What phones will become obsolete?
(CNN) - A 20-year era is coming to an end. Major cell phone carriers are boasting higher-speeds thanks to 5G, but they're also set to phase out 3G networks this year. This will render many older cell phones obsolete.
Beginning in 2022, a lot of those older phones will become obsolete. The FCC is warning that if you have an outdated model, you may not be able to send text messages, access the internet or make phone calls -- not even to 911.
The company's top chief, at the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2022, said that 6G mobile networks, once operational, could make smartphones obsolete. “By then, the smartphone as we know it today will not be the most common interface. Many of these things will be built directly into our bodies,” Lundmark was quoted.
Per Samsung's recent support statement, they should be good to use until the middle of 2023. Another problem with Android devices is that older versions of the Android OS stick around for a lot longer than they should, as phone makers often ship second-tier or budget phones without the latest version of Android.
Many cell phones, tablets, medical devices, and home security systems using 3G connectivity will be phased out in 2022. Older cell phones that use 3G won't be able to make emergency calls to 911, either. AT&T announced it will shutdown 3G by Feb. 2022.
Some tracfones, flip phones, Jitterbugs and even older-style smartphones will no longer be able to make calls once the networks are taken down. Most of these phones, which are sometimes called “third generation” phones were launched nearly 20 years ago and will no longer work with most of the carriers in 2022.
Within the U.S., it's reasonable to assume that by the end of 2022 there will not be a single major carrier supporting 2G. The same fate awaits 3G. 4G LTE operates under a different scenario, and we can confidently say that 4G will be around for at least another decade.
On Android smartphones, go to settings > Network settings > mobile network. It should give you a dropdown menu of mobile standards such as 2G, 3G or LTE (4G). If you don't see 4G or LTE, then your smartphone doesn't support the standard.
T-Mobile and Sprint 3G/2G/4G LTE network shutdown dates
These are January 1, 2022 for Sprint's 3G network sunset, and June 30, 2022 for the 4G LTE connections, respectively.
Thanks to converging trends--among them 5G and AI in the cloud--the smartphone will spend the next decade acting more as a central hub before being replaced entirely by wearable screens, ubiquitous voice assistants, and ambient interfaces.
What's next after smartphones?
Smartphones are old news. The tech industry's next bet is a series of technologies usually called augmented reality (AR) or mixed reality. The vision usually involves some kind of computer worn in front of the user's eyes. Why cellphone bills cost so much in the U.S.
Among iPhones, only iPhone 12 and the later models like iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max support 5G. So, if your iPhone is older than iPhone 12, it won't support 5G. All of these models are built with the Apple A14 Bionic processor.
According to a recent report, Samsung may be preparing itself for a future where its smartphones will no longer run Android OS. Instead, it will run a new operating system that's been in development in Google's laboratories for a few years.
After December 31, 2022, if you are a Verizon customer still using a device that is 3G (CDMA), 4G that does not support HD Voice (Non-VoLTE), or 1X, the device will no longer be able to send or receive text messages, use data services, or make or receive calls, including emergency 911, on the Verizon network.
Within the U.S., it's reasonable to assume that by the end of 2022 there will not be a single major carrier supporting 2G. The same fate awaits 3G. 4G LTE operates under a different scenario, and we can confidently say that 4G will be around for at least another decade.
T-Mobile and Sprint 3G/2G/4G LTE network shutdown dates
These are January 1, 2022 for Sprint's 3G network sunset, and June 30, 2022 for the 4G LTE connections, respectively.
Verizon is sending free 4G flip phones to customers who are still using the company's older 3G network, which it plans to retire by the end of 2022, according to the company's support page. Verizon's issuing the devices to people who haven't yet upgraded to a 4G LTE phone.
That all remains possible through 4G LTE, 5G, and Wi-Fi networks. With 3G turned off, the iPhone 3GS, for example, won't be able to make calls or text messages, but can still connect to Wi-Fi to access internet-based applications.
