The New Era in Speedy Communications: How 4G Wireless Internet is Changing Information Exchange

Finally, after a long period of stagnation, the Internet is growing again.

Well, not the actual Internet. That has been absolutely exploding, multiplying by the millions each day, since its inception. The Internet has been absolutely fine--it's launched a number of impressive cultural memes, provided important information to people around the world, and revolutionized everything from television to democratic elections. The Internet's doing just great--it's just the speed of information transfer that's been lagging.

For awhile, the most exciting development in accessing the world wide web was the invention of wireless internet. In the beginning, it was only possible to get online from a desktop computer attached with a cable--either dial-up or broadband--to a modem. That modem would dial the numbers, connect you to the Internet, and you could surf away, so long as you stayed in one spot where there was a modem. There was no taking the computer upstairs to finish work, and there was definitely a lack of speed that made things like moving large files or a large number of files in a timely manner difficult.

But networks got faster, and eventually, wireless came into being. It was possible to move about freely, without a cable plugged into your laptop or desktop, and to enjoy a signal. However, this only worked to a point. Wireless internet was known for dropping signals, only working in a very limited radius, and suddenly getting very strong, only to fade out entirely. It was especially frustrating for business travelers and those who depended on the 'net for communication and receiving files. No one wants to keep attempting to upload something, only to have it freeze mid-way because the signal drops.

A lagging web experience is quickly becoming a thing of the past, thanks to all of the latest 4G technology. First seen in some of the larger cell phone companies in the country, one of these networks is able to send even larger pieces of data at more remarkable speeds. It is now actually possible to have a video conference through a PDA or portable phone, with little to no lag time, with something as simple as one of the numerous free video chat programs out there. Likewise, downloading or streaming audio and video data gets a lot easier with such a strong and reliable network.

But while a faster 'net is great, most people don't really want to spend that much time staring at the screens of their tiny cell phones. Thankfully, there are new Internet providers who are stepping up in these times of a new Internet. Those providers use a service called WiMax, which provides a nationwide network of Internet, instead of phone service. Just turn on your laptop anywhere in the country, and the Internet's going to be right there with you. It's literally that simple, and it's faster and more stable than most home connections are, currently.

Best of all, the speed of the 4G network means that there's nothing that is limited by the ability to access the Internet from all over. Waiting in line at the airport with some impatient children? Flip open the laptop, and they can watch cartoons, streaming, or a film. Need to finish your final edit of some commercial on the train into the city? You can actually have it zipped, uploaded, and emailed to yourself before you're in the building. It's a way to get fast things done even faster, from anywhere in the world, on a machine that actually has all of the settings you need.