You have to be a certifiable geek to have even heard of HSPA+ or LTE, much less try to explain these terms. But while the wireless network jargon is enough to give anyone a migraine, such technologies will become increasingly relevant to consumers who want to watch video and surf the Web from smartphones, laptops and other devices.
Short for High Speed Packet Access, HSPA+ is T-Mobile’s emerging high-speed fourth-generation, or 4G, wireless phone network. LTE (Long Term Evolution) is a 4G technology backed by Verizon Wireless and AT&T. Sprint’s 4G is based on WiMax technology (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access).
On Wednesday, T-Mobile unveiled the T-Mobile G2 with Google smartphone that I’ve been testing. The Google Android handset, which is made by HTC, is the first T-Mobile smartphone to tap into HSPA+. In my tests, it performed admirably, though, as always, results vary depending upon your location.
Most consumers don’t think about underlying wireless networks, at least until they experience dropped calls or poky downloads. Instead, they focus on the lustful designs and features of today’s devices. And most of those newfangled handsets tap into 3G, or third-generation, wireless technologies that will surely be here for years to come. The 3G club counts as members the iPhone, numerous BlackBerrys and most Android phones, including the G2’s predecessor, the G1, which was the first Android-powered phone on the market.
The G2 handset ($199 with a $50 rebate) is a stately gray with a slide-out qwerty, or traditional, keyboard. There’s no mistaking Google’s influence: The phone has Voice Actions from Google, Google Voice, Google Maps, Google Goggles, Google Earth and other Google apps. It runs the latest version of Google’s Android mobile operating system.
Still, it was the promise of higher 4G speeds that drew me to try the G2 and monitor the progress of these…