Four generations of cellular telephony

First generation cell phones were only used for analog voice conversation. The second generation was digital, but fairly slow. Many people are still using them, and can be used for slow e-mail, Web surfing, sending photographs, and vertical Internet applications. The roll out of the third generation of cellular phones has begun, with the US several years behind leading Asian and European nations. Standards development for the next generation of cellular communication has begun, and will roll out during the next decade.

Decade 1980s, 1G 1990s, 2G 2000s, 3G 2010s, 4G
Coverage Outdoor In/outdoor Global roaming Global roaming
Applications Business voice Consumer voice Voice and some data Data, including voice
Data speed 9.6-28kbps Up to 100 kbps Up to 2 mbps, slower in a car Up to 100 mbps
Status Obsolete Deployed Deploying now LTE technology is expected to beat mobile WiMAX
Connection mode Circuit Circuit Packet -- always on Packet -- always on
Hand set

The third generation of cellular radio infrastructure is rolling out in the US. Several Asian and European nations are several years ahead of the US in third-generation cellular deployment and application. Current US offerings include:

Cell phones require large investments in antennae and radios. The antennae on the left were installed on the stadium light pole of a school which leases the antenna space for $6,000 a year. The towers on the right are disguised. (Click here for more pictures of cell antennae).

There are many cellular towers near CSUDH.

Inmarsat offers connectivity using LEO satellites from nearly anywhere on Earth, but it is quite expensive.