Hi Im just about to start college to get an IT degree.I was just wondering will that degree alow me to work on projects such as 3G or even 4G phone developments? And if not what type of degree will?

Unless that includes topics like these, it could be harder.
- Software Engineering
- Embedded Systems
- Real Time Systems
- Inter process communication
- Networking (not just TCP/IP, networks in general)

"IT Degree" is too vague. Post a URL to the college / department website with a syllabus.

i also need to know what exactly is a 3G phone..lyk wats its difference compared with GPRS enabled phone.

GPRS (General Packet Radio Service):

GPRS is a new packet-based bearer that is being introduced on many GSM and TDMA mobile networks from the year 2001 onwards. It is a non-voice value added service that allows a subscriber to send and receive data in an end-to-end packet transfer mode, without using any network resources in circuit-switched mode. It also permits the user to receive voice calls simultaneously when sending or receiving data calls.

GPRS facilitates instant connections (no dial-up) whereby information can be sent or received immediately as the need arises. This is why GPRS users are sometimes referred to be as being “always connected”. A GPRS mobile device displays a mobile portal service all the time, but it is only activated, and the user is only charged, when information is being transmitted. The main feature of GPRS is that it reserves radio resources only when there is data to send and that these radio resources are shared by all Mobile Stations (Mess) in a cell. It handles data transfer rates from 14.4 Kbps, using just one TDMA slot, up to 115.2 Kbps, using all eight TDMA slots. This will allow it to handle all types of transmission from slow-speed short messages, to the higher speeds needed for browsing complex web pages with high graphics content.

GPRS fully enables a true “Mobile Internet” scenario by allowing integration between the existing Internet and the GPRS network, via interfaces to TCP/IP. Its network can be viewed as a sub-network of the Internet with GPRS capable mobile phones being viewed as mobile hosts. This means that each GPRS terminal can potentially have its own IP address and will be addressable as such. Any service that is used over the fixed Internet today – web browsing, file transfer, chat, email, telnet – will also be available over mobile network via GPRS. In addition, higher data rates will allow users to take part in video conferencing and interact with multimedia websites and similar applications as well.


Third Generation Technologies

Two shortcomings of the second generation bearer networks are low bandwidth and limited network capacity which negatively impact the user experience and the reliability of the service. Third generation or 3G technology is a new technological evolution that will offer far more bandwidth and greater data and voice call capacity than today's digital mobile networks allow. It is a next giant step in mobile technology development with its goal being full interoperability and inter-working of mobile systems. The idea behind 3G is to unify the disparate standards that today's second generation wireless networks use.

With 3G technology, portable bandwidth will rise to the level of wired broadband connections and the data transfer rates of up to 2 Mbps will be possible (128 Kbps in a car, 384 Kbps when a device is stationery or moving at pedestrian speed and 2 Mbps in fixed applications). When this speed is achieved, wireless technology will find a new audience that is interested in Internet browsing, wireless gaming, and listening to music. Current mobile networks are only designed for voice and text messaging, whereas 3G networks will allow faster and more complex data transmission such as streaming video and audio, video conferencing, satellite navigation and interactive application sharing. These networks will provide packet switched data access to the Internet with an end-to-end IP connection. This means that when the mobile phone is activated it is automatically connected to the Internet via a normal browser. Subscribers will then enjoy capabilities similar to today’s fixed-line Internet services with significant add-ons such as location-based and highly personalized services.

Third generation technology allows handsets to be left permanently connected to the network and use capacity only when they receive or transmit packages. Subscribers can thus pay for the volume of data transmitted, not how long they talk.

Although the technology behind 3G may seem complicated, the ways in which 3G will affect all of our lives are easy to imagine. Just imagine having a combined camera, computer, stereo, and radio included in your mobile phone. Rich-media information and entertainment will be at your fingertips whenever and wherever you want. Being able to do so much, the end user device is no longer just a mobile phone, and will be referred to as a terminal.

You can also get the full article here...

http://www.uktelematicsonline.co.uk/...ess_wan_s.html


People should include their sources, it can be helpful.

Good info above... GPRS is a high-speed data connection. 3G (also called EDGE) is a lower-speed connection. Both of these technologies are part of GSM;