GSM or CDMA Cell service?

[HardcoreRobot]

GSM is a flavor of TDMA (time division multiplexing) in which each user gets a fixed time portion of the available network. CDMA is a newer technology which uses id codes to make network usage more efficient (signals get encoded with the code and combined with other signals and then decoded out of the signal with the same code).

This doesnt really have any implications for you as a user as long as your provider has sufficient network coverage.

GSMs potential advantage is that it has much wider world coverage because that is the standard that was adopted in most foreign countries. Meaning, a GSM phone can be modified to work on any GSM network. On the other hand, a CDMA phone cannot "talk" to a GSM network.

 

[NutBucket]

Uhm, CDMA has been around since WW2 IIRC.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

Originally posted by: NutBucket
Uhm, CDMA has been around since WW2 IIRC.

yeah the basic principles were in practice during the war for military communications, but i thought we were talking about cell phones? it was not standardized as a digital cell standard until 1993 (and into operation in 1996). gsm was standardized in 1987, though not accepted in the US until 1995. the first GSM US service also debuted in 1996.

More Info Here

 

[cain]

ok here is my question, i have a tdma phone trying to get on the cingular's tdma network, but those cingular people won't let me use it saying that they don't support it

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: Reon
ok here is my question, i have a tdma phone trying to get on the cingular's tdma network, but those cingular people won't let me use it saying that they don't support it

If the phone wasn't sold as being for Cingular then chances are they won't activate it.

 

[cain]

the only reason they wont activate it is because its tdma, which shoulkd work in nyc

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: Reon
the only reason they wont activate it is because its tdma, which shoulkd work in nyc

Then that's their decision to move everybody to the GSM network.

 

[cain]

seems like it

 

[Rumpltzer]

I've been with T-Mobile GSM for a year and a half now. I went with them for their price and because I wanted a phone that I could use in Asia. It's worked out well, but I usually don't get reception in large buildings (including at work).

That's my biggest gripe along with the poor coverage in many Central California locations.

For example, I'm moving this week to a new apartment complex, and there's no T-Mobile reception. I ordered a Sprint (CDMA) phone last week to replace T-Mobile. I have to pay more, but I've confirmed that the carrier will work at my new place. I hope it works at my workplace too.

 

[Balt]

Originally posted by: NutBucket

Originally posted by: Reon
the only reason they wont activate it is because its tdma, which shoulkd work in nyc

Then that's their decision to move everybody to the GSM network.

Yup. They (Cingular) essentially forced me to get a GSM phone and I live in the middle of nowhere where they don't even have GSM coverage yet. I had to go with a GAIT phone so that I can still use the networks of other cell phone carriers in the area that are still using TDMA/CDMA.

On the bright side of things, I do get the best of both worlds reception-wise (well, sometimes).

Using a Nokia 6340i, by the way. Definitely not feature-rich, but I guess reception is the most important thing...

 

[GonzoCircus]

Originally posted by: gsaldivar
[The ability to replace your SIM card with a localized one means that you can enjoy the same low local rates by picking up prepaid SIM Cards along your way... anytime you want to check your US voicemail, etc - simply pop in your old US SIM card, and you'll have full access to the US network anytime you want, all without the hassle of renting/purchasing a separate handset.

I just got a GSM phone through T-mobile (Samsung E105) but didn't know it had that capability. Its nice to know I can do that. When I first got T-mobile, I experienced very bad service in my home, but they installed new towers a few months later and I now get great reception. Their service is getting better and better.