[Mark in Essex]

I don't think I actually need it at the moment and I would rather the mobile phone companies get their 3G, HSDPA and HSDPA+ sorted out first without capping the speed that can already be achieved .

Even when I am streaming video in great quality even plain HSDPA is good enough and even large files download in a reasonable amount of time (I have downloaded manuals for work etc).

Browsing the Internet is lighting fast as it is on HSDPA (pages load in 2 secs so don't see much point if they are just going to load 1.75 secs quicker especially when you can start reading the Page before it fully loads anyway)?

Also will the mobile phone companies cap the speeds of 4G like they do at the moment and you would definitely need over 5gb of data allowance per month if the point is to download movies?

[neil79]

4G is only worth paying extra for if you don't have a home BB connection and you want to tether your phone.

[-Batman-]

Originally Posted by Mark in Essex

I don't think I actually need it at the moment and I would rather the mobile phone companies get their 3G, HSDPA and HSDPA+ sorted out first without capping the speed that can already be achieved .

Even when I am streaming video in great quality even plain HSDPA is good enough and even large files download in a reasonable amount of time (I have downloaded manuals for work etc).

Browsing the Internet is lighting fast as it is on HSDPA (pages load in 2 secs so don't see much point if they are just going to load 1.75 secs quicker especially when you can start reading the Page before it fully loads anyway)?

Also will the mobile phone companies cap the speeds of 4G like they do at the moment and you would definitely need over 5gb of data allowance per month if the point is to download movies?

100% agree would rather have a rock solid 3G signal than they start doing 4G

[MGS4SnakeRulez]

I agree I think 3G is fast enough. Its fine for when I'm out and about and at home I connect to my wifi anyway.

[legends wear 7]

Short answer is no we don't need 4G speeds.

What we do need though is the sub 1ghz coverage, but no network can deliver that until after the auction.

I certainly won't be basing my network choice on 4G until 2014 at the earliest.

[flagpole]

for the foreseeable i would say that hsdpa was plenty fast enough for a phone.

i wonder what kind of data bundles they will be offering? anyone know?

[Anika Hanson]

Originally Posted by neil79

4G is only worth paying extra for if you don't have a home BB connection and you want to tether your phone.

I can already tehther my phone.

[flagpole]

Originally Posted by Anika Hanson

I can already tehther my phone.

He means that 3.5G is sufficient speed for a handset and you would only really benefit from 4G speeds if you were using it for domestic broadband replacement.

[Bagsbunny]

The other benefit of 4g,apart from higher speed, is the greater reach-people who did not have mobile data accsess before,will now have it.

[Anika Hanson]

3G is fast enough for me. Anyhow O2 are unlikely to get 4G until at least the end of 2013. I think the networks need to sort out their 3G coverage before they start to think about 4G.

[psionic]

Originally Posted by Mark in Essex

I don't think I actually need it at the moment and I would rather the mobile phone companies get their 3G, HSDPA and HSDPA+ sorted out first without capping the speed that can already be achieved .

Even when I am streaming video in great quality even plain HSDPA is good enough and even large files download in a reasonable amount of time (I have downloaded manuals for work etc).

Browsing the Internet is lighting fast as it is on HSDPA (pages load in 2 secs so don't see much point if they are just going to load 1.75 secs quicker especially when you can start reading the Page before it fully loads anyway)?

Also will the mobile phone companies cap the speeds of 4G like they do at the moment and you would definitely need over 5gb of data allowance per month if the point is to download movies?

I can live without 4g at the moment. 3g is enough for my usage. That may change in a year or two.

[Stigid]

For me, 4G would only be used in a Dongle, for Broadband connection, either as backup, or as main device, depending on Costs & Speeds, and reliability.

Some mobile networks around me are very poor, ( 2G & 3G ) though 3 is ok, so also it would depend on the network supplying 4G service.

[WelshBluebird]

It depends really. Where 3G speeds are fast then you don't really need 4G. But in some places 3G speeds can be quite poor, so the boost 4G gives in those areas would probably bring it up to what you get now in fast 3G areas.

[jimmy7bellies]

Isn't it a bit like broadband...how many people actually need 20/50mb speeds when 4/8 mb is ample.

I thought one of the reasons behind it though was not cause people actually need the super duper speeds as such, it just decongests the network for everyone (as you get whatever your browsing/downloading etc much quicker).

[Stigid]

Originally Posted by Stigid

For me, 4G would only be used in a Dongle, for Broadband connection, either as backup, or as main device, depending on Costs & Speeds, and reliability.

Some mobile networks around me are very poor, ( 2G & 3G ) though 3 is ok, so also it would depend on the network supplying 4G service.

My Orange Dongle only reached max 3mb/s occasionally on 3G, 0.3mb/s 2G most of the time.

Using a 3 SIM, it is on 3G more often, but still max 3mb/s.

My Broadband via BT Line is around 20mb/s !

To compete, 4G would have to supply 20mb/s, at a comparable cost, and I could then ditch the BT line I never use. (And line fee)

(I'm not with BT for BB)

[Anika Hanson]

Originally Posted by flagpole

He means that 3.5G is sufficient speed for a handset and you would only really benefit from 4G speeds if you were using it for domestic broadband replacement.

Oh i see thanks.

[alan1302]

Most users don't need it - bit like most people don't need quad core, huge screen powerful smartphones

[Mark in Essex]

nde

Originally Posted by alan1302

Most users don't need it - bit like most people don't need quad core, huge screen powerful smartphones

Ooooh cat fight. Meow.

A lot don't, but I love a big screen as you don't have to squint at it, and movies look better and with the quad core the main bonus is that it shuts down the 3 other cores so it does not use as much power when not used (50% more effective than a dual core).

[alan1302]

Originally Posted by Mark in Essex

nde

Ooooh cat fight. Meow.

A lot don't, but I love a big screen as you don't have to squint at it, and movies look better and with the quad core the main bonus is that it shuts down the 3 other cores so it does not use as much power when not used (50% more effective than a dual core).

And people will love 4G even if they don't 'need it'

I'm not sure i see why it would be more effective than a dual core processor running one core? Surely they would both be the same?

[wavejockglw]

4G is a network advantage as it can deliver data more efficiently so more customers can be served more data at the same time. It's more about capacity than speed from the customer oint of view.

BBC iPlayer delivers HD Video at around 3Mbps. HSPA+ can deliver 21Mbps so more than enough to deliver HD video to mobiles but the issue is that a cellsite can only deliver so much at one time. So LTE 4G will up the speeds to 80-100Mbps giving networks the opportunity to deliver the same content to more customers using the same bandwidth. That is good news for those in built up areas like cities where 3G is now struggling to keep up with demand especially with networks selling dongles and devices that attempt to compete with fixed line services.

So - Do we need 4G? Not really if networks are careful and manage demand but we do if the expansion of data is needed and present growth suggests it will for some years to come as we expect more services on the move.

[zantarous]

Why would you not? So you mange on a 3G connection now but you don't know better. surfing and streaming works better on WiFi imagine having that with you all the time.

Plus with the 800mhz band which is very good at penetrating buildings will mean better coverage then 3G. Just because you get by on what you get now doesn't mean innovation should stand still. Most handsets are being limited by what the networks can do now but I want to be able to stream HD on my 720p screen while I download all my latest podcasts and upload all my pictures to dropbox. I want to have 4G speeds while I tether so even when my wife wants to use the connect their is ample.

It will change the way people work remotely no more having to rely on a piddly couple of megabyte connection sending and receiving huge files will become normal.

The so called cloud will actually become something useful rather then just a place to back up a few word docs, pictures and contacts.

I remember when I got a 1MB connection ADSL connection, then thought 20MB was fast but now 20MB seems slow compared to my 60MB one. Data speeds can never be to fast.

[Mark in Essex]

Originally Posted by zantarous

Why would you not? So you mange on a 3G connection now but you don't know better. surfing and streaming works better on WiFi imagine having that with you all the time.

Plus with the 800mhz band which is very good at penetrating buildings will mean better coverage then 3G. Just because you get by on what you get now doesn't mean innovation should stand still. Most handsets are being limited by what the networks can do now but I want to be able to stream HD on my 720p screen while I download all my latest podcasts and upload all my pictures to dropbox. I want to have 4G speeds while I tether so even when my wife wants to use the connect their is ample.

It will change the way people work remotely no more having to rely on a piddly couple of megabyte connection sending and receiving huge files will become normal.

The so called cloud will actually become something useful rather then just a place to back up a few word docs, pictures and contacts.

I remember when I got a 1MB connection ADSL connection, then thought 20MB was fast but now 20MB seems slow compared to my 60MB one. Data speeds can never be to fast.

I must admit that I don't really notice any difference between being on HSDPA or HSDPA+ for browsing and streaming and my home broadband (10meg).

And who is to say that you will get full 4G speeds from the networks like you don't already with 3G HSDPA and HSDPA+?

[flagpole]

There's a few issue i have with this post:

Originally Posted by zantarous

Why would you not? So you mange on a 3G connection now but you don't know better. surfing and streaming works better on WiFi imagine having that with you all the time.

I don't know any better? how do you know what i know? maybe i do know and just disagree with you?

Plus with the 800mhz band which is very good at penetrating buildings will mean better coverage then 3G.

How much better is it at penetration that HSDPA @900MHz?

Just because you get by on what you get now doesn't mean innovation should stand still.

That is not what people are saying at all. Nobody is saying that innovation should stand still. we are talking about LTE, and how useful it is for a phone.

Most handsets are being limited by what the networks can do now...

Most? what 90%? made up fact.

but I want to be able to stream HD on my 720p screen while I download all my latest podcasts and upload all my pictures to dropbox.

the coordination required to pull that off on a phone would be quite remarkable. perhaps you could download your podcasts after you have streamed your 720p video?

I want to have 4G speeds while I tether so even when my wife wants to use the connect their is ample.

It will change the way people work remotely no more having to rely on a piddly couple of megabyte connection sending and receiving huge files will become normal.

megabits. we are still talking about phones right?

The so called cloud will actually become something useful rather then just a place to back up a few word docs, pictures and contacts.

I remember when I got a 1MB connection ADSL connection, then thought 20MB was fast but now 20MB seems slow compared to my 60MB one. Data speeds can never be to fast.

I think you have missed the point of this thread and think we are all dumb because we don't share your vision. look at the thread title.

yes if you want to stream HD video whilst urgently downloading a podcast and syncing your photos then LTE is the way to do it. but that is not going to change your life. and it's not typical.

everyone in this thread has basically said this much but managed to do it without telling everyone else they are wrong.

[daleski75]

Just because you do not need it doesn't mean you do not want it.

[flagpole]

Originally Posted by daleski75

Just because you do not need it doesn't mean you do not want it.

absolutely.

i guess a question is how much would you be willing to pay for it....?