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After having covered the new Apple iPhone about to be released on July 11, ShopCell Discount Cell Phone Accessory customers where continuously asking "what does '3G' mean, did I sleep through the second version and Apple is now up to the third version of iPhone?

Don't worry out there, Apple is just about to release their second version and '3G' stands for something different completely, iPhone 3G stands for 3rd Generation Mobile Technology.

Let me explain all of this technobable.

The First-generation (1G) networks were all analog. They were days when a cell phone cases consisted of shoulder-harness, small attache cases etc. Cell phones in those days wee more like giant bricks. You might laugh to think of minutes, not hours of talk time, poor reception, and very crackly speech. 1G networks could handle very low-speed data on a good day.

Then 2nd generation Mobile Technology came about, Second generation (2G) networks were already digital, however at that time having the Internet on a cellular phone wasn’t part of the thinking. 2G networks weren’t optimized to move data around, however 2G networks could carry data. The CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) technology offers dial-up modem speeds with 1xRTT, the slowest CDMA data standard. GSM (Global System for Mobile communication) networks offer both GSM (data transfer speeds of 9,600 to 1,4400 bps) and GPRS (General Packet Radio Services, up to dial-up modem speeds).

This brings us to 3G Mobile Technology. 3G was designed to deliver data as part of its very nature. It’s optimized to carry bits that may or may not be voice bits. The iPhone 3G should be able to communicate as fast as about 25 Mbps over an 802.11g Wi-Fi network, the fastest standard the phone supports.

Apple’s iPhone move to 3G, is part of a larger trend for wireless devices, which is giving those devices not just the freedom to move about, but the power of real broadband, extending their usefulness for downloading and streaming video, as well as providing a real alternative to a laptop, something not yet achieved in the past.

Having said all this, before you run and get yourself Apple's new iPhone 3G, make sure that 3G is available in your area. AT&T’s 3G network only covers most major metropolitan areas. The company says "3G service is currently available in 280 U.S. metropolitan areas, and it plans to offer 3G service in nearly 350 metro areas by the end of 2008. If you’re in an area without 3G coverage, your iPhone will instead get its data over the slower EDGE network (which has much wider availability). If you buy yourself a 3G phone and then find out that it's not available in your area, Sorry to say, you'll probably pay the increased fee for monthly data because you're activating it on a 3G-capable phone, even though you are not using it. There is currently no indication from Apple or AT&T that you can choose to relegate your iPhone to EDGE connectivity for a reduced cost.

Stay tuned to the latest tips, news and advice on the new Apple iPhone 3G and be sure to stock up on the latest iPhone accessories. ShopCell.com offers a large selection of iPhone accessories at a reduced price.