials communicate?

Millennials move fast with all the new telecommunication trends and advances. As the smartphone generation, they prefer to use apps to do and find out about everything, especially if those apps are graphically appealing. A recent study in the US shows that young adults spend at least 30% of their daily time using their mobile phones to both communicate and chill. Apps such as Instagram have become the Millennials Holy Grail in terms of sharing graphic content.

In terms of using a computer, Millennials in the US spend at least 25% less time than adults from older generations do using the Internet or watching video on a PC, in addition to email, games, and work/study applications. This means they want to make the most of their time when it comes to using technology, accomplishing multiple tasks per day. They want communications to be effective and in real-time.

The usage of mobile phones compared to laptops is considerably higher for Millennials. In general, this generation spends 20 hours more per month on their mobiles than they do on their laptops.

What about the old-fashioned telecom means?

If we think about TV usage, Millennials don’t spend more than 3 hours in front of the TV, and usually, they don’t use it to watch their favorite show. Most times they plug their game consoles and use internet connection to download games, watch movies, read the news, watch Youtube videos or even send emails. In this sense, the way Millennials interact with their TV has also changed since most TVs nowadays are also smart and allow people to share mass media content with them.

Furthermore, old generations tend to spend 33% more time reading a printed newspaper or magazine, or listening to the radio than Millennials do. This new generation reads digital contents and listens to online broadcasts on their mobile phones. This trend has taken over newspapers, magazines and radio, showing that the way information is produced hasn’t changed, but what has indeed changed is the way this new generation consumes it.

Why is the love between Millennials and Telecom meant to last?

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Even though there was a shift in the way this young generation uses and oversees telecommunications, the need of using them is still very powerful. This can be seen in the importance Millennials give to being connected to the outer world. They always want to be the first ones to post it, they don’t want to work inside an office but at a coffee shop from where they can email their workplace, they simply want to move fast with technology and use it in the best way they can to communicate their ideas and emotions.

Telecommunications are advancing according to its consumer’s needs. If companies kept all this information in mind, they would know that best way for them to grant their permanence in the market is by creating strategies meant to reach this new type of consumer that has always its smartphone, tablet or laptop in hand and in front of its eyes.