US 4G Zones and Networks

4G (4th Generation) technology wireless computer and hand-held device networking will be a significant advancement in the United States. We will be able to download movies and software 10 times faster than ever before on our wireless devices, and the devices themselves will offer great multitasking capabilities.

At this time there is no real nationwide 4G wireless network coverage available in the United States. Sprint is working to build the the first US 4G capable network, but it is currently tiny and insignificant. Other countries (i.e.: Japan) are already utilizing 4G wireless networks and computing devices, so the USA is significantly lagging behind in this technology. However, these 4G wireless networks and computing devices are coming.

Sprint currently offers 4G coverage in 11 of the USA's 50 states. However, 4G coverage does not span any entire state and is limited to a few large metropolitan centers. However, Sprint only offers a total of three 4G capable devices: the U301 USB 4G data modem, the Overdrive 5 client 4G host spot modem, and the HTC EVO 4G phone.

However, some smaller wireless internet provider companies seem to be much more serious about propogating the 4G technology within their own local service areas. An example of this would be BridgeMaxx, which is claiming to offer 4G wireless internet access right now, even in a remote area such as Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

It will be important to have 4G capable wireless computing and networking devices in order to take advantage of this new technology that is coming. In fact, because the US networks are still so poor and lagging so far behind the current Asian markets, we cannot even recommend any reputable 4G devices or networks at this time. Even if we knew about them, we couldn't even test them without the right equipment and the appropriate contract.

Therefore we have to report that 4G technology is currently nearly non-existant in the USA. We expect this to change over the next few years, but it will be some time.

What is 4G all about? Better and more reliable wireless networking over much broader distances using more user-friendly technologies. We also expect the ability to multi-task any program with another, such as checking a map in one app, your calander in another, all while conversing on the phone. This should be the default for all 4G technology, but its implementation and standardized multi-tasking capabilities will be left up to its developers, though we can vote with our pocketbooks as consumers.

When will we see it? It will still be quite some time, unfortunately. Sprint is starting to roll-out 4G compatible products and services, but so few areas offer 4G capable coverage that it is truly an embarassment that Sprint is marketing 4G nationwide while only supporting a few select cities. Sprint is currently the only major player which is openly implementing and advancing the 4G technology as a service or application, though. This quite honestly could be the death nell of anyone who can't implement this technology, eventually. Which is probably why the local access providers are rolling it out already.

In comparison, the Asian markets seem to be blanketed in 4G technology. America is simply falling behind, and possibly to the wayside due to the cost of 4G technology implementation. This is interesting, since 4G coverage technology implementaion it is not cost prohibitive. But the current corporate climate of the wireless digital telecommunications giants seems to be to continue charging 4G prices for 2G or 3G service in an effort to make as much money as possible.

Corporate greed strikes again. There is no telling when the aging 4G technology will ever be implemented widely in the US. And US buyers of 4G technology enabled equipment are not being informed that there may be no 4G coverage available in their area.