| 4G is the latest among a line of technological | | | | can also offer the services to individuals and homes |
| breakthroughs in communications technology that | | | | who need mobile Internet access at fast speeds. |
| started with analog as the first, digital as the second, | | | | Millions of subscribers are expected to switch to 4G |
| and multi-media as the third generation. 4G promises | | | | WiMax due to faster connection speeds at rates that |
| fast mobile Internet access speeds. There are | | | | are comparable to 3G services such as DSL, WiFi, or |
| currently two competing technologies that are being | | | | Cable broadband. WiMax is also easy to avail, an |
| implemented as 4G: WiMax (Worldwide | | | | option to get the indoor subscriber CPE (Customer |
| Interoperability for Microwave Access) and LTE | | | | Premise Equipment) does not even require a |
| (Long Term Evolution). Verizon, the wireless Internet | | | | technician or any type of installation to be made, all |
| service provider (WISP) using LTE, is set to make | | | | the customer has to do is plug the CPE and power it |
| 4G LTE available in selected cities in the country | | | | on. |
| before the year ends. WiMax has had a head start | | | | Laptop and netbook manufacturers have already |
| and has already made the service available to 41 | | | | begun shipping WiMax ready units. These units can |
| million people in the U.S. and plans to make the | | | | connect in a WiMax covered areas without any |
| service available to 79 million more by the end of | | | | additional gadget or software to install. For mobile |
| 2010. The main WISP using WiMax technology is | | | | devices, Sprint has started offering the first WiMax |
| Clearwire Corporation, which is majority-owned by | | | | ready phone in the HTC Evolution. However, if your |
| Sprint Nextel. | | | | laptop or desktop is not WiMax ready yet, an easy |
| Clearwire is also offering its services in selected areas | | | | to install USB device can be purchased as an add-on |
| under the Clear brand. It has also partnered with | | | | and the unit will be ready to send and receive WiMax |
| almost two thousand local telecommunications and | | | | signals. For laptops, another option is a PCMCIA card |
| cable companies to provide the 4G Wireless | | | | that can be installed on an available slot on the side |
| Broadband services in their areas. An authorized seller | | | | of the laptop to make the gadget WiMax ready. |