Mobile phones have become an everyday item, and the terms 2G, 3G, and 4G have become common currency in describing how ‘good’ the functions of a phone are. But, what do these terms actually mean?, for more information visit www.cclgroupltd.com

1. Computer Forensic Analysis in Mobile Phones
The G is often forgotten as referring to ‘generation’. So what are the differences in the
generations? Let’s start with 1G, launched in the UK in 1985. These were referred to as
analogue phones and worked on the AMPS/TACS/ETACS system. With two radios tuned
to the right frequencies, the conversations were completely open to listeners.
In the 1990s, the GSM standard was adopted in Europe and heralded a fairly universal
2nd Generation mobile phone system. The phones were smaller and lighter, and the calls
were better protected being more difficult to decode and also encrypted. The text
message was introduced as a service, allowing 140 character messages carried in spare
capacity on the control signals.
3G networks arrived in the mid 2000s, the data speeds were now up to 384
Kbits/second, but a cell could only support two users with that maximum data speed and
only at close range. 3G development continued and the High Speed Packet Access
(HSPA) technology soon arrived bringing data speeds that have increased in steps to a
possible 14.4 Ambits/second. The speed increase has allowed users to start accessing
broadband services on their handset away from home.
The latest generation has now arrived with the release of 4G services. These networks
have a data speed of up to 29 Mbits/second at the entry level, and rapid speed increases
are sure to make high speed broadband on handsets a reality in the near future.
The advancing technology is blurring the edges of what used to be separate equipments.
Where does a mobile phone end and a tablet computer start? The process of
convergence marches on and in the future a single unit may contain our telephone,
computer, television, radio, satellite navigator, cinema, home energy controls, debit
card, credit card, etc, etc. Already just about every aspect of our society has computers
aiding the working of our lives and the things we use, and computers can always be
made to communicate.
With each generation, more information about what we do is stored in the devices, often
without our realising that it has happened. Device theft becomes a greater loss and
inconvenience as time goes on. However, the forensic opportunities are increased if the
criminals are also using the devices.
For more information on computer forensics, please call us on 01789 261200 or email
contact@cclgroupltd.com, or check out http://www.cclgroupltd.com/digital-
forensics/corporate/computer-investigations.
Nathan is a computer investigation and digital forensics specialist at CCL Group - the
UK’s leading supplier of digital forensics, including: computer forensics analysis,
mobile phone forensics and cell site analysis services.
t: 01789 261 200
e: contact@cclgroupltd.com