WiMax

With Sprint turning on WiMax 4G service in many cities recently and Verizon launching its LTE-based 4G service over the weekend, some users are reporting much faster than advertised performance. Find out more and share your experience.

Late last week, a report emerged that compared the iPad's network performance to other devices using WiMax 4G devices and got surprising results - the iPad was almost half as slow using Wi-Fi to 4G connections, but just as fast using Wi-Fi with a hard link or 3G. Is it intentional or a design flaw that's only just been discovered?

All major U.S. carriers have announced 4G plans and some are already offering 4G service and devices. However, the ITU's recently issued definition of what constitutes 4G excludes all of them (as well as all "4G" technology available worldwide). Here's a rundown of what 4G means according to the ITU and carriers and what it will mean for consumers over the next few years.