Please Explain These Internet Technologies

[dragonflyspit]

I understand Internet by cable, satellite, DSL and regular dial-up, but I don't know the terminology or understand the Internet that Clearwire provides, or what you get from Verizon or Sprint on your PC or over your mobile phone. Is Clearwire and what Verizon offers the same technology? Verizon uses the term "3G." What does that mean? Is Clearwire also 3G? What about other "over the air" Internet technologies? Can someone clarify for me?

[Variable]

You can do some reading on the terms and find out more but Clearwire is using tech very similar to what you would get at Best Buy except it is running at a slightly higher frequency. So it is akin to any 802.11 broadband wireless, in that you have base stations and repeaters and then you have client equipment that is like your typical wireless AP/router.

3G is cell phone type technology. I'm not sure what is similar other than they are "wireless" technologies.

[dragonflyspit]

None of that makes any sense to me and I wouldn't even know what terms to look up. There must be names for these technologies, right? What do you call the technology that Verizon or Sprint uses for computer Internet access? If it's not 3G, or satellite or cable or DSL or dial-up, what is it called?

[mjc]

Wireless.

There are several different 'flavors' of wireless. One of the most common uses the same frequencies and technology used in cell phones. That is probably the offerings from Sprint and Verizon.

3G is just a general term for 3rd generation cell phone technology. A 3G device typically includes voice/data...things like Internet(on the phone)/email/text messages and all that.

[dragonflyspit]

Wow. You've made what seemed so complicated before now seem so simple. Thank you. :)

[pop pop]

You guys have nailed 3G with one not so small exception. Third Generation (3G) phones are generally "global" in terms of compatibility, partly because of the bands used, meaning you can make and receive calls in foriegn locations. That assumes you have made arrangement$ with your provider to be able to do so.

Example: My old Motorola cell with T-Mobile as my provider was useless when I went to Japan, Germany, Australia, and Norway. On my 3G phone with a different provider, I could receive/make calls to/from the U.S. as if they were local.

Certain additional charges and fees apply...nothing good is ever free. :(

[Paul Komski]

3G wiki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3G)

Clearwire wiki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clearwire)

[mjc]

True, pop-pop, but most carriers, even though there are laws on the books providing some relief, lock the snot out of the phones...and at least for the length of the original contract are very difficult to unlock, without a fight.