A friend of mine recently sought out my advice on switching from a 3G smartphone service to 4G. “What’s the difference?” she asked. “Is it really that much faster?”

For anyone who has recently made the switch, it’s hard to put into words what a difference 4G makes. If you remember what it was like when you first went from dial-up to broadband, then you can start to imagine the transformation. Not only is 4G dramatically faster but it will also completely change how you use your smartphone or other mobile device.

There was a lot of confusion when the term “4G” first started to be bandied around. Many networks and devices that were branded as 4G were really a late form of 3G technology. It’s only in the last year or so that definitions have coalesced around certain standards, and we can be sure that what the carriers are now describing as 4G is truly something different.

Verizon has long been regarded as the leader in introducing a 4G service. Its 4G LTE network was the first to launch back in late 2010 and it’s expected to reach two-thirds of the U.S. population by the middle of this year. Verizon also offers more 4G LTE devices than any other carrier, including smartphones, tablets and mobile hotspots.

So just how fast is it? Well, MP3 files that used to take a minute or more to download now take just seconds. Remember when it could take several hours to download a movie? 4G will now deliver that same movie up to 8 times faster. Better yet, you can stream TV or movies live or play online games without any of that annoying buffering or lag.

4G is also responsible for a whole new world of media apps. Whether it’s watching news clips on CNN, taking in a game on the NFL mobile app, or video chatting via Skype, 4G means instant access and an uninterrupted HD service.

It can also be a huge time-saver and productivity tool. Improved 4G speeds mean you no longer have to carry around a laptop or search for a Wi-Fi connection to access your work files. You can download a 10MB PowerPoint presentation in less than 10 seconds.

The next couple of years will see constant improvements in 4G services, and the apps and devices that are built to take advantage of these blazingly fast speeds. Video conferencing and movies on-the-go will become commonplace and TV anywhere will finally become a reality. So if you are looking for a new smartphone or your existing contract is coming to an end, move over to the fast lane and join the 4G revolution. You will certainly notice the difference!

I have been compensated for this post. All opinions are my own.