What Is a 3G Card?

A 3G card is a memory chip that is an essential component of many mobile phones and provides a variety of services. With cell phones not only making calls but also downloading video, playing music and surfing the Internet, a 3G card helps perform those tasks faster and easier. With simple installation and improved results, it is no wonder more and more phones have utilized this technology.

The term "3G" stands for Third Generation and refers to the current standards and abilities of cellular technology to transmit data. Building upon the first and second generation's technology, a 3G mobile card was first available in the early 2000s. This technology was adopted by countless service providers worldwide and by 2010 was seen as the most technologically advanced mobile phone network commercially available.

A 3G card fits within a 3G cell phone just like a battery. The card is much smaller than a cell phone battery, usually taking up about a quarter of the space. The card can be independently installed to upgrade phones that were not created with 3G technology. 

The 3G card makes its biggest impact when dealing with multimedia. The 3G technology provides the proper amount of bandwidth to use a phone's video conferencing option with less lag time and less distortion than when a 3G card is not used. The memory upgrade provided by this technology allows for entire books to be downloaded and read on phones with more speed than is possible with 2G technology. This speed and memory also helps users download and listen to music in less time. 

Transactions also benefit from 3G card technology on mobile phones. The 3G data card allows for buying items when using the phone's online functions. E-commerce transactions online can be completed using the phone, but also in the emerging technology of using a phone at a point of purchase to buy goods or services. 

Gaming also gets a serious boost when 3G technology is used in a mobile device. Games where multiple computing systems are communicating in real time normally experience a lag, but 3G cards help eliminate this problem. Online competitions, especially multi player ones such as poker or role playing games such as World of Warcraft, are smoother and faster with this technology.

The phone itself also performs better using this technology. A mobile phone's address book can more than double with the addition of a 3G card's memory. The card also allows for clearer calls and better reception with its added strength.