If I understand what I've been reading (and that may be the problem right there), it costs more to use the 4G (if it's available) capabilities of your phone vs. 3G.

Is this because a bit costs more on 4G, or just because you'll likely use more bits?

Remember, I grew up before 8-tracks.

Sounds like the TelCos are making you pay for the "privilege" of using a new technology.

Like making you pay for the new toll bridge, while the total toll for the old one could cover the new one.

Nope, Its speed, that's all. 4g is faster and the LTE(Long Term Evolution)Means they can upgrade it from there to deal with users, the amount of users and the amount of bandwidth each cell site can handle for the customer.
In my area I work for a company that is "turning on" the 4G LTE. There's more technical stuff to it but that's the long and short of it. More speed,more bandwidth,more monthly bill!

I'm still a bit confused. I have a 4G capable phone, but don't know if I have even ever been in a 4G/LTE area. ATT, by the way. I see "E", "G", "H", "H+" in the notification bar at different various times, and "H" and "H+" are obviously the best, and quite fast.

But I am on a 2GB/month plan, and don't see where they have ever charged me extra (unless I go over the 2GB limit).

So I guess one way to ask my question would be, "Will I get charged more for watching a movie in 4G than I would if I watched it in 3G? Same movie, and probably same quality given it's a 4.3" x 2"something" screen?"

?

Good question. I can't answer the billing side of it. AT&T is a little different than Verizon but what I do know is its all with the bandwidth. So if your movie takes more bandwidth,(as in high def)I guess they could not charge you more unless you were on a 4G plan. It all goes back to that ESN number on your phone. You may have a 4G ready phone but on a 3G plan you can't get 4G until they tell your ESN to do so. Kind of like having cable but not HBO. On AT&T I think H+ is just a real good strong 3G signal, I'm not for sure though as I work for the "can you hear me now guys".

Found this, sounds logical, but not sure if its accurate:


Those symbols both refer to the speed of the cellular data signal.

The 3G has a minimum speed of ~350 kbit/s
H, which stands for high-speed downlink packet access (HSDPA) has speeds of 5.8 mbit/s to 672 mbit/s. HSDPA is the newest high speed offering for data plans from ATT and TMobile.
E, which is the EDGE network, has transmission rates ranging from 500 kbit/s to 1.6 mbit/s.

G.... GPRS 2G? 21.6kb/s?

Huh, thanks for the replies. I only got the phone I have because, at the time, I think it had the biggest screen. It was only after I bought it that I started doing any research on mobile devices.

Live and learn.

'nother thing: Your phone might prefer to be connected to LTE (likely it will), even if the connection quality and bandwidth is lower on 4G/LTE than on an older transmission standard.

I need a time machine, where I would just go to the corner store, put my quarters in the phone, and, if the person was home, talk to them.

Lotta less stress.

As these connections cover data transmissions: Schlep your portable PC to the corner store, hook the acoustic coupler to the 'bone', fire up your system and watch the green letters scroll across the monochrome screen as you make contact to the BBS.