The world of technology and communications is one that is constantly changing and advancing. Over the last three decades, some of the changes have made the world almost unrecognizable. The market for cell phones has come a long way from blocky flip phones when texting involved lots and lots of clicking.
Not only has the actual technology that makes up cell phones changed drastically over the last few decades, but the integration into society has also evolved.
At one point in time not too long ago, road trip necessities included a physical road map. With the rise of GPS integration into cell phones, and even natively into car navigation systems, it’s not uncommon to not interact with a physical map in most situations.
Things like social media, video calls, and much more have also changed the way people think about communication.
While technology is incredible and it always has the potential to push society forward, there are times when big changes need to take palace.
In the world of cell phones, there are networks that only have so much infrastructure and can only facilitate so much growth and expansion. When that capacity is maxed out, a new kind of network and infrastructure needs to be created to facilitate the new capacity demands.
For cell phones, these networks have been known as Generations, which have been shortened to G1, G2, G3, G4, and now most recently, G5. Each generation has had a unique capacity that has fit the demands of that time frame. During the early days of G1 networking, analog communication was dominant.
G2 saw a generation of digital communication arise where people were able to send text messages and even send and receive pictures. G3 was a pretty incredible generation of networking that saw the rise of a lot of what we still see today.
Social media, user-created content, and innovative and fun ways of staying in contact with people – such as Facetime and other forms of video or photo-based communication.
However, one of the main shortcomings of every network will always be capacity. With G3, there is a limited capacity that has as of late been maxed out. With the rise of G5, this new infrastructure means that it will be able to take on millions of new users, as well as provide a host of new capabilities even just in terms of technology.
Because of this, G3 is being shut down throughout the year 2022. This is a necessary step for major providers to take because it allows them to move into the new frontier of greater capabilities and resources to offer existing and potential customers.
If you have been wondering how G3 will affect you, here are some things you need to know.
What Exactly Will It Do to My G3 Device?
The G3 shutdown will affect the networking capabilities of all 3G devices. This in essence means that if you have a 3G device, you won’t be able to use it for communication the way that you have been able to.
Any kind of internet-based communication you may have will still be available as this shutdown doesn’t affect the hardware such as a wifi chip. Things like connecting to the wifi in order to join a video call or send an email may still be capable on your device.
Will This Only Affect Cell Phones?
The 3G shutdown will not only affect cell phones that are reliant on the 3G network. This will affect any device that is not suited to rely on any other network. Tablets, and even vehicles that utilize a 3G network dependency won’t be able to function the way they did before.
Again, this doesn’t mean you won’t be able to turn on or use your device, it just means that the network capabilities you’ve enjoyed such as phone calls, or even text messaging won’t be available in the same way. Some devices will still support wifi based communication, however.
How Do You Upgrade?
For some people, upgrading their phones is something that happens very regularly. It’s not uncommon for mammoth tech companies like Apple to see loyal customers upgrade their phones every two years. However, for some people upgrading a cell phone isn’t a priority.
They look for dependability and long gravity and are content to not upgrade unless absolutely necessary. In the case of the 3G network shutdown, if you want to keep an operable cellphone, this would be a situation where it is necessary.
Conclusion
A new sim card won’t fix your connectivity issues, because the network itself will be gone. The good news is that providers like RedPocket can give you a more affordable, high-quality option for not only a new device but even service.
If you are someone who doesn’t enjoy upgrading or is looking for a more affordable option, the good news is that RedPocket makes it easy and can save you money.
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