Generations of wireless technology, past, present and near future.

• 1G FM Analog: Advanced Mobile Phone Service (AMPS), 850 MHz band only, 30 kHz/carrier, voice, circuit-switched data 1 kbps -5 kbps (Max 9.6) and packet-switched data (CDPD) 4 kbps -14 kbps (Max 19.2).

• 2G TDMA: Time Division Multiple Access, 30 kHz/carrier, digital control channel supports caller ID, voicemail waiting indication, short message service.

• 2G CDMA: Code Division Multiple Access, 1.2288 MHz/carrier, digital control channel enables caller ID, voicemail waiting indication, short message service.

• 2G GSM: Groupe Special Mobile or Global System Mobile, TDMA, 200 kHz/carrier, digital control channel enables caller ID, voicemail waiting indication, short message service, General Packet Data Service (GPRS) 10 kbps-25 kbps (48.6 Max).

• 2.5G CDMA 1XRTT: 1X Radio Transmission Technology, 50 kbps -100 kbps (153.6 Max).

• 3G GSM EDGE: Enhanced Data GSM Evolution, 60 kbps-120 kbps (384 kbps Max, which is the key ITU definition of 3G).

• 3G CDMA EV-DO Rev. 0: Evolution Data Only, 400 kbps-750 kbps (2.4 Mbps Max).

• 3G UMTS: Universal Mobile Telecommunications Service,  5 MHz/carrier, 100 kbps-200 kbps (384 Max).

• 3.5G CDMA EV-DO Rev. A: 600 kbps-950 kbps (3.1 Mbps Max).

• 3.5G UMTS HSPA: High Speed Packet Access, 600 Mbps-1200 Mbps (14.4 Mbps Max).

• “4G” WiMAX (unlikely to be officially designated 4G by the ITU): World Interoperability for Microwave Access, Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) , up to 10 MHz/carrier, 10s of Mbps (100s of Mbps Max), all IP.

• “4G” LTE (likely to be officially designated 4G by the ITU): Long Term Evolution, OFDMA, 1.4 MHz-20 MHz/carrier, 10s of Mbps (100s of Mbps Max), all IP.

Note: All data rates are in the downlink; in most cases, the uplink is slower.