Stupid Cingular. My Motorola T720 Phone wont' browser the internet and it's too slow! Cingular sux!

WayneTeK

Golden Member
Apr 3, 2002
1,283
2
0
Motorola T720 Cingular's Version

I just realized i'm more confused about this whole cell phone technology system than I previously though.

what is the difference between: GPRS, CDMA, and GSM?

Also, my cell phone can't brwose the interent. The cell phone i have is listed in the link above. Is there a reason why it can't surf the internet? Is it because my phone is a GSM modeL?

From what I hear, Cingular doesn't offer this service, internet browsing, at all...


 

rudeguy

Lifer
Dec 27, 2001
47,351
14
61
Originally posted by: WayneTeK
Motorola T720 Cingular's Version

I just realized i'm more confused about this whole cell phone technology system than I previously though.

what is the difference between: GPRS, CDMA, and GSM?

Also, my cell phone can't brwose the interent. The cell phone i have is listed in the link above. Is there a reason why it can't surf the internet? Is it because my phone is a GSM modeL?

From what I hear, Cingular doesn't offer this service, internet browsing, at all...

GSM= new voice network
GPRS (General Packet Radio Systerm)= data
CDMA= old network

 

amnesiac

Lifer
Oct 13, 1999
15,781
1
71
GPRS - General Packet Radio Service. Common method of data transfer for most providers. Uses a radio inside the phone other than the antenna used for making calls. Note that it is not a voice communications protocol.

CDMA - Code Division Multiple Access. Technology dating back to WWII field radios. Touted by many engineers as technically superior to TDMA. Used by Verizon and SprintPCS.

TDMA - Time Division Multiple Access. Allots certain amounts of time to each incoming chunk of data, less efficient than CDMA, which is why you get clogged networks at rush hour with some providers. Outdated and slowly being replaced by GSM which is an evolution of TDMA. IIRC has better penetration capabilities than CDMA.

GSM - Global System for Mobile communication. Standard network for almost every country in Europe and Asia except Japan. Efficient, expandable, and cheap. Comes in 3 flavors - 800, 1800, and 1900mhz. USA uses 1800 IIRC, so many overseas dual band phones will not work here.


Cingular *should* offer browsing, but you might have to sign up for it. Call them and see if you have to enable it some way first.
 

conjur

No Lifer
Jun 7, 2001
58,686
3
0
Originally posted by: WayneTeK
Motorola T720 Cingular's Version

I just realized i'm more confused about this whole cell phone technology system than I previously though.

what is the difference between: GPRS, CDMA, and GSM?

Also, my cell phone can't brwose the interent. The cell phone i have is listed in the link above. Is there a reason why it can't surf the internet? Is it because my phone is a GSM modeL?

From what I hear, Cingular doesn't offer this service, internet browsing, at all...

I have browsing (only WAP-enabled sites) from mine and I've been w/Cingular for 18 mos on this contract. Nokia 7100 (or something like that)
 

WayneTeK

Golden Member
Apr 3, 2002
1,283
2
0
forgive me for my ignorance, but which network is the best then?

also, does anybody have any good websites on cell phone technology? IE: free game downloads, how to activate internet browser, cell phone h4cks? hehehe.
 

arcain

Senior member
Oct 9, 1999
932
0
0
Originally posted by: WayneTeK
Motorola T720 Cingular's Version

I just realized i'm more confused about this whole cell phone technology system than I previously though.

what is the difference between: GPRS, CDMA, and GSM?

Also, my cell phone can't brwose the interent. The cell phone i have is listed in the link above. Is there a reason why it can't surf the internet? Is it because my phone is a GSM modeL?

From what I hear, Cingular doesn't offer this service, internet browsing, at all...

GSM = TDMA (Time Divison) based protocol. Mandates other phone requirements as well (use of SIM for instance). Used in many foreign countries (it was after all developed by an European consortium), the EU recommended/required the carriers to use it, to promote greater interoperability. Carriers in the US: Cingular (some areas migrating from TDMA), T-Mobile, AT&T (also migrating from TDMA).

GPRS = GPRS (General Packet Radio System). Data (packet based) protocol for GSM networks. Generally improves data transfer performance over CSD (basically dialing up with your phone). I think this is also known as 2.5G.

CDMA = (Code Divison Multi Access). Qualcomm's baby. This is where they make their bank (patent licenses). Technically superior to GSM. All next generation networks (3G) will be based on a CDMA transport protocol (GSM will be using WCDMA, Wide CDMA). Carriers in the US: SprintPCS, Verizon.

CDMA vs GSM = With GDM/TDMA all callers get a fixed amount of time to transmit to the tower. If you have a theoritical 1Mb of bandwidth, and 100 callers, they each get 10Kb no matter what they're doing (there is a max number of users supported, as each requires a certain amount of bandwidth, these numbers are all pulled out of my ass). No matter what they're doing.. so if it's just dead air, and niether party is talk, that sound stream will compress really well, and the user's full allotment of bandwidth will not be used/needed.. but is unavailable to others. CDMA does not have this problem, and it is also asymetrical, mirroring conversational behavior (rarely do people all talk at once). Next generation CDMA networks can also deloyed side by side with current networks or overlaid. This allows for smooth transitions amongst the users. This is not possible for GSM carriers in their migration to 3G networks. This is evident in Sprint and Verizon's higher performing data options.

Even if you phone was an older GSM phone with out GPRS support, it could connect to the Internet using CSD (dial up). This would use your minutes, and you couldn't take call.. but if you have free minutes or whatever, it wouldn't be too bad.

But I have a T720 as well, and it supports both GPRS and CSD (you can tell by the icon that is 2nd to the left what mode you're in). If GPRS fails, it will swith to CSD. However, becuase those settings are all disabled in Cingular's version, you cannot explicity set which one to use. If it switch to CSD, it will not automatically switch back (bug), and to switch back you need to turn off the phone and turn it back on. You can also tell what mode you're in when you exit the browser (when you can use it). If it reports the number of bytes used, you're using GPRS (billed by the bytes). If it reports the number of minutes, you're using CSD (billed by the minute). Cingular does offer Internet browsing (at least in GSM areas), their GPRS plan is called Wireless Internet Express (I believe), and starts at $6.99/month. Before you can you the Internet from you phone you need to create an account at http://www.mywirelesswindow.com/.

Another problem you may be facing on Cingular's version is finding the browser after you've remapped your shortcut/initial menu buttons. Cingular has removed the browser option from the "main menu", and thus can only be accessed if you map the browser to one of your shortcut/initial menu buttons. This should be found under Settings somewhere. By default, the browser is mapped to one of the buttons when the phone comes from Cingular.
 

arcain

Senior member
Oct 9, 1999
932
0
0
Originally posted by: WayneTeK
forgive me for my ignorance, but which network is the best then?
q]

To the end user, it really doesn't matter that much. Call quality generally depends more on your proximity to the cell towers. The carrier's network coverage is more important. You probably shouldn't depend on network technology to make your decision. It doesn't really matter how it's done to you, do you? You're probably more concerned about it being able to do what you want.

Does the carrier have a good plan for you? How is there coverage where you live and visit frequently? Do you want to use a SIM card (maybe you have multiple phones)? Then GSM is your only option (well.. the new Nextel's also use SIM cards now). Etc...
 

amnesiac

Lifer
Oct 13, 1999
15,781
1
71
I'd go to HowardForums and hang around there for a while to see what peoples' experiences in your area is like with different providers. Consumer Reports rated Verizon best overall nationwide, plus everyone in LA that I know with Verizon has had a good experience.

AT&T seemed to come in second in most areas.

IMO Cingular is pretty hit or miss, especially on the west coast, T-Mobile is crap through and through, and SprintPCS is still dealing with horrible customer service but the quality of their product is getting better, slowly.
 

rudeguy

Lifer
Dec 27, 2001
47,351
14
61
Originally posted by: WayneTeK
forgive me for my ignorance, but which network is the best then?

also, does anybody have any good websites on cell phone technology? IE: free game downloads, how to activate internet browser, cell phone h4cks? hehehe.

there are lots of sites out there that talk about technology....a google search for 3G cellular will turn up thousands of pages...try 3G site .....as far as free downloads, there arent any that I have seen....you have to have a JAVA enabled phone and a way to download them...your service provider will activate your browser so you dont need a site to do that, and each phone has different ways of hacking it....for Sony Ericsson phones try Esato
 

RichieZ

Diamond Member
Jun 1, 2000
6,551
40
91
Originally posted by: amnesiac 2.0
GPRS - General Packet Radio Service. Common method of data transfer for most providers. Uses a radio inside the phone other than the antenna used for making calls. Note that it is not a voice communications protocol.

CDMA - Code Division Multiple Access. Technology dating back to WWII field radios. Touted by many engineers as technically superior to TDMA. Used by Verizon and SprintPCS.

TDMA - Time Division Multiple Access. Allots certain amounts of time to each incoming chunk of data, less efficient than CDMA, which is why you get clogged networks at rush hour with some providers. Outdated and slowly being replaced by GSM which is an evolution of TDMA. IIRC has better penetration capabilities than CDMA.

GSM - Global System for Mobile communication. Standard network for almost every country in Europe and Asia except Japan. Efficient, expandable, and cheap. Comes in 3 flavors - 800, 1800, and 1900mhz. USA uses 1800 IIRC, so many overseas dual band phones will not work here.


Cingular *should* offer browsing, but you might have to sign up for it. Call them and see if you have to enable it some way first.

The US uses GSM1900 and there is a new quadband GSM850 that cingular is starting to use. Dual band phones are 900/1800mhz