3G is the third generation of mobile phone networks and the associated mobile phone technology.

Mobile technology began with the first generation of mobiles which connected to the networks via an analogue signal. The second generation mobile phone networks replaced analogue signals with digital ones.

After 2G there was intermediate stage of mobile technology, known as EDGE or 2.5G,  which bridged the gap while users waited for 3G.

3G launched in the UK in March 2003 when Hutchinson 3G began offering the service to customers. 3G brought a vast improvement in networks speeds with downloads up to 2/Mbits when stationary or up to 384 kb/s on the move.

This improvement in data speeds led to the development of video-calling on your mobile, improved web-browsing, mobile-TV and ultimately the birth of the smartphone. The operators also saw an opportunity to compete with fixed broadband providers and launched "mobile broadband" which worked by plugging a USB dongle into your computer to provide internet access over the 3G network.

In the UK many other operators have followed Three's lead with O2, Orange, T-Mobile and Vodafone now all providing 3G networks. All the major phone manufactures make 3G Mobile Phones including Apple, Nokia, Motorola, Samsung, Blackberry, LG, Sanyo, NEC, Toshiba, Palm, Sony Ericsson, HTC, Ben-Q and Sharp and many more.

The next evolution in mobile technology HSPA (High Speed Packet Access ) or HSDPA ( High Speed Download Packet Access ) improved on network speeds even further. With HSPA, which is also known as 3.5G, you can download at up to 14Mbit/s and the network and HSPA enabled-mobiles are currently available in the UK.

3G mobile technology brought a number of improvements and new features to mobile phones including:

• - Improved call quality
• - Full Web-browsing including Adobe Flash
• - Photo uploading e.g. Facebook
• - Social Networking, such as Facebook and Twitter
• - Music Streaming and uploading such as Youtube.
• - Download up to 10 times faster
• - Amazing numbers of applications such as Google
• - Video calling

3G devices continue to arrive all the time with more and more power and the features and functions capable on the device are improving all the time. The arrival of 4G technology is on the horizon and it is expected to improve speeds even further.