Mobile technology is about using smartphones, tablets and laptops to connect to a network for communication, navigation and computing. These systems can be used in a variety of settings, including work, home and school.
Cellphones use radio signals to communicate with each other and the masts or base stations that hold their signals. They can’t send these signals very far by themselves, however, as the signals would be too much for the phone to handle. So, cellphones have to send and receive signals from their nearest mast or base station. The masts or base stations can pick up the faint signals from many phones and then send them onward to their destination, and this is how they provide robust long-distance communication.
This cellular technology has progressed from its earliest, analog days to a powerful multitasking system that’s capable of GPS navigation, internet browsing, gaming and instant messaging. The systems have also become smaller and more portable, with tablets and laptops providing even greater portability than desktop computers in a much more compact form factor.
The latest cellular technologies offer even faster connectivity. For example, 4G (also called LTE) networks, which are now common worldwide, can deliver Internet speeds of up to 10 Mbps and compete with cable Internet services in some markets. Even more advanced 5G, which offers an aggregated set of frequencies to unlock bandwidth and is about 20x faster than 3G, is gaining traction. The possibilities for applying mobile technology are nearly endless.