THE MOBILE NETWORK - Data Networks

As you might imagine, the networks responsible for bringing content and services to a mobile device are also notably different from the networks to which you connect laptops and desktops. Many contemporary mid - and high - end mobile devices include WiFi data connectivity, and when used in that mode, the device is connecting to a local access point, which, in turn, is most likely connected to a regular broadband - grade connection. In this case, the network connection for the device is fast, reliable, and low in latency — just as it is for the other computers and devices that are connected through the same access point and service provider.

But leave the limits of the hotspot, and your mobile device needs to revert to the cellular network for its data connection. At this point, the behavior and characteristics of the connection can change dramatically. A responsible web developer needs to be aware of these likely characteristics — and how the device mitigates them — in order to ensure that the user still retains a pleasant experience.

Throughout the world, a small number of prevalent cellular and mobile data technologies are in
regular use. The most widespread, by both geography and number of users, is the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) and its evolutions, which provide over 4 billion connections in over 200 countries worldwide, including the United States. A rival family of standards, broadly termed CDMA, is also popular in the United States, China, and a number of other countries. Japanese networks offer particular implementations of various types, including some proprietary network technologies.

In most developed and some developing markets, network technologies have reached a third -
generation of data access, sometimes known as 3G, providing speeds up to 2Mbps. These include UMTS (also known as W - CDMA), generally deployed by GSM network carriers, and CDMA2000, deployed by their CDMA brethren. In the United States, AT & T and T - Mobile offer UMTS data networks, while Verizon and Sprint have CDMA2000 networks.

Markets that have not yet reached widespread 3G coverage but still provide data services (notably in the least - developed countries and many developing countries), tend to provide slower 2.5G or 2.75G data technologies. Most common of these are the GSM - based GPRS which provides speeds up to 60Kbps, and EDGE which provides speeds up to 240Kbps.

Looking forward, fourth generation mobile technologies, including Advanced Long Term Evolution (LTE), are, at time of writing, in the process of being specified and standardized, but theoretically offer speeds up to 1Gbps. Sadly, such networks and devices are unlikely to be widespread for several years. In the interim, many networks provide transitional 3.5G technologies, such as HSDPA, EV - DO, and WiMAX, all of which, with speeds of between 3Mbps and 14Mbps, offer significant increases of speed and capacity to the 3G platform.

Source of Information : Wiley - Professional Mobile Web Development with WordPress Joomla and Drupal

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