Last updated on 2014-07-03, by David Brooks

What is 3GP/3G2 format？

About 3GP Format

3GP (3GPP file format) is a multimedia container format defined by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) for use on 3G mobile phones but can also be played on some 2G and 4G phones. 3GP is a simplified version of the MPEG-4 Part 14 (MP4) container format, designed to decrease storage and bandwidth requirements in order to accommodate mobile phones. The 3GP file format stores video streams as MPEG-4 Part 2 or H.263 or MPEG-4 Part 10 (AVC/H.264), and audio streams as AMR-NB, AMR-WB, AMR-WB+, AAC-LC, HE-AAC v1 or Enhanced aacPlus (HE-AAC v2).

About 3G2 Format

3G2 is a multimedia format developed and designed by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project 2 for transmission of multimedia files over the internet, and for use by mobile phone systems. The 3rd Generation Partnership Project 2, or 3GPP2, is a cooperation between various telecommunications associations to make globally applicable third generation (3G) mobile phone system specifications. The 3G2 file format can store the same video streams and most of the audio streams used in the 3GP file format. In addition, 3G2 stores audio streams as EVRC, EVRC-B, EVRC-WB, 13K (QCELP), SMV or VMR-WB, which was specified by 3GPP2 for use in ISO base media file format. The 3G2 specification also defined some enhancements to 3GPP Timed Text.

3GP movies can be viewed on Linux, Mac, and Windows platforms with MPlayer and VLC media player. Programs such as Media Player Classic, K-Multimedia Player, Totem, RealPlayer, QuickTime, and GOM Player can also be used. 3GP files can be encoded and decoded with open source software Ffmpeg. Most 3G capable mobile phones support the playback and recording of video in 3GP format (memory, maximum filesize for playback and recording, and resolution limits exist and vary). Some newer/higher-end phones without 3G capabilities may also playback and record in this format (again, with said limitations). Audio imported from CD onto a PlayStation 3 when it is set to encode to the MPEG-4 AAC codec will copy onto USB devices in the 3GP format. The Nintendo DSi supports .3gp on an SD card.

Related Software

Leawo Video Converter (3GP/3G2 Converter): Full-featured video converting software to convert video and audio among all popular formats. So it can be regarded as a smart 3GP/3G2 Converter which supports to convert video to 3GP/3G2 as well as convert 3GP/3G2 to video formats of sorts, for 3GP/3G2 file sharing on any media players. You can even enjoy 3D video by resorting to 3D video conversion function of the program. (null is accessible for Mac users)

Leawo DVD Ripper (DVD to 3GP/3G2 Converter): Versatile DVD ripping program to rip any DVDs to video formats of sorts. So it also functions as a powerful DVD to 3GP/3G2 Converter for you to rip DVD to 3GP/3G2 format that is compatible with most mobile phones and other media players, programs and software. Take advantage of this program to convert DVD to 3GP or convert DVD to 3G2. 3D 3GP/3G2 output is supportable.

Related Source

MP4, AVI, WMV, Xvid, AAC, ASF, DVD, MKV

Reference

Play and convert AVI to 3GP mobile phone
How to Convert MP4 to 3GP or 3G2?
Download & convert YouTube video to 3GP directly

External links

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3GP_and_3G2
http://www.videohelp.com/glossary?0#3GP