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Cell phones: CDMA vs. GSM
Re: My two cents
by rezdog - 7/23/05 11:14 AM In reply to: CDMA vs. GSM ... Example ... by msknutsonI don't know about this ''equivalence for the end-user'' mumbo-jumbo. All I know is that since I have been using cell phones in the US, based in New York City, one of the, if not the, most major metropolitan centers of the world, since the early '90s, and from talking with friends and acquaintances, and from my experience with various providers here--MCIWorldCom (back in the day), Verizon, T-Mobile--there is no doubt in my mind that Verizon provides the best voice coverage locally and nationally. So I suppose that says something for Verizon, specifically, and CDMA voice coverage in general, in the US. Granted, my T-Mobile coverage has been weak in part because it is being used with an archaic Pocket PC phone (one of the prototypes, in fact), but, to my dismay and financial misfortune, my phone unknowingly picked up a call with 5 bars of signal while I was hiking in the Negev desert, not to mention decent coverage in the middle of the Amazon jungle! Mind you, however, this particular GSM phone, has the weakest ring-tones option I have seen in 20 years! I just thought I'd throw in my 2 cents since I was reading everyone else's reviews while researching the topic to make an informed buying decision to replace my dinosaur that finally (thank g-d!) cracked. I am a big advocate of the car-tire paradigm or, as I call it, the old ''two-hit hypothesis of mobile technology''--it takes two to tango... and I assume that the perfect phone-service match is out there... somewhere. That being said, as a working and native New Yorker, albeit an avid and frequent traveller, I'm going with CDMA/Verizon.
Re:CDMA vs. GSM
by rbuss - 5/15/04 9:51 AM In reply to: CDMA vs. GSM by BlazedudeThese are totally different technologies and with 2 separate carriers you will find coverage changes. As handset manufacturers start offering GSM phones that encompass all cellular spectrums the phones become more global provided the service provider you choose has international roaming agreements in place. AT&T has recently announced their GSM coverage has doubled due to recently executed roaming agreements in the US. Network speeds for data are comparable in most areas but I have seen data on Verizon burst up to 1.3 Mbps in some markets.
Re:CDMA vs. GSM
by sliver108 - 5/21/04 10:04 AM In reply to: CDMA vs. GSM by BlazedudeI feel the need to explain/defend myself on this one lol. My intent is to simplify this issue. At the start of this thread there was a very simple question by “Blazedude”. I am sure that most of the people on cnet could right a book on the differences, whoever that isn’t needed here. Pick a subject that you don’t know about, come up some questions and then ask a person that could answer it. Most likely you don’t want some long technical explanation for your question considering you didn’t know the answer in the first place. All I am saying is “don’t confuse the issue”. You are right about GSM being a international standard “clauson” but lets face it now lol. Less then 1% of cellular phone users use there phone in other countries etc. This started with a simple question…….provide a simple answer.
Re: CDMA vs. GSM
by rocky j - 7/2/04 4:40 AM In reply to: CDMA vs. GSM by BlazedudeSee Consumer Reports Magazine (02/04).
Re: CDMA vs. GSM
by drpimento - 7/26/04 9:56 AM In reply to: CDMA vs. GSM by BlazedudeI'm not sure on the tech side of this, but I have cdma with Alltel and the service is usually excellent and by far the best I've had compared to Sprint (worst) and US Cellular. I've been told that cdma is great for voice and coverage, but not so good for digital info. I wanted to use my nokia 3585i cell as a modem for my dell axim x5, and it won't work. It seems as though it will be very difficult to achieve that kind of system. From what I've found out, each type of system has its pluses and minuses. You should think comprehensively about exactly what in want in terms of coverage, rates, customer service, and technical requirements. There are some publications such as here on cnet, catalogues like mobile planet, and hand held mags that offer advice.On the other hand, I've tried to do exactly that for my next system and failed miserably! hahahahaha... Oh, well.... Good luck!
CDMA cellphone as a PDA modem?
by k4s2 - 1/21/05 11:49 AM In reply to: Re: CDMA vs. GSM by drpimentoYou said: << I wanted to use my nokia 3585i cell as a modem for my dell axim x5, and it won't work. It seems as though it will be very difficult to achieve that kind of system. >>
Well...I want to use my new phone as a modem for my Toshiba e405 PocketPC. I'm leaning toward Verizon (& this thread says CDMA is best for Data)...but need to know what the PHONE has to have, for it to beam signal over to the PDA.
The PDA has an Infrared Port & an SDIO slot. I find I could buy an SDIO modem card for it for about $100. I could also buy a Bluetooth SD card for the SDIO slot. A "non-phone" alternate Web solution for the PDA would be an SD WiFi card (won't work in the car,only near a WiFi signal spot mostly not free).
If I get a new phone to handle the Web, which network & phone features would be best(leaning to Verizon CDMA)? My current Verizon plan (+ wonderful discontinued Motorola StarTak) is paid-up, so I could switch to any network (tho'great service this 8 yrs).
Re: CDMA vs. GSM
by balla357 - 8/1/04 8:12 AM In reply to: CDMA vs. GSM by BlazedudeThe difference between CDMA and GSM is simply the technology. Code Division Multiple Accsess(CDMA) is the technology Verizon Wireless, Alltel, Sprint, and US Cellular use. GSM is the technology Cingular, AT&T Wireless, and T-Mobile use. In my opinion CDMA is better.
Re: CDMA vs. GSM
by Christian Novetzke - 8/1/04 8:43 AM In reply to: CDMA vs. GSM by BlazedudeCan one buy a phone that has CDMA *and* GSM capabilities?
Re: CDMA vs. GSM
by CellPhoneidiot - 8/2/04 11:17 AM In reply to: CDMA vs. GSM by BlazedudeThe difference is that GSM is a different network than CDMA. 1 CDMA phone cannot switch over to roam and use anpther carrier's GSM network. They are incompatable. GSM is not avaliable to work off a digital system, so in rural area's service would be interupted. Slthough if you travel oversea's i would definitely recomend GSM. GSM carriers are mainly Cingular, T-Mobile. CDMA are Verizon, Alltel. It's your pick.
Re: CDMA vs. GSM
by Wilt - 10/15/04 6:06 PM In reply to: Re: CDMA vs. GSM by CellPhoneidiotThere are phones that do both CDMA and the International frequency GSM, and some have SIM cards.
Re: CDMA vs. GSM
by thejer - 8/3/04 2:37 PM In reply to: CDMA vs. GSM by BlazedudeOne topic I haven't seen mentioned is SIM cards. Only GSM phones have these cards right? While they have their annoyances and inconveniences, they also provide a built-in way of preserving and porting your phone numbers and contacts easily (assuming you don't do something that destroys the SIM card). CDMA phones cannot have such a card, so if you ever switch phones, then you have to type in all your numbers again (unless you buy a computer backup cable, or can use IR or bluetooth I guess). Of course, if you switch from a GSM to CDMA phone, you can't port your numbers in that case either.
Re: CDMA vs. GSM
by strykernyc - 8/6/04 5:54 AM In reply to: Re: CDMA vs. GSM by thejeryes u are righ. sim card are gsm only and i hate them lol cause if ur phone dies or whatever is expensive, u have to pay for 2 diff things u get it. but n the good side u can grab someons phone that uses it the same type of sin card or a litle alike and it will b able to work maybe not fully but enough, where n cdma if u lose ur phone the person that finds it or stole it cant use or activated it at all in united states/canada/mexico. cdma is use by sprintpcs and verizon and verizon just catchup to sprintpcs n the 3g network and broadband i forgot whats the code name for the other thing faster than 3g which sprintpcs already has been having n their cell phone now we wait for sprintpcs to let it out and verizon to start working on it. that code name i forgot is very important feature when u buy a phone since thats the faster network that will b available soon. almost every phone for sprintpcs has it. btw i have sprintpcs and all my contacts are on my cell phone and also online, i synchronize them automatically it updates for free very cool feature so u dont have to worry about losing ur contacts
Re: CDMA vs. GSM
by terryb99 - 11/7/04 12:21 PM In reply to: Re: CDMA vs. GSM by thejerAnother use of SIMS. I buy a cheap Color Motorola handset with Chinese pre-paid SIMS while in Shanghai. Cost about 120 US. I use it for 4 days, texting and calling clients and my guide. I arrive in Manila, buy a prepaid SIMS card with new local number and airtime, 8 US. I have to spend about 10 US for a "load card" Before I leave 4 days later.
In Shanghai, they have both CDMA and GSM service, and even phones that support both. I saw an advertisment at the airport while waiting for my flight to Manila. It was in Chinese, part of a 4-5 different ads loop, so I must have seen it a dozen times. It clearly showed a handset screen choosing between CDMA and GSM. My Verizon Smartphone would have a strong signal when I would turn it on, but I did not want to deal with the cost of using it for 4 days.
I use CDMA/Verizon in the states and would not trade them for any other carrier. So a second handset for traveling is best for me. Now that I own the handset, the cost will as low as it can be.
Terry
Transferring numbers
by ryrycalguy - 2/16/08 12:09 PM In reply to: Re: CDMA vs. GSM by thejerVerizon and Sprint (CDMA) has a free service where you can load your numbers into their database making it easy to sync your old address book to your new CDMA phone. With SIM cards on GSM phones, if you lose your phone, get it stolen, or damage it extensively, you lose your contacts.
Re: CDMA vs. GSM
by JOESTER - 10/6/04 9:32 PM In reply to: CDMA vs. GSM by BlazedudeTHERE IS A BIG BIG BIG DIFFERENCE. CDMA IS USED BY VERIZON.. WHICH STANDS FOR CODE DIVISION MULTIPLE ACCESS. GSM STANDS FOR GLOBAL SYTEM FOR MOBILE. WHICH IS USED BY ATT, CINGULAR, AND TMOBILE. GSM LETS YOU USE YOUR PHONE AROUND THE WORLD. BECAUSE IT COMES WITH A SIM CARD. VERIZON USES CDMA BECAUSE THE NETWORK IS BETTER IN THE US. AND VERIZON HAS THE LARGEST FOOTPRINT AND CELL SITE TOWERS.
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