But to make use of the new networks, you have to buy a 4G-capable device or modem and a new, often more-expensive service plan. Is it worth the hassle and expense of upgrading to 4G? To answer that question, I pitted Sprint’s WiMax service — the first 4G service available in the New York metropolitan area, where I live — against its 3G network in a series of real-world tests (see “How I tested”). Sprint 4G: What you need As is the case with any wireless service, you need three things to get access: a network, a device for connecting and a service plan.
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Available in 62 cities, from Everett, Wash. , to Tampa, Fla. , Sprint’s WiMax wireless service in the U. S. is known as Clear and is operated by Clearwire; it’s based on the IEEE 802. 16e specification. The network provides adequate coverage on the coasts (see map), but it’s hit or miss in the middle of the country, and there are 12 states with no Sprint 4G service at all. When you can’t get a 4G connection, the fallback is to use Sprint’s 3G network, which is based on EV-DO (Evolution Data Optimized) technology.
It’s available in all 50 states, although — as is the case with other 3G networks — there are huge holes in the upper Midwest. Sprint says that over the next two years, it will fill out a national 4G network. Mobile Wars HTC One S review: T-Mobile’s new shining star Windows Phone seen as driving a wedge between iPhone, Android RIM launches BlackBerry Mobile Fusion Lumia 900: Do-or-die for Nokia, Windows Phone in U. S.? AT&T vs. Verizon: LTE showdown in the Big Apple Hands on: Samsung’s Galaxy Note engages, perplexes
Smartphone data shake-up: The end of ‘unlimited’ AT;T adds 11 cities to 4G LTE network Atom chip on Android smartphones expected at CES AT;T, Verizon LTE nets offer similar data download, Web browsing speeds More in Mobile ; Wireless In contrast, T-Mobile currently offers an upgraded High Speed Packet Access (HSPA+) 3G network. AT;T is also busy rolling out HSPA+ and is testing LTE (Long Term Evolution) technology for a planned commercial 4G rollout over the next two years.
Meanwhile, Verizon has just launched its own LTE network on a trial basis with limited coverage in 38 cities and 60 airports. The company says the network will be complete nationwide in 2013. Although it’s not available in my suburb, Verizon LTE has been rolled out to some parts of the New York metro area, and I hope to test it in multiple locations soon. Sierra Wireless 250U USB modemThe second part of the 4G puzzle is the connection device. The Sierra Wireless AirCard 250U modem that I used for testing weighs just 1. 9 oz. connects to a laptop via a USB port, and can be folded up to less than an in
