When do you think cell phones will have worldwide coverage?

[TJN23]

I know AT&T has started to offer service in parts of Europe and they have cell phone towers on various islands out there...


but when do you guys think all cell phone providers will cover their customers around the globe?

 

[damiano]

they do already if you have GSM
they roam about everywhere around the world

 

[TJN23]

GSM .. tell me more

tim <--- out of the loop

 

[Viper GTS]

IIRC they have satellite based phones that will work from literally anywhere on earth.

$$$ though.

Viper GTS

 

[Lutefisks]

Originally posted by: TJN23
GSM .. tell me more

tim <--- out of the loop

I think GSM is a type of network.... there's also CDMA which is used by Sprint and Verizon which does not support international roaming.

I know T-mobile have GSM and I can roam anywhere in the world...BUT the cost is expensive. like $1 per minute give or take.

 

[freegeeks]

CDMA and GSM are 2 different standards for mobile communication

CDMA is used predominantly in the USA and Japan
GSM is used in Europe and is emerging also in the USA, I guess that also large parts of Asia use GSM.

So in theory GSM should give you the best roaming possibilities globally

just babbling away...

 

[TJN23]

yeah, i guess i'm asking the question:

when will cell phone providers have adequate enough service around the globe to offer it in their own network?

this is assuming I can sign up for a $30/month plan (for example) and be able to talk around the world without incurring any extra charges

 

[freegeeks]

Originally posted by: TJN23
yeah, i guess i'm asking the question:

when will cell phone providers have adequate enough service around the globe to offer it in their own network?

this is assuming I can sign up for a $30/month plan (for example) and be able to talk around the world without incurring any extra charges

I guess you can forget about that. No telco firm has enough money to build a network that covers the world (I'm talking about GSM, CDMA networks, not sattelite). Investments are HUGE to build these kind of networks. And besides, the operators like you to roam because they are making a crapload of money because you are roaming. You can forget about your 30$/month around the world plan

 

[Spac3d]

Ahhh the beauty of having a GSM provider which unlocks your phone

 

[Lutefisks]

But even if you unlock your phone, don't you still need to pay for another service from that country to stick in your smart card?

And what if you want to talk to friend in another country? you still have to pay by the minutes right?

 

[richardycc]

it wont be a 30$/month plan, they will charge you by the minute once you are in the roaming area.

 

[fitz4521]

T-mobile is not the only GSM company here, ATT and Cingular also have GSM networks in the US, and they both have international roaming options. (Most of their US coverage is TDMA, but there is a good amount that is GSM). International fees can be anywhere from about $0.79/minute in canada, to $4.99/minute in Belarus. And to do this, not only do you need to have a T-mobile, ATT GSM, or Cingular GSM plan, but you also need a world phone (850/1900/1800 MHz bands). If you have all of this, you cannot just go to the country and use your phone (except canada), you have to first contact the company and add something to your plan.

Also, You can use GPRS (wireless internet) in many countrys, although it costs (for T-Mobile) $10-15/megabite.

thats right, i am a nerd

 

[TJN23]

Originally posted by: fitz4521
T-mobile is not the only GSM company here, ATT and Cingular also have GSM networks in the US, and they both have international roaming options. (Most of their US coverage is TDMA, but there is a good amount that is GSM). International fees can be anywhere from about $0.79/minute in canada, to $4.99/minute in Belarus. And to do this, not only do you need to have a T-mobile, ATT GSM, or Cingular GSM plan, but you also need a world phone (850/1900/1800 MHz bands). If you have all of this, you cannot just go to the country and use your phone (except canada), you have to first contact the company and add something to your plan.

Also, You can use GPRS (wireless internet) in many countrys, although it costs (for T-Mobile) $10-15/megabite.

thats right, i am a nerd

put a bit more blunt: it's a frickin' pain in the ass

 

[amnesiac]

Originally posted by: TJN23
yeah, i guess i'm asking the question:

when will cell phone providers have adequate enough service around the globe to offer it in their own network?

this is assuming I can sign up for a $30/month plan (for example) and be able to talk around the world without incurring any extra charges

It won't happen.

It's like asking "why won't my telephone company offer phone service worldwide?"

Think about it -- to offer "worldwide" coverage, a company would have to establish business and install networks in every country that it wants to offer service. It's literally an impossible task, and no company has that much money.

GSM allows the phone to be used universally on any network that supports the protocol. It's more expensive but it works.

 

[Ryan]

Anyone remember Iridium??!??!

 

[Lifer]

Originally posted by: amnesiac

Originally posted by: TJN23
yeah, i guess i'm asking the question:

when will cell phone providers have adequate enough service around the globe to offer it in their own network?

this is assuming I can sign up for a $30/month plan (for example) and be able to talk around the world without incurring any extra charges

It won't happen.

It's like asking "why won't my telephone company offer phone service worldwide?"

Think about it -- to offer "worldwide" coverage, a company would have to establish business and install networks in every country that it wants to offer service. It's literally an impossible task, and no company has that much money.

GSM allows the phone to be used universally on any network that supports the protocol. It's more expensive but it works.

can't they just launch a few satelites to cover the globe?

 

[freegeeks]

Originally posted by: Lifer

Originally posted by: amnesiac

Originally posted by: TJN23
yeah, i guess i'm asking the question:

when will cell phone providers have adequate enough service around the globe to offer it in their own network?

this is assuming I can sign up for a $30/month plan (for example) and be able to talk around the world without incurring any extra charges

It won't happen.

It's like asking "why won't my telephone company offer phone service worldwide?"

Think about it -- to offer "worldwide" coverage, a company would have to establish business and install networks in every country that it wants to offer service. It's literally an impossible task, and no company has that much money.

GSM allows the phone to be used universally on any network that supports the protocol. It's more expensive but it works.

can't they just launch a few satelites to cover the globe?

already exists but then we are talking about satellite phones. It's expensive and usual the phone is not a nifty little thing but a huge unattractive plastic/metal thing that gives you muscle pain in your arm when you have to use it for 15 minutes

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
IIRC they have satellite based phones that will work from literally anywhere on earth.

$$$ though.

Viper GTS

iridium went bankrupt and sold their satellites.

 

[DnetMHZ]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
IIRC they have satellite based phones that will work from literally anywhere on earth.

$$$ though.

Viper GTS

iridium went bankrupt and sold their satellites.

Didn't a few of them fall out of orbit or something like that also?

 

[amnesiac]

Originally posted by: Lifer


can't they just launch a few satelites to cover the globe?

Well look at it this way.

Cell phones require an antenna and receiver that can recieve and transmit low power radio signals over short distances (i.e. nearest tower)
Satellite phones require an antenna and receiver that can receive and transmit high power radio frequency to and from space in order to function. Also satellite signals require line of sight. If it's inclement weather or indoors, forget it.

 

[cain]

being about to roam around the world is different from coverage. sure you can get a US phone and US service, and sure you can use that in say France, but they charge you like 10 bucks per minute. how is that good work? major cellphone companies still make different phones for difference services, just within the US. It is unlikely that the coverage will be unviersal worldwide any time soon. afterall, if all the countries used the same standard for cellphones and wireless service, where will the money be made?

 

[mAdD INDIAN]

Originally posted by: TJN23
I know AT&T has started to offer service in parts of Europe and they have cell phone towers on various islands out there...


but when do you guys think all cell phone providers will cover their customers around the globe?

they do already. Atleast with GSM (as posted above). I was surprised myself, when my uncle came from India to the States and started getting calls on his cell phone (which he brought from India).