1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

What is 3G?

Discussion in 'Fred's House of Pancakes' started by octavia, Feb 7, 2010.

Page 1 of 2
  1. octavia

    octavia Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2009
    968
    137
    10
    Location:
    Beautiful Oregon
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    I feel a bit stupid asking this.
    I googled it, I looked at both the descriptions of ipads and iphones, I see it listed as a feature, one that costs just a bit more but no where do I see them explain exactly how it changes a users experience. I get that it's a network something or other.... I guess I'm just enough out of the know to not have a clue.

    What is 3G and how does it change how you use a product or what it does?
     
    #1 octavia, Feb 7, 2010
  2. LRKingII

    LRKingII New Member

    Joined:
    May 31, 2009
    679
    132
    0
    Location:
    Idaho
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Basically it's for higher speed data transfer on a cell phone.
     
    #2 LRKingII, Feb 7, 2010
  3. Paradox

    Paradox Prius Enthusiast / Moderator
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2005
    29,110
    8,589
    201
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    It's basically wireless broadband data service for cellular device/mobile phones. Speeds range from 3x that of a 56k modem to 2.4 Mb/s (Close to cable modem speed...

    Here's a good page on 3G from CNET

    CNET's quick guide to 3G cell phone service - CNET Reviews


    In areas around the US 4G is out already, and will soon be replacing 3gG in many more markets. It's basically faster than 3G.
     
    #3 Paradox, Feb 7, 2010
  4. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2009
    17,184
    10,087
    90
    Location:
    Western Washington
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Just to add a bit of different detail ...
    3G is the 3rd Generation of cell phone systems.

    The original analog phones were the first generation. Then came the first digital phones as 2G. Some improved systems were labeled 2.5G, a stepping stone to the much higher data rates of 3G.

    And of course 4G is now being deployed.
     
    #4 fuzzy1, Feb 7, 2010
  5. SlowTurd

    SlowTurd I LIKE PRIUS'S

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2009
    1,156
    333
    0
    Location:
    nj
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    now ask about the 4g network
     
    #5 SlowTurd, Feb 7, 2010
  6. Stev0

    Stev0 Honorary Hong Kong Cavalier

    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2006
    7,201
    1,073
    0
    Location:
    Northampton, MA
    Vehicle:
    2022 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    First ask about 3GS.
     
    #6 Stev0, Feb 7, 2010
  7. octavia

    octavia Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2009
    968
    137
    10
    Location:
    Beautiful Oregon
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Thanks guys. I get it now... I've avoided paying for "data service" with my cell phone so haven't kept up. I'm assuming that 3G, 3GS, 4G, etc. all cost bucks?

    I'm confused. So is this in addition to the 15 or 30 dollars apple talks about for the ipad or is this the fee for the G whatever?
     
    #7 octavia, Feb 7, 2010
  8. Tom Banjo

    Tom Banjo New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 3, 2010
    62
    13
    0
    Location:
    South Florida
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    iPad - not the first release - can have as an option, a little celluar modem to connect wirelessly to the internet like a iPhone does now. 3GS is apple talk for the latest iPhone that is "speedier" than just 3g.

    Wireless, to be confusing, generally refers to a network connection on computers. Wireless on phone can mean connect to a computer network or a phone network.
     
    #8 Tom Banjo, Feb 7, 2010
  9. octavia

    octavia Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2009
    968
    137
    10
    Location:
    Beautiful Oregon
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    I think I get it.

    Does this mean that if I get an ipad, pay them nothing per month, I can use it like I do my macbook now... and access the internet in places where there is already internet wifi.

    If I want to be able to access the internet anywhere, I can pay extra for the 3G, AND the monthly fee of 15 or 30 to do so?
     
    #9 octavia, Feb 7, 2010
  10. Tom Banjo

    Tom Banjo New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 3, 2010
    62
    13
    0
    Location:
    South Florida
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Yes - you buy a monthly service to connect to a phone network for the iPad to use 3G anywhere ATT has 3G service.

    If you go to a starbucks etc you can use wireless to connect to their computer network to browse the internet.

    You know you can buy a 3g card for your mac book ?
     
    #10 Tom Banjo, Feb 7, 2010
  11. DaveShepherd

    DaveShepherd Member

    Joined:
    Nov 13, 2004
    140
    9
    0
    Location:
    Washington, DC (VA Suburbs)
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    I think the iPad with WiFi access is the expensive one ($830). The basic ones let you do 3G, but you have to pay AT&T $15 a month to hook up to the 3G network..

    Incidentally, I appreciate your asking about 3G, Octavia. I've been using it for a couple years and really had no clue what it meant.
     
    #11 DaveShepherd, Feb 7, 2010
  12. ggood

    ggood Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 17, 2004
    2,436
    517
    0
    Location:
    Houston, TX
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    Just to clarify - It's $130 to add the 3g card to any of the ipads. The other cost difference is the amount of storage - ranging from 16 gigs to 64 gigs. So the bottom is $499 for 16 gigs, no 3g, and the top is $829 for 64 gigs with 3g.
     
    #12 ggood, Feb 7, 2010
  13. Paradox

    Paradox Prius Enthusiast / Moderator
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2005
    29,110
    8,589
    201
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    AT&T is going to offer a data plan for the iPad for $30 a month. That means you can use your iPad with 3g anywhere there is an at&t service signal. I read that you can buy the iPad w/ 3G and then after turning it on there will be an option to purchase the service over the air.

    Plus you have to pay more for an iPad 3G as noted above.

    If you get a plain iPan with WiFi, you can only use it where there is an open WiFi signal. Not everywhere like on the highway if (hopefully) someone else is driving (and not you). ;)
     
    #13 Paradox, Feb 7, 2010
  14. ggood

    ggood Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 17, 2004
    2,436
    517
    0
    Location:
    Houston, TX
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    Just to clarify - there will be a choice of $15 a month for 250 gigs, or $30 a month for unlimited.
     
    #14 ggood, Feb 7, 2010
  15. Paradox

    Paradox Prius Enthusiast / Moderator
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2005
    29,110
    8,589
    201
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five

    Didn't know about the $15 one. That doesn't sound too bad for casual web browsing.
     
    #15 Paradox, Feb 7, 2010
  16. octavia

    octavia Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2009
    968
    137
    10
    Location:
    Beautiful Oregon
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Yes, I'm trying to reason out if this would be a cost effective alternative for me as a student. It's going to depend a lot on the textbook part of the ibooks.... I'm trying to figure out if it will be less to buy them for the reader or the same.

    I'm still trying to figure out how it all interacts.

    So...

    If I bought the 3G one, was paying 15.00 a month for the smaller data transfer package, would an ibook purchase use up some of my data transfer allowance?
     
    #16 octavia, Feb 7, 2010
  17. macmaster05

    macmaster05 Senor Member

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2009
    4,050
    729
    5
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Yes Octavia. The $15/mo is limited to 250mb. I dont know how much it is to download a ibook however.

    If I were you, I would get the unlimited data plan for $30. Who knows what you might end up doing in 1 month with the iPad. You hear about people being charged $5000 for watching a youtube video on their phone. Now imagine you have an iPad. You can do much more than watch a youtube video. You risk unexpectedly running up your ATT bill.

    Of course I wouldn't buy the ATT 3G plan at all - but if I did buy one, itd be unlimited.
     
    #17 macmaster05, Feb 7, 2010
  18. Paradox

    Paradox Prius Enthusiast / Moderator
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2005
    29,110
    8,589
    201
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    Is it 250gb or 250mb?

    250mb is useless imo...
     
    #18 Paradox, Feb 7, 2010
  19. macmaster05

    macmaster05 Senor Member

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2009
    4,050
    729
    5
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    #19 macmaster05, Feb 7, 2010
  20. ggood

    ggood Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 17, 2004
    2,436
    517
    0
    Location:
    Houston, TX
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    The good news is these are no contract plans, so you aren't locked into anything for more than a month at a time.
     
    #20 ggood, Feb 7, 2010
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)
Page 1 of 2