Evolution of wireless technology
The evolution of wireless technology has changed the world. This is evident in the field of cell phone technology. From the reinvention of the smartphone in 2007, cell phones have become not just a an enjoyment, but also a necessity. With the release of Apple’s App Store the entire smartphone game changed. Apple took all the functionalities of a smartphone and put it in a package with the ease of use that consumers want. Eventually Android phones emerged. Android Operating System (OS) allowed many phone companies to sell amazing phones without ever worrying about the need to develop software.
Phone manufacturers turned their focus toward making the best possible phones utilizing processors that are comparable to computers. Because of the phones running Android, Google was able to convince customers that their software was a viable alternative for Apple’s Iphone. The hype of the Iphone made people want their nextphone to be a smartphone. Android spread to more consumers based on this new need for smartphones, Android’s accessibility on every service and at almost every price range made it a great choice for consumers who. Motorola led this revolution of android phones with it’s release of the Droid. The success of this phone increased desire and trust in Google’s operating system. Not only were smartphones now viewed as something desirable. They were seen as a necessity.
With the release of the Droid X, smartphones did something that most people wouldn’t expect. They functioned as a stand-in to a computer if one was not available. With the blazing speed of it’s Texas Instrument OMAP processor clocking in at 1ghz and it’s 4.3 inch WVGA display the Droid X was perfect for viewing video as well as surfing the Internet. It wasn’t the only phone to do this, the HTC Evo followed suit, bringing the good things about the Droid to Sprint along with a front-facing camera, and 4G WiMAX technology. Once again the phone game changed.The new WiMAX service provided by Sprint, gave the highest speeds seen in any consumer market in the U.S. Other companies taking their approach on 4G technology yielded every major cell phone company in the North America choosing LTE over Sprint and its partner (Who share the WiMAX network) Clear’s choice. WiMAX runs off the 2.5ghz spectrum as opposed to Lte using 700mhz, using the higher frequency should in theory allow for more data to be transferred, but it also has a harder time traveling through thick objects like buildings.
The high speeds of smart phones demand frequent and major data usage. New networks with higher speeds and more bandwidth are necessary to facilitate these phones. Because of this need, 4G technology will most likely become a permanent part of our cell phone experience as a whole. Smart phones have become so deeply integrated into our society, that they work as online shopping tools, GPS, planner’s restaurant critics, gaming devices, and so many other functions, proving that wireless technology has radically changed the world
