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Why? If I buy a 5G phone today, it might be usable for 10 years.
My 10 year old clamshell still works, no idea what technology it uses, certainly not 3G or 4G. I did get a new sim card a few years ago because of some tech update, but it fit into my old phone, nor did my number change.
I think due to all the customers with legacy gear network operators do have to pay attention to backward compatibility, if they want to or not.
MS also support their software for a decade or so, even if they hate to do so. But that's what happens if you have lots of customers.
Cell phone technology changes quickly. When I started doing CS support for Cingular in 2001, analog was being replaced with TDMA, AND then came 3G, then 4G/LTE. 10 years for a phone is almost nonexistent.
Cell phone technology changes quickly. When I started doing CS support for Cingular in 2001, analog was being replaced with TDMA, AND then came 3G, then 4G/LTE. 10 years for a phone is almost nonexistent.
I think the real problem is not changing technologies (thanks to back compatibility), but planned obsolescence. After all I would not expect to use 2029 apps on my 10 year old phone. But maybe things like broken batteries that can't be replaced. In my old one I can still replace it myself.
Cell phone technology changes quickly. When I started doing CS support for Cingular in 2001, analog was being replaced with TDMA, AND then came 3G, then 4G/LTE. 10 years for a phone is almost nonexistent.
It used to change quickly, not so much anymore imo.
Seems to me, cell phone tech has artificially 'plateaued'.
It used to change quickly, not so much anymore imo.
Seems to me, cell phone tech has artificially 'plateaued'.
Going back to 2001 starting with Analog, then TDMA/2G, then GSM/3G, then 4G/LTE/VOLTE, and now 5G just being introduced. Several different technologies in about 18 years with a few in between.
Seems to be quickly changing/evolving every 4-5 years as I see it. I stand by my prior comments.
My theory is that with technology, you evolve or die off. Don't see any airlines using prop-driven aircraft for trans-Atlantic/trans-Pacific flights anymore.
3G is on it's way out. While it is still in use today, it won't be around in a few years based on current trends. I don't think Verizon will allow 3G device activation at the end of 2019. When one carrier does it, the others won't be far behind.
Technically, 5G is currently being rolled out for data only and not voice yet. Same thing when LTE and then VOLTE was introduced later.
Why? If I buy a 5G phone today, it might be usable for 10 years.
My 10 year old clamshell still works, no idea what technology it uses, certainly not 3G or 4G. I did get a new sim card a few years ago because of some tech update, but it fit into my old phone, nor did my number change.
I think due to all the customers with legacy gear network operators do have to pay attention to backward compatibility, if they want to or not.
MS also support their software for a decade or so, even if they hate to do so. But that's what happens if you have lots of customers.
The real qiestion is why someome would want to use a 10 year old phone. Or computer.
Because I think it is crazy to replace a phone every 3 years or so. There are probably billions of smartphones out there by now. Imagine the giant pile of waste that will lead to. Smartphones are so tightly integrated, I doubt there is proper recycling in many places. Recycling as such also consumes a whole lot of energy.
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