3G, also known as HSPA (High-speed packet access), simply stands for third generation and it allows data to be sent in packets and provides the fastest data transfer and largest data capacity in mobile telephony. It offers the users a wide array of enhanced services while attaining a superior network capacity through a highly-developed spectral efficiency. Spectral efficiency is a measure of how well a limited frequency of spectrum is used by the physical layer protocol. It refers to the amount of data that can be sent over a given bandwidth in a communication system.

The services included in 3G for a mobile setting are wireless voice telephony and broadband wireless data. Unlike other wireless networking, 3G can accommodate a wide area of cellular telephone networks and is incorporated with fast internet access and video calling. In contrast, Wi-Fi networks have short range and high bandwidth mainly for the purpose of data transmission.

From a user’s perspective, the most noteworthy feature of 3G technology would be the wide area wireless data transmission, transmitted at high speeds. For a network operator, the foremost advantage of 3G technology is that it supports a large number of voice and data customers, and still at high data rates at a lower cost.

In plain and simple terms, mobile computers and handheld devices that has 3G technology can easily manage high-speed multimedia content (such as MMS and emails), provide enhanced communication (through voice or video calls), and offer varied services for entertainment and information tools. Furthermore, 3G has the capacity to determine the geographic location of mobiles, and as an extension, you. Basically, it is like having a phone, a laptop and a TV all crammed into a tiny device. You can videoconference a meeting with your subordinates, browse the internet for information, send and receive emails with file attachments, and video stream. It certainly makes your working life easier.

The current upgrading of cellular mobile telecommunication networks to use 3G technology is still on-going. The first country to introduce 3G is Japan and in Japan the conversion to 3G was mostly completed in 2006. After which, Korea adopted 3G networks and the conversion was done as early as 2004.

Although 3G was effectively introduced to users all throughout the world, still there are some issues that the 3G providers and users are debating on, such as:

• expensive input fee for the 3G service licenses
• lack of coverage, since it is a fairly new technology
• high prices of 3G mobile services, which includes access to the internet
• high power usage
  

From cellular phones to mobile computers, almost everything is wireless. Accessing the internet need not have a landline to connect. This certainly can provide the customers with convenience and flexibility, allowing them to use it at any given time. 3G is not only for business people who are always on the road; this could also come in handy for a wide range of people who need access to any sort of information. Certain situations like field engineers who need access to detailed instruction manuals, accountants who are doing auditing tasks in a client’s house, and emergency services who need a quick link with a hospital or a doctor for specialized advice goes to show that 3G is for everyone and anyone.

You are likely to see this nifty technology being used all around you. Someone could be video calling a friend who is living abroad, or video streaming the new talked-about commercial, or emailing their status report to their boss. In any way, 3G will be incorporated in the lives of the people.