Did you know that there are more wireless phone subscriptions than people in the United States? With 318.9 million people and 326.4 million wireless subscriptions, it’s clear that America takes its smartphones seriously. What many people never think about, though, is that their wireless plans actually give them access to one of the world’s most sophisticated technological systems. A lot of research and development went into building the country’s wireless phone network.
Today’s mobile devices can do much more than place phone calls. Although small, they are powerful computers that can download and upload information quickly. They can do this because they use radio waves that communicate with nearby antennas. These antennas send and retrieve information from the network. Thereby making it possible for your smartphone to download apps, stream movies, and access video games. If you have a 4G capable Samsung smartphone then you can connect to the network all over the country, even in rural areas that require large antennas there are wireless phone connections.
It took decades to build wireless networks that offer this level of service. When the first smartphone was released, its abilities were limited because it did not have access to many antennas. As the technology grew, so did the wireless network’s popularity. This also helped prices fall. The first radio telephone service that debuted in 1946 cost about $190 per month. Compare that to the cost of your current plan, and remember that you get services that someone in 1946 would have thought magical.
Check out this infographic to learn more about how wireless networks benefit your smartphone.
