Content transfer: Speed versus ease of use

The concept for this article is to look at download speeds across three different interfaces, USB, WiFi and 3G, to compare and contrast the speed and easy of use. The testing was done across three different cell phones in the industry " the Apple iPhone 3G and the Research In Motion BlackBerry Bold on the AT&T network and the Research In Motion BlackBerry Storm operating on Verizon. These phones were chosen, first because they are all able to utilize a 3G network which offers the greatest amount of flexibility in terms of ease of use, and their popularity on their respective networks.

As with previous articles of this vein (see related articles at the bottom of the page), the intent here is to simulate "real world examples" as opposed to stringent lab tests in optimal conditions.

USB The first type of test to look at is across a USB connection. All three of the phones under investigation have gone through this type of testing already, so I will draw on those articles for this purpose. It has been noted previously that the Bold takes advantage of the Cypress WestBridge Controller to allow for faster download speeds than either the iPhone or Storm.

To download content using a USB connection, a cable must be physically connected from the phone to the computer. There are a few different types of phone connections, although recently the most common are MiniUSB (Bold) and MicroUSB (Storm), as well as the proprietary Apple 30 pin connector (iPhone). This requires that the user have access to the particular cable that is needed, which reduces the portability of the interface. Take an example of going to a friend's house and wanting to download a copy of a song or a presentation file. You would have to have the necessary cable on hand to be able to do this which adds to what you have to carry.

As well, USB connections require you to be within a certain range of a computer, typically a foot or two depending on the length of the cable. This means that you will not be able to move your phone too far without severing the connection.

Finally, many phones enter a standby mode when they are connected to a computer through USB. The Bold and Storm are exceptions attributed to the Cypress chip mentioned which allows it to both transfer content and operate simultaneously, but the iPhone and Storm are not able to operate as a phone or allow access to the phone's features when they are downloading content to the phone.

With all of these disadvantages there are, however, some advantages. First, the amount of time it takes to transfer a file is considerably faster than wireless alternatives that will be looked at later. This means that, while it can be a hassle to connect the phone to the computer, it will take less time to get the content that you desire onto your phone and then disconnect it.

Second, connecting the phone through a USB cable also charges the phone. So while you are transferring content from the computer to the phone you are also recharging the battery so that you can enjoy the content when completed.

Finally, USB is designed to operate in a plug and play scheme. This means that it does not require any set up on the device or the PC. The phone simply has to be connected to the computer and the files can be transferred making it simple for anyone to perform the task.

Click on image to enlarge.

Wi-Fi networks

An alternative to a physical USB connection is to use a Wi-Fi network. In this case you simply turn on the antenna (if you have disabled it previously to conserve battery power) and select the desired network. Almost all phones are capable of interfacing with the security systems set up on a wireless network, such as Wired Equivalency Privacy (WEP) or Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA).

The inherent benefit of using a Wi-Fi network is the fact that there are no wires necessary. However, the connection is not as widely available as using a cellular network, such as a 3G network, as you have to within range of a transmitter. However, there are a number of locations that have available wireless networks, such as Starbucks, whether there is a price involved or not is another question.

Compared to using a USB connection, Wi-Fi is not as fast, but it is more convenient in that it does not require a separate cable. Take the example again of going to a friend's house and wanting to download something. All you have to do is jump onto their wireless network, and hopefully get their password, and you can go to the iTunes store and download a song that you just heard on the radio.

The other thing about using a Wi-Fi network is that it tends to drain the battery on a cell phone relatively quickly. Take for example the specifications for the iPhone. It claims to have up to 6 hours of Internet use time on a Wi-Fi network. While this may seem like a fair amount of time, as long as the antenna is active it will constantly be drawing power from the battery to try to identify a wireless network. For the Bold I have noticed that if the Wi-Fi is turned on the phone has to be recharged every night, where as if the Wi-Fi is turned off then the phone can last for a few days before requiring a recharge.

The Storm was not included in the testing as it does offer Wi-Fi capabilities.

It was surprising that the file size sent to the Bold was so small, and yet it took so long for the file to download and install, where as the iPhone received a much larger file and installed the program at a much higher MByte/s rate.

Click on image to enlarge.

3G network test

With the introduction of 3G networks, more and more phones are taking advantage of the faster download speeds available, not to mention the improved call quality. These networks are not ubiquitous yet, and are mostly offered in larger cities as opposed to across the country.