3G. 4G. Here a G, there a G, everywhere a G — and we’re not talking about gangsters, we’re talking about cell phones! Or rather, the technology that’s powering the cell phone that you rely on a lot more than you’re probably willing to admit. If you’re thinking about upgrading to a 4G phone, one of the first things that you might wonder is whether or not 4G wireless technology is worth spending the extra money. Considering that the technology is still new, it’s safe to say that in this case, new is definitely going to be a lot more expensive than staying put with your 3G phone.

See, the truth of the matter is that 4G is great — if you’re in an area with 4G access. Even then, network congestion can still slow down your service — just like it can on 3G. When 3G first came out, there was a lot of hype there too. No matter what type of “G” service you choose, the network conditions are going to control your speed. In addition, if you’re not right up on a tower, you won’t get that coveted 4G speed that you adore — you’ll have to settle with a slower speed. EDGE is still a good alternative, even though it’s not as blazing fast.

In addition, even if you’re in a 4G area, you still have to deal with the limitations of your phone. If you don’t get a mobile phone with a screaming processor, that 4G speed will still not help you load pages faster. Thankfully, many of the 4G phones are coming with battle ready processors that can help you stay on the move with ease.

Thinking about a 4G phone still? You’re in good company. If you’re on Sprint, there’s always the Evo 4G, which is a great phone. T-Mobile has the myTouch 4G, and AT&T has too many phones to count, including the new LG Thrill 4G and Motorola Atrix 4G. Considering that 4G is now the cutting edge, it goes without saying that phone carriers are going to be scrambling to add even more 4G phone sot their line up.

So where does that really leave you? Well, if you’re thinking about getting a 4G phone and you’re due for a new phone, this can be a good thing. But if you aren’t due for a phone upgrade and you don’t really get too mobile, you might want to wait until that special free phone period to see what your options are going to be.