2G And 3G Cellular Networks: Their Impact On Today's Enterprise Mobility Solutions...And Future Mobility Strategies

To understand what 3G means for your specific business and mobility applications, you'll need a basic understanding of the different networks — and their state of development. The first generation of cellular networks, known as 1G, consisted of analog systems capable of carrying only voice. These first mobile phone systems were in use from the late 1970s through to the 1980s, and were just recently 'retired'.

In the 1990's, the second generation (2G) networks were launched — including Gsm, Pcs, iDEN, TDma and cDma. 2G networks replaced the analog processing of the 1G networks with digital processing, enabling the wireless transmission of voice as well as data. The 2G digital cellular networks expanded on the voice-only services of 1G networks, enabling a variety of new features such as push-to-talk, short messaging service (sms), conference calling, caller iD, voicemail and simple data applications like email messaging and Web browsing. These networks are still in existence today, providing voice service to the majority of today's cell phone users.

To address the world's 'need for speed', carriers continued to develop 2G networks, giving birth to an interim generation of cellular networks with a significant increase in bandwidth over 2G networks — the 2.5G networks. Where 2G networks typically provide speeds of 10 to 20 Kbps, 2.5G networks deliver data at typical dial-up speeds, from 30 to 90 Kbps1 — three or more times the effective speed of 2G networks. The throughput of 2.5G networks provides the bandwidth needed to support a wide range of new applications, including faxing, large email messages, efficient Web browsing, maps for real-time navigation and basic multimedia. Today's 2.5G networks represent the most robust network 1 WHiTE PaPEr: 2G and 3G cellular networks: Their impact on today's enterprise mobility solutions…and future mobility strategies offering that is also widely available. it is this generation of networks that provides support for many enterprise workers out in the field today, from sales and field service personnel to delivery drivers, postal workers, government inspectors and more.