HSPA+ is an enhanced version of high-speed 3G wireless networks. Because it is so closely related to 3G and is not a new, built-from-the ground-up technology, HSPA+ has been called a 3.5G network instead of a true 4G network. But HSPA+ networks are capable of delivering 4G speeds, with download speeds between 5 megabits per second and 8 mbps.
AT&T Wireless and T-Mobile both offer HSPA+ service.
SAR is a “way of measuring the quantity of radio frequency (RF) energy that is absorbed by the body,” according to the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association (CTIA).
SAR stands for specific absorption rate. The lower your cell phone SAR, the lower your electromagnetic radiation exposure and therefore potential health risks associated with using your cell phone.
In North America, a cell phone’s SAR rating is measured between 0.0 and 1.60 with 1.60 set by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) as the maximum level of radiation permissible.
The CTIA requires all cell phones in the U.S. to comply with this SAR limit from the FCC.
In Europe, the SAR rating runs from 0.0 to 2.0 as adopted by the European Union Council and recommended by the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP).
In North America, SAR is measured in watts per kilogram (or W/kg) averaged over one gram of biological tissue while in Europe SAR is averaged over 10 grams. The FCC limit, which averages over one gram of body tissue, is much stricter than the rest of the world.
The iPhone 3G, for example, has a relatively high SAR rating of 1.388. The Motorola Rapture VU30 reports a lower SAR rating of 0.88 at the head and 0.78 at the body while the LG enV 2 reports a higher SAR rating of 1.34 at the head and 1.27 at the body.
In addition to proactively selecting a cell phone with a low SAR rating, you can also reduce your radiation exposure by using a short-range Bluetooth wireless headset (like this one) to keep your cell phone away from your head or use your cell phone’s speakerphone.
LTE, which stands for Long Term Evolution, is the name for a technology standard used for 4G wireless networks. LTE is used by Verizon Wireless and AT&T to deliver high-speed wireless service.
On average, 4G wireless is supposed to be anywhere from four to ten times faster than 3G networks. Verizon says its LTE network can deliver speeds between 5 megabits per second and 12 mbps.
