5G; Do we really need it?

[Rhyalus]

This is a really short sighted thread....of course we need it!

I wonder if people said the same about 3G when we had CDMA, or 4G when we had 3G.... The content we get now is "ok" with 4G - but eventually there will be higher fidelity video and audio streams - holographic images, movies, real life 3D teleconferencing...

If YOU don't need, stick with a 4G phone until the availability and quality (and costs) meet your needs.

I didn't purchase a VR headset until the price was right and the quality met my needs (wants).

R

 

[Mooncatt]

...but eventually there will be higher fidelity video and audio streams - holographic images, movies, real life 3D teleconferencing...

Similar to what I said in my last comment, no device now, or in the near future, offers any of that. So why does one need 5G devices now based on technology they will never support?

 

[dangerousfen]

Similar to what I said in my last comment, no device now, or in the near future, offers any of that. So why does one need 5G devices now based on technology they will never support?

Exactly, and pay though the nose for them too.

 

[anon(50597)]

Wow that is some BS. where are you located and who is your carrier?

So apparently you know every situation, carrier, cost etc. in the world? Talk about BS.

 

[dangerousfen]

So apparently you know every situation, carrier, cost etc. in the world? Talk about BS.

There's always going to be one T.

 

[Rhyalus]

Similar to what I said in my last comment, no device now, or in the near future, offers any of that. So why does one need 5G devices now based on technology they will never support?

Well, keep in mind that 5G (or better) performance and utility is not just going to "appear" one day. Demand drives infrastructure and infrastructure creates more demand and innovation.

We can all benefit from faster data transfer speeds, and as that increases, this will enable new applications. Just because you guys may not benefit from the speed increases, there are tons of businesses that could operate better and more efficiently if cellular data was faster.

And while you guys say this is greed on the part of companies, every new technology needs investment and early adopters. This is not a new concept. Remember when we used to pay per minute for cell calls? This stuff costs money.

Sorry if I sound like an economics professor...

R

 

[1814]

To me it doesn't matter, I use my phone for internet, movies and pictures. I only use it as a phone incase I need to be contacted or absolutely have to contact someone. I've always hated talking on phones, used to work at a telemarketer place,??????.

 

[Houston Cyclephones]

So apparently you know every situation, carrier, cost etc. in the world? Talk about BS.

Why do you think I'm asking?

You completely missed my point: EVERY new technology needs a group of early adopters who are willing to pay extra and put up with it's lack of maturity/polish. Ie. Electric cars with the tesla roadster, Blockchain with Bitcoin, Personal Computing with the Apple I.

New tech doesn't just materialize and everyone starts using it. at the end of the day, it's a business decision that only gets made if there's demand to fuel the costs of R&D.

 

[anon(50597)]

Why do you think I'm asking?

You completely missed my point: EVERY new technology needs a group of early adopters who are willing to pay extra and put up with it's lack of maturity/polish. Ie. Electric cars with the tesla roadster, Blockchain with Bitcoin, Personal Computing with the Apple I.

New tech doesn't just materialize and everyone starts using it. at the end of the day, it's a business decision that only gets made if there's demand to fuel the costs of R&D.

Go help finance it. Be part of that group. Not everyone has to be.

 

[anon(50597)]

Well, keep in mind that 5G (or better) performance and utility is not just going to "appear" one day. Demand drives infrastructure and infrastructure creates more demand and innovation.

We can all benefit from faster data transfer speeds, and as that increases, this will enable new applications. Just because you guys may not benefit from the speed increases, there are tons of businesses that could operate better and more efficiently if cellular data was faster.

And while you guys say this is greed on the part of companies, every new technology needs investment and early adopters. This is not a new concept. Remember when we used to pay per minute for cell calls? This stuff costs money.

Sorry if I sound like an economics professor...

R

Then have corporations finance it.

 

[Chuck Finley69]

Then have corporations finance it.

Well I suspect the corporations do and then pass that onto consumers. I'm with you though, I don't need 5G right now and I didn't need 4G LTE when it first came out. I didn't have a 4G LTE phone until 2013 and wife didn't until 2014 so I don't think we suffered the inequities of life. The cycle will be that 5G plans and devices price will come down and BYOD will see a resurgence as carriers fight to move customers again.

 

[dangerousfen]

Well I suspect the corporations do and then pass that onto consumers. I'm with you though, I don't need 5G right now and I didn't need 4G LTE when it first came out. I didn't have a 4G LTE phone until 2013 and wife didn't until 2014 so I don't think we suffered the inequities of life. The cycle will be that 5G plans and devices price will come down and BYOD will see a resurgence as carriers fight to move customers again.

In the 73 years that I've been on this planet, prices very rarely come down. In fact, quite the opposite. You can witness this in the way phone prices have always increased over the last 20+ years.

 

[Chuck Finley69]

In the 73 years that I've been on this planet, prices very rarely come down. In fact, quite the opposite. You can witness this in the way phone prices have always increased over the last 20+ years.

Sure it’s an overall upward trend but the middle part of the generation timeline in the industry seems to follow the same cycle each network generation.

 

[Rhyalus]

I am not sure where this thread is going. If you don't want 5G while it is an "extra" thing now, you have cell phone options, right?

Is the suggestion that the world should just forget about faster cellular speeds going forward?

BTW, despite my defense of 5G, I have not changed my cell plan with Verizon to add 5G. My reason for waiting is just that the networks are not fully rolled out or capable yet. I did buy a flagship phone with 5G.

R

 

[anon(50597)]

I am not sure where this thread is going. If you don't want 5G while it is an "extra" thing now, you have cell phone options, right?

Is the suggestion that the world should just forget about faster cellular speeds going forward?

BTW, despite my defense of 5G, I have not changed my cell plan with Verizon to add 5G. My reason for waiting is just that the networks are not fully rolled out or capable yet. I did buy a flagship phone with 5G.

R

As long as we have a choice I have no issues with it.

 

[Chuck Finley69]

I am not sure where this thread is going. If you don't want 5G while it is an "extra" thing now, you have cell phone options, right?

Is the suggestion that the world should just forget about faster cellular speeds going forward?

BTW, despite my defense of 5G, I have not changed my cell plan with Verizon to add 5G. My reason for waiting is just that the networks are not fully rolled out or capable yet. I did buy a flagship phone with 5G.

R

I think you, I and TgeekB are pretty much in agreement with this, since we have a choice. I won’t add 5G or even buy 5G devices until it’s considered a standard feature and basic service.

We used to see these same discussion topics when 4G LTE was first rolled out 10-12 years ago on the earliest of compatible devices. The reality is 4G LTE and VoLTE is good enough until one day, it no longer is depending on user and use case...

 

[Inders99]

Junk, baloney, and a money grab. For most functions of a phone it's baloney.

 

[dangerousfen]

Junk, baloney, and a money grab. For most functions of a phone it's baloney.

Well, that certainly is straight to the point. Says it all really.

 

[Chuck Finley69]

Junk, baloney, and a money grab. For most functions of a phone it's baloney.

Unless you need the 5G speed which is only for some now. Eventually, we’ll all need the 5G speed as size of data transfer continues to grow.

 

[dangerousfen]

Unless you need the 5G speed which is only for some now. Eventually, we’ll all need the 5G speed as size of data transfer continues to grow.

Maybe, when I've departed this wonderful planet.