The Nokia 8800 Sirocco edition operates on the 2G platform.
The Nokia 880 Sirocco edition by Nokia made its debut on the market in 2006, just five years after the first 3G technology appeared on the market. Even though 3G technology existed by the time the Sirocco, -- no longer in production as of June 2011 -- hit store shelves, this Nokia phone operates on the 2G platform.
What Is 2G
2G is short for "second generation," referring to the second generation of mobile phone networks. The first generation -- dubbed "1G" -- was the dominant technology from the time it was unveiled in the 1980s until the birth of 2G in the early 1990s. 2G networks include GSM, CDMA, TDMA and AMPS platforms. One of the major changes between the 1G and 2G networks is the use of digital technology. While the 1G platform used analog, 2G uses digital technology to connect a mobile phone to the radio towers that provide call reception.
What Is 3G
3G is short for "third generation" -- it is an upgrade from 2G. Before the introduction of 3G, which was first used in 2001 but not widely in service until later in the decade, upgrades to the 2G platform took place, known as 2.5G and 2.75G. Likewise, a similar upgrade to the 3G platform took place, called 3.5G. In order for a cellphone to receive the 3G designation, it must have a downlink speed of at least 348kbps. Three main categories of 3G technology exist: UMTS, CDMA2000 and EDGE.
The Next Generation
3G is no longer the newest technology available to cellphone customers as of June, 2011. In 2008, the International Mobile Telecommunications Advanced (called IMT-Advanced for short) released the standards for 4G technology. Some debate occurred in the communications community regarding exactly what qualifies as 4G, with many cellphone manufacturers and wireless carriers touting sub-4G technology as being 4G, examples being the LTE and WiMAX platforms advertised by Verizon and Sprint, respectively.
Where The Sirocco Fits In
The Sirocco operates GSM platform within the 2G network. Although GSM technology powers the majority of the world's cellphones, Nokia no longer manufactures this phone -- but it still provides product support. 2G was the first network to allow SMS text messaging; the Sirocco offers this feature. The minimum downlink speed for a 3G phone is 348kbps; in comparison, the Nokia 8800 Sirocco edition has a maximum downlink speed of just 236.8kbps, roughly two-thirds of the speed needed for a phone to qualify as 3G.
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