I have just moved my business mobile across to EE from Orange.

The speed of the 4G service is amazing. It is faster than my BT infinity account when using the BT home hub they supplied. But not as fast as my old Apple Time Capsule.

If you are in a 4G area and have a comparable phone and want/need the speed then I recommend it.

It seems to have proved the whole service as well, as they also have upgraded to 3.5G where there is no 4G.

Only used it for a few hours, so far as my number was only ported across at lunchtime.

I don't see the need for it. I'm with EE and within a 4G area. So, you can download faster; and if you download, say a 1 hour TV show, which could be done in seconds with 4G, wouldn't you then soon be over your limit? 3G call quality is fine, web pages load fast enough for me. I think 3G is good enough for what most people use their mobiles for; texting and a bit of Facebook.

3G call quality is fine,

Its a misnomer that 3G has anything to do with calls, in fact it has no involvement in calls at all. 3G is an always on internet connection and only transfers data. Voice calls are still handled using standard GSM protocols that have existed for many years long before 1G data even existed.

I am avoiding 4G for now, its way too expensive due to the laughable data limits. On the entry level tariff for non business users its possible to consume your entire monthly allowance in less then 3 minutes.

Thanks for that, Manny. I wasn't aware that calls were still GSM. Couldn't agree more with your reasons for holding back from 4G. What use is all that speed if you'll need to sell a kidney to pay for it.

I have just moved my business mobile across to EE from Orange.

The speed of the 4G service is amazing. It is faster than my BT infinity account when using the BT home hub they supplied. But not as fast as my old Apple Time Capsule.

If you are in a 4G area and have a comparable phone and want/need the speed then I recommend it.

It seems to have proved the whole service as well, as they also have upgraded to 3.5G where there is no 4G.

Only used it for a few hours, so far as my number was only ported across at lunchtime.

Don't understand the need for that kind of speed on a mobile connect myself, but then maybe i'm just jealous as I would be quicker on a Gee Gee than waiting for any mobile signal at all!!!!

Its a misnomer that 3G has anything to do with calls, in fact it has no involvement in calls at all. 3G is an always on internet connection and only transfers data. Voice calls are still handled using standard GSM protocols that have existed for many years long before 1G data even existed.

I am avoiding 4G for now, its way too expensive due to the laughable data limits. On the entry level tariff for non business users its possible to consume your entire monthly allowance in less then 3 minutes.

Sorry mate but you are wrong.

3G can carry both calls and data.

When Three first built thier network it was 3G only infrastructure, there was no GSM infrastructure in their network but it carried both calls and data.

Vodafone, O2 and Orange all had GSM networks and overlayed 3G technology. But they were also carrying calls on both 2G and 3G layers.

Three also got into "roaming agreements" to provide service in areas where they had not yet built out coverage. In some of those areas the calls may well have dropped down to 2G/GSM but in areas where Three had coverage the calls were going over 3G as well as the data.

Read the 3GPP specifications - it's as clear as day. 3G can carry both voice calls and data.

I've been buiding these damn networks for nearly 3 decades . . .

Paul

Edited 7 November, 201213 yr by Paul90

For me the speed will help when I'm with clients. I have enough data for my needs. I don't download video generally on my mobile. I tether lots when I'm out and about with my job and time is money, so it pays for itself. I spend ages waiting for 3G to download and upload regularly. I send very large files.

Just wait (literally) until contention starts to become an issue lol!

Just to confirm 3g and 4g are used for voice and not just data.

I have vitually no gsm signal where I live (in a black spot) but 3g is stong so ive set my phone up to use 3g instead of gsm and I now get an improved signal.

It's actually very easy to do and it does make a difference.

So, do phones use VOIP then?

My place of work is about to start building a research centre for 5G technology..

I want 4g, I have unlimited allowance and even with full 3G signal movies sometimes struggle on lovefilm instant. It'll be a long time till my area gets 4G though.

We're lucky to get GSM here never mind 3G.

What is the speed of 4G?

I'm currently on 3 mobile using normal 3G and an iphone5 and my download speeds for movies and music is around 300k a second.

I never get buffering issues with sky go or iplayer etc either, I just can't understand how the price of 4G can be justified.

I never get buffering issues with sky go or iplayer etc either, I just can't understand how the price of 4G can be justified.

New technology is always expensive and it's always the early adopters who pay heavily that help it reach the masses.

Chris

What is the speed of 4G?

I'm currently on 3 mobile using normal 3G and an iphone5 and my download speeds for movies and music is around 300k a second.

I never get buffering issues with sky go or iplayer etc either, I just can't understand how the price of 4G can be justified.

about 20Mbps or more when I was at the o2, but at home, where I don't need it, it only managed 10.76Mbps download and 9.58Mps upload. Coverage isn't as good where I live, it barely makes it onto LTE.

I'm only paying an extra £5 compared to what I was paying before, so yes it is more expensive, but I'm getting 50% more data than I was getting before, so for me it isn't too bad.

Just to confirm 3g and 4g are used for voice and not just data.

I have vitually no gsm signal where I live (in a black spot) but 3g is stong so ive set my phone up to use 3g instead of gsm and I now get an improved signal.

It's actually very easy to do and it does make a difference.

3G is used for voice and Data, 4G is currently only used for Data, if you have an LTE enabled phone e.g Iphone 5 it should automatically step down to 3G when you make or recieve a call.

You can see this happen by watching the symbol in the top left hand corner of the handset, when idle or using Data it will say LTE next to the EE symbol, when you make a call the symbol will switch to 3G.

I'd just be happy with a network that has consistent 3G coverage. I can watch F1 on sky go no issues when iv got decent coverage but there are still spots that have next to no data service.

about 20Mbps or more when I was at the o2, but at home, where I don't need it, it only managed 10.76Mbps download and 9.58Mps upload. Coverage isn't as good where I live, it barely makes it onto LTE.

So not massively better than HSPA+ then which Three is rolling out across it's whole network as we speak. Currently my mast at home isn't upgraded but the one at work is so i'm hoping to enjoy 15-20meg speeds others have been getting on their iPhone 5's without the stupid 4G tarif costs & data limits now i've got a phone that supports it.

Cheers

Dave.

Edited 14 November, 201213 yr by WaveyDavey