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What’s faster, 3G GSM or EVDO? I’ve always wondered that myself, and have basically been resigned to the fact that it’s going to vary by region. Apparently, Computer World wasn’t satisfied with that answer. They went out and tested the 3G networks of AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon. So who came out on top? I guess you’ll have to find out after the jump.

So it appears AT&T has won out in every category. They have the fastest possible download speed, as well as, by far, the fastest average download speed. This makes the “time to load Web page” category seem a bit odd. Loading a Web page is essentially downloading information. Maybe Verizon and Sprint just handle those smaller bits of data better. Maybe it’s just an anomaly.

Verizon also uses the least amount of juice to power 3G functions. Way shorter than Sprint, which cuts an hour off your battery life for using the network. Verizon gets kiled, though, in connection time, taking nearly twice as long as AT&T.

But AT&T isn’t just satisfied with being the best. They’re taking their HSPA network to the next level, planning speeds up to 20 megabits per second by sometime in 2009. This will bridge the gap to LTE. The only problem is that people will have to upgrade their device to take advantage. Current HSPA devices don’t support speeds that high.

via Mobility Site

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