Tell a n00b about cell phones

[BigToque]

Where I live, there are 4 cell phone providers. MTS, Bell, Rogers and Telus. I don't want to have a contract, so I'm looking at just buying my own phone.

I was told that MTS and Bell use CDMA, while Rogers and Telus use GSM.

Should I go with one provider or the other, based on this information? (IE, is one better than the other?).

Other than that, how do I pick a cell phone?

 

[Sphexi]

Telus uses CDMA, at least as far as I know (we have a Motorola V710 CDMA with them). No huge difference in quality of service, although Rogers seems to be more inept when it comes to customer service.

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

They are just different bands of the spectrum. With a GSM phone, you can take your phone out of the country to another country and pop in a sim chip and still use it. CDMA is basically used, just in the US

 

[BigToque]

Originally posted by: Sphexi
Telus uses CDMA, at least as far as I know (we have a Motorola V710 CDMA with them). No huge difference in quality of service, although Rogers seems to be more inept when it comes to customer service.

I used to have a contract with Rogers. I will never get another.

 

[bobdelt]

Go with whatever offers you the best plan and phone, and ask your friends and coworker their experiences with those companies. Cell Phone reception varies from city to city, so its best to ask people you live near.

I think CDMA offers better sound quality than GSM, and you might be able to get EVDO (dsl internet speeds for your phone). Although, there are people out there that claim gsm sounds better.

 

[Sphexi]

Originally posted by: BigToque

Originally posted by: Sphexi
Telus uses CDMA, at least as far as I know (we have a Motorola V710 CDMA with them). No huge difference in quality of service, although Rogers seems to be more inept when it comes to customer service.

I used to have a contract with Rogers. I will never get another.

Well, you can get phones unactivated, they are very expensive though. Signing a contract ensures they have your business for a few years, so they knock a few hundred dollars off the price of a phone. Expect to pay over $200-$300 for any medium to decent level phone, but no contract. If you stick with Rogers, you should have a SIM chip in the back of your current phone, you can just yank it and toss it in the new one, they won't even know you've changed anything.

 

[Stunt]

Rogers is the best

 

[Pepsi90919]

i thought telus was CDMA

 

[Paddington]

I used to be very concerned about cell phone technologies, but the truth is that as an end user CDMA vs. GSM makes little difference.

CDMA has technical specs that look better on paper, but if you do international travelling GSM might be better because it's used in more countries.

That said, things like minutes, weekend/night options, local coverage map, long distance, PRICE, etc. make a hell of a lot more difference.