T-Mobile G2 with Google taps into speedy 4G network
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There's no mistaking Google's influence on the T-Mobile G2 with Google.
You have to be a certifiable geek to have even heard of HSPA+ or LTE, much less try to explain these terms. But while the wireless network jargon is enough to give anyone a migraine, such technologies will become increasingly relevant to consumers who want to watch video and surf the Web from smartphones, laptops and other devices.

Short for High Speed Packet Access, HSPA+ is T-Mobile's emerging high-speed fourth-generation, or 4G, wireless phone network. LTE (Long Term Evolution) is a 4G technology backed by Verizon Wireless and AT&T. Sprint's 4G is based on WiMax technology (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access).

On Wednesday, T-Mobile unveiled the T-Mobile G2 with Google smartphone that I've been testing. The Google Android handset, which is made by HTC, is the first T-Mobile smartphone to tap into HSPA+. In my tests, it performed admirably, though, as always, results vary depending upon your location.

Most consumers don't think about underlying wireless networks, at least until they experience dropped calls or poky downloads. Instead, they focus on the lustful designs and features of today's devices. And most of those newfangled handsets tap into 3G, or third-generation, wireless technologies that will surely be here for years to come. The 3G club counts as members the iPhone, numerous BlackBerrys and most Android phones, including the G2's predecessor, the G1, which was the first Android-powered phone on the market.

The G2 handset ($199 with a $50 rebate) is a stately gray with a slide-out qwerty, or traditional, keyboard. There's no mistaking Google's influence: The phone has Voice Actions from Google, Google Voice, Google Maps, Google Goggles, Google Earth and other Google apps. It runs the latest version of Google's Android mobile operating system.

Still, it was the promise of higher 4G speeds that drew me to try the G2 and monitor the progress of these nascent networks:

What is 4G? There's no easy answer. Each major carrier is taking divergent paths to build out their next-generation networks. Not everyone agrees on what 4G means. The rollout of the various networks is slow, and explaining it in layman's terms is tricky. As it happens, HSPA+ is really a speedier variation of 3G HSPA (without the +) technology, making it kind of like 3G on steroids.

T-Mobile's faster network is in 65 major markets. The company says it's on pace to reach 100 markets, and 200 million people, by year's end.

T-Mobile isn't the only carrier selling phones that tap into speedy 4G networks. Sprint became the first in June, with the Sprint Evo 4G handset that I tested in Philadelphia. Sprint has since added a second 4G phone, the Samsung Epic 4G. It now has a dozen 4G devices, including routers, modems and adapters. Sprint's 4G network covers about 60 million people in 55 markets, though New York City still isn't one of them. Sprint expects to reach about 120 million by the end of the year.

AT&T and Verizon Wireless are building out 4G networks based on LTE. AT&T is already testing 4G in Baltimore and Dallas. It expects to cover 70 million to 75 million people by the end of 2011. But AT&T also continues to invest in 3G networks, and HSPA+, because the company doesn't expect these to disappear anytime soon.

Verizon Wireless is making the most noise about LTE. It plans to commercially launch its LTE 4G network in 38 markets (and 62 airports) in the coming weeks, covering 110 million people. It expects to reach two-thirds of the U.S. population within 18 months. The company is giving no specifics on devices or pricing but plans to unveil LTE-compatible smartphones and tablets in January at the Consumer Electronics Show.

Verizon ultimately expects to see LTE embedded in cars and appliances. You'll also see LTE-compatible USB modems and air cards. Verizon COO Lowell McAdam says devices that tap into the network will be out early in 2011 and that Verizon's LTE will be on the order of 8 to 12 megabits per second, or roughly 10 times faster than 3G.

MetroPCS, a smaller prepaid carrier, recently launched LTE in Dallas and Las Vegas.

How fast is fast? T-Mobile shied away from making too many direct claims on the speed of its HSPA+ network. It did say that speeds may be three times as fast as its 3G networks, resulting generally in faster surfing, a better experience watching YouTube and zippier downloads. T-Mobile sells a data modem for laptops called WebConnect Rocket that taps into HSPA+.

With the G2, I headed to areas in and around New York that T-Mobile said was equipped with the faster network. But I also rode a commuter bus that probably went in and out of 4G coverage.

Download speeds were all over the map, peaking at 9.7 megabits per second, but also falling as low as 0.25 Mbps. My average download speed was about 3.6 Mbps. Upload speeds bounced around less and averaged about 1.1 Mbps.

I'm happy to report I achieved generally fast speeds without putting a strain on the battery. That wasn't the case when I tested the Sprint Evo. I was able to keep the G2 charged the entire business day. The T-Mobile phone may have been a tad faster than the Evo, too, but it's difficult to do a direct comparison because I tested in different areas. The larger-screen Evo beats the G2 on sex appeal.

One quibble: The G2 displays a tiny H at the top of the screen to indicate that you're in an HSPA area, but you can't tell whether you're experiencing HSPA or the faster HSPA+. You might also see an E, which is supposed to mean you're in a poky Edge territory. I got one of my fastest readings with an E on the screen. An E was also displayed in my house, where speeds were awfully slow.

Most consumers don't care about the technologies powering their devices. They just want them to work smarter and faster. It's still early, but the various 4G technologies promise to do just that.

What carriers are planning for their networks

Wireless carriers are building out higher-speed networks to service smartphones, tablets and other devices. The major technologies:

•WiMax (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access). Sprint is a primary backer. Sprint's 4G network covers about 60 million people in 55 markets today. Sprint expects to reach about 120 million by the end of the year. The company says average download speeds are 3 megabits to 6 megabits per second, with peak speeds of more than 10 Mbps. That's about 10 times faster than 3G networks, though speeds vary.

•LTE (Long Term Evolution).Verizon Wireless plans to commercially launch its LTE 4G network in 38 markets in coming weeks, covering 110 million people. AT&T expects to cover 70 million to 75 million by the end of 2011. Verizon says speeds will be roughly 8 to 12 Mbps. AT&T says a "theoretical maximum" is 50 Mbps.

•HSPA+ (High Speed Packet Access). A faster variant on HSPA 3G networks, this is what T-Mobile is using for its 4G rollout. Meanwhile, even while building out LTE, AT&T says it has already boosted 3G speeds four times, most recently with HSPA 7.2 (7.2 Mbps theoretical maximum) and HSPA+ (21 Mbps).

E-mail: ebaig@usatoday.com

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