The cell phone has become one of the most popular trends in modern day electronics. There are various carriers that offer cell phone service across the United States with a wide selection of different phones. Today smartphones seem to be the most widely used by the American population. The smartphones of today are like mini hand held computers, possessing the capability to perform many different functions. When it comes to cell phones there are two major networks available, 3G and 4G. The "G" stands for a generation of mobile technology, installed in phones and on cellular networks. Each "G" generally requires you to get a new phone, and for networks to make expensive upgrades. The first two were analog cell phones (1G) and digital phones (2G).(Segan, 2013) Third-generation mobile networks, or 3G, came to the U.S. in 2003. With minimum consistent Internet speeds of 144Kbps, 3G was supposed to bring "mobile broadband." There are now so many varieties of 3G that a 3G connection can get you Internet speeds anywhere from 400Kbps to more than ten times that. (Segan, 2013) While most of us are used to getting high speed Internet connections at home, the office or even the local coffee shop, once we are on the road those high speeds have to stay behind. With 4G the promise is that you can get real mobile broadband to go. (Vilches, 2010) There are two fundamental aspects of LTE. The first is that the technology finally leaves behind the circuit switched network of its GSM roots and moves to an all-IP flat networking architecture. This is a significant shift which in very simple terms means that LTE will treat everything it transmits, even voice, as data. The other big change relates to the use of MIMO technology, or multiple antennas at both the transmitter and receiver end to improve communication performance. This setup can either be used to increase the throughput data rates or to reduce interference.(Velches, 2010) 4G is the shorthand for fourth-generation wireless (3G is third-generation), though the version of 4G currently available in the United States could be more accurately be described as advanced 3G. A 4G network can be up to 10 times faster than 3G, letting consumers browse the web, download songs and stream movies more quickly -- and potentially -- more often. U.S. wireless companies also promise that building out their 4G networks will help bring broadband access to those rural areas that currently lack reliable high-speed Internet. (Lee, 2011) Even though cellular phone companies advertise that 4G is much faster, statistics show that the amount of dropped calls are still close when the two networks are compared. Some experts expressed worries that 4G networks will end up overwhelmed in the same way 3G networks were when AT&T first introduced the iPhone to its networks. (Lee, 2011) One of the most important reasons for the invention of 4G is the speed that comes along with it. Most individuals desire being able to access certain apps, surf the web, or even stream music and videos on their phones. In most cases 3G networks cannot handle those types of tasks without buffering every few minutes which can become very annoying at times. In today’s time most people are “on the go” and need to access a variety of information from their phone, this eliminates the need to carry laptops in many situation which can be very convenient depending on the circumstances. As stated by Verizon “In real-world, fully loaded network environments, 4G LTE users should experience average data rates of 5 to 12 megabits per second (Mbps) on the downlink and 2 to 5 Mbps on the uplink. When customers travel outside of 4G LTE coverage areas, devices automatically connect to Verizon Wireless’ 3G network, where available, enabling customers to stay connected from coast to coast. (Verizon, 2014)When comparing 4G LTE, 4G WiMax, and 4G WiBro they all operate with the same goal but perform in different methods. 4G LTE. Verizon 4G LTE wireless broadband is 10 times faster than 3G. The network is able to handle download speeds between 5 and 12 Mbps (Megabits per second) and upload speeds between 2 and 5 Mbps, with peak download speeds approaching 50 Mbps. (Verizon, 2014) The version of WiMAX Sprint should deliver 30-40Mbps download speeds, and LTE can deliver up to 100Mbps. In the real world, though, they achieve nothing like those speeds. That's because a network's performance depends much more on how it's built than on the specs of the underlying technology.(Segan, 2012) LTE is designed to be backwards compatible with GSM and HSPA. This means that when a mobile device exceeds the range of an LTE network, it can fall back on a 2.5 or 3G network assuming it has the requisite radio technologies. The updated WiMAX standard of 802.16e known as “Mobile WiMAX” is backwards compatible with the previous WiMAX standard of 802.16d, known as “fixed WiMAX.” (“What is the Difference Between WiMax and LTE ?”, 2009) The competition between the various carriers have been a battle over the last few years. Most of the major carriers such as Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T offer 4 G services. One of the major questions are, what would make an individual choose one carrier over the other. There could be multiple answers to that questions. Competition between companies are always a positive for consumers because service providers are always trying to keep a competitive edge over one another. Some companies may offer a buy one get one free phone deal while others may offer discounts on the most popular phones if you were to join their network. Some carriers have even started offering the option to pay your termination fees just to switch carriers which can be a major incentive for certain individuals that are stuck in a contract they are not satisfied with.
John Cox, a writer for Network World states “Verizon Wireless has instead focused not on upgrading its 3G network, but deploying LTE. It currently claims to have LTE coverage in about 440 locations. There's no doubt that today it offers the most LTE coverage. (Cox, 2012) One of the main reasons why Verizon has been able to stay ahead of the competition in the service coverage category is because Verizon has partnered with 17 rural operators across the United States to expand LTE coverage. The program is expected to cover 144,000 square miles with 2.7 million points of presence. Rural operators will share access to Verizon’s 700 MHz Upper C Block spectrum, and will use their own towers and other assets to expand the network. This grants Verizon access to rural areas without the company having to invest directly. Once the network is established, the local operators will be able to market the LTE service through their own brands. (Ritter, 2012) Overall Verizon has cornered the market when it comes to 4G networks. They offer more coverage areas compared to the competition and also have the best data speeds in most areas. Some competitors are able to offer cheaper prices for services but like most Americans say, “You pay for what you get”.

References
Cox, J. (2012, December 3). AT&T vs. Verizon Wireless: 4G-LTE coverage | Network World. Retrieved from http://www.networkworld.com/article/2161778/wireless/at-t-vs--Verizon-wireless--4g-lte-coverage.html
Lee, A. (2011, June 19). 3G vs. 4G: What You Should Know Before You Switch. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/19/4g-network-what-you-should-know_n_879609.html
Ritter, D. (2012, September 8). Retrieved from http://wallstcheatsheet.com/stocks/heres-why-verizon-is-the-lte-king.html/
Segan, S. (2013). 3G vs. 4G: What's the Difference? | News & Opinion | PCMag.com. Retrieved from http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2399984,00.asp
Vilches, J. (2010, April 29). Everything You Need To Know About 4G Wireless Technology - TechSpot. Retrieved from http://www.techspot.com/guides/272-everything-about-4g/
What is the Difference Between WiMax and LTE ? (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.goingwimax.com/what-is-the-difference-between-wimax-and-lte-4155/