3G stands for "3rd generation" technology. It is based on GSM standards and it is the latest improvement to mobile phone and cellphone capabilities. With it you can have broadband, video and multimedia on your phone. All of this means you can transmit and receive data at faster rates than ever before. It is the backbone of all the amazing new services that the various mobile operators are trying to entice new users with.

With 3G making video calls is now possible although images can still be jerky and not quite up to the standard you will be used to with digital video cameras. You can download to your mobile music videos and clips of TV shows, movie trailers and sports action. In general these kinds of services do work well since they aren't strictly interactive and have often been optimised to improve quality.

Downloadable music is now a reality thanks to 3G. High quality MP3 tunes are instantly available and with a large enough memory card on your cell phone you can take your music with you wherever you go.

One of the things which 3G has made possible is an ever expanding range of accessories and features. If is involves the receipt or sending of large data packets the mobile phone manufacturers have taken advantage of this to build into their phones extras that consumers now demand up front. These include megapixel cameras, large screens for display of content, expandable memory cards and smartphone features that turn the phone into an all purpose device. The convergence of mobile phones and electronic organizers has been speeded up thanks to the possibilities delivered by 3G.

One of the key features enhanced by 3G has been mobile web surfing. With increased data transmission you now get broadband in the palm of your hand. One thing it is advisable to keep in mind though is the higher cost of bandwidth. It is a good idea to check the details of how much the data transfer will cost you especially if you plan to send or receive lots of bandwidth hogging video. Web browsing isn't quite as expensive since more and more sites are WAP friendly and optimised for fast delivery to mobile handsets.By all means download and send but keep tabs on what that friendly 3G connection is costing you.

So it is worth looking into upgrading to a 3G enabled phone and network It really can add entirely fresh dimensions to your mobile phone experience.

About the Author

Chris Brand writes about the latest developments in mobile phone and cell phone technology for Mobile Phones Resources