US so far behind with Wireless

[Phoenix86]

CVSiN, the topic was limited to US phones/service.

NutBucket, IIRC Sprints color screens and camera phones were both followed by T-mobile at the time. I know the camera phones were within weeks, the color screens may have been a little longer, but not a year or more. Maybe a few months. Again, Sprint isn't high-end. GSM may not be great, but didn't AT&T go from CDMA to GSM? I don't think they did that for fun.

Originally posted by: cHeeZeFacTory
In general, the US lags behind in electronic devices, not just mobile phones.

Not devices, infrastructure. Very different. What devices are you thinking about that the US lags on that doesn't have an infrastructure?

 

[brigden]

To say that landmass is a major factor why America lags behind Europe and Japan is a crock. Urban centers in the US are as dense as many in Europe. Most Americans are content with cheaper, less advanced, older model phones and will even tolerate poor service. Service providers are aware of this.

It's the market.

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: Phoenix86
CVSiN, the topic was limited to US phones/service.

NutBucket, IIRC Sprints color screens and camera phones were both followed by T-mobile at the time. I know the camera phones were within weeks, the color screens may have been a little longer, but not a year or more. Maybe a few months. Again, Sprint isn't high-end. GSM may not be great, but didn't AT&T go from CDMA to GSM? I don't think they did that for fun.

ATT went from TDMA to GSM. GSM is an evolution of TDMA.

 

[redly]

US so far behind with Wireless

And yet my phone has more options than I would ever care to explore

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: Queasy
I've got my basic little Nokia phone that is so old I don't even remember the model number. 🙂 I think its a 5100 or something. I just use it for phone use for emergencies and staying in touch with my wife. I just don't see the point in paying much dinero for a phone when all I need is basic phone use. I don't care to have the internet or a PDA or anything else right now. If I ever get into a position job-wise that I will need one, then I will. Just don't see the point in wasting money otherwise.

Heh, I say this and I see a package from T-Mobile at the door when I got home tonight. My wife got a new phone for me for Christmas. She thinks I need a new one because the jack for the hands-free set doesn't work anymore on my current one. Sweet but unnecessary.

 

[Cobalt]

We are ready to switch carriers again because Cingular blows ass, they just want money money and more money for the littlest things. We tried to ugrade my parents phones yesterday and they want $36 extra a month for it.

 

[RightWinga]

Originally posted by: redly

US so far behind with Wireless

And yet my phone has more options than I would ever care to explore

Seriously, who really uses all the crap on the new phones? Americans don't care for that crap/don't have the time. Plus we're cheap azz mofos.

 

[Kelemvor]

Is this a bad thing that we don't yack on cell phones every minute of the day? That we can't go 5 minutes without text messaging someone? That we are so dependant on mobiel technology that we wouldn't know what to do with ourselves if we coudln't do something while driving, walking, eating, etc?

I hope the US never gets to the point that many asian countrise are at.

 

[MySoS]

Most people in Japan who use 3G don't even use GSM or anything releated to it, they use the same technology as Sprint: CDMA. Korea the same thing, most 3G phones use the same technology as sprint: CDMA. In Taiwan the same thing, most 3G users have CDMA phones. So CDMA is not crappy technology.

 

[vegetation]

Originally posted by: Phoenix86
US - 9,629,091 sq km
Japan - 377,835 sq km

You can almost fit 2 Japans in Texas alone. The infrastructure is hard to install at the same pace as smaller denser land masses.

Also, it has to do with transportation. Public transportation is not vey widely used in the US. While in Japan almost nobody drives their car to work. So you sit on the train, live 30 miles away from work, and guess what you do. You use your phone. Wireless carriers make sure there is reception on all rail lines.

 

[TwiceOver]

Havn't found the need for a cell phone yet. Still trying to figure out what why anyone really needs one.

 

[Fenixgoon]

Originally posted by: Jnetty99
How can that be! i mean i know its true but jeez we should keep up or stay ahead.

link to story

Japan's total area (CIA factbook): total: 377,835 sq km

United States' total area: total: 9,631,418 sq km

we're almost 30x larger, so yeah.. its just a liiiiitle bit harder