** Difference Between GSM and CDMA? by ROCKY13 2010/02/07 17:43
What is the Difference Between GSM and CDMA?
What is the Difference Between GSM and CDMA?
ROCKY13 2010/02/07 17:44
In cellular service there
are two main competing
network technologies:
Global System for Mobile
Communications (GSM)
and Code Division
Multiple Access (CDMA).
Cellular carriers including
Sprint PCS, Cingular
Wireless, Verizon and T-
Mobile use one or the
other. Understanding the
difference between GSM
and CDMA will allow you
to choose a carrier that
uses the preferable
network technology for
your needs.
In cellular service there
are two main competing
network technologies:
Global System for Mobile
Communications (GSM)
and Code Division
Multiple Access (CDMA).
Cellular carriers including
Sprint PCS, Cingular
Wireless, Verizon and T-
Mobile use one or the
other. Understanding the
difference between GSM
and CDMA will allow you
to choose a carrier that
uses the preferable
network technology for
your needs.
ROCKY13 2010/02/07 17:45
The GSM Association is an
international organization
founded in 1987,
dedicated to providing,
developing, and
overseeing the worldwide
wireless standard of GSM.
CDMA, a proprietary
standard designed by
Qualcomm in the United
States, has been the
dominant network
standard for North
America and parts of Asia.
However, GSM networks
continue to make inroads
in the United States, as
CDMA networks make
progress in other parts of
the world. There are
camps on both sides that
firmly believe either GSM
or CDMA architecture is
superior to the other.
That said, to the non-
invested consumer who
simply wants bottom line
information to make a
choice, the following
considerations may be
helpful.
The GSM Association is an
international organization
founded in 1987,
dedicated to providing,
developing, and
overseeing the worldwide
wireless standard of GSM.
CDMA, a proprietary
standard designed by
Qualcomm in the United
States, has been the
dominant network
standard for North
America and parts of Asia.
However, GSM networks
continue to make inroads
in the United States, as
CDMA networks make
progress in other parts of
the world. There are
camps on both sides that
firmly believe either GSM
or CDMA architecture is
superior to the other.
That said, to the non-
invested consumer who
simply wants bottom line
information to make a
choice, the following
considerations may be
helpful.
ROCKY13 2010/02/07 17:46
Coverage: The most
important factor is getting
service in the areas you
will be using your phone.
Upon viewing competitors'
coverage maps you may
discover that only GSM or
CDMA carriers offer
cellular service in your
area. If so, there is no
decision to be made, but
most people will find that
they do have a choice.
Coverage: The most
important factor is getting
service in the areas you
will be using your phone.
Upon viewing competitors'
coverage maps you may
discover that only GSM or
CDMA carriers offer
cellular service in your
area. If so, there is no
decision to be made, but
most people will find that
they do have a choice.
ROCKY13 2010/02/07 17:47
Data Transfer Speed:
With the advent of
cellular phones doing
double and triple duty as
streaming video devices,
podcast receivers and
email devices, speed is
important to those who
use the phone for more
than making calls. CDMA
has been traditionally
faster than GSM, though
both technologies
continue to rapidly
leapfrog along this path.
Both boast "3G"
standards, or 3rd
generation technologies.
Data Transfer Speed:
With the advent of
cellular phones doing
double and triple duty as
streaming video devices,
podcast receivers and
email devices, speed is
important to those who
use the phone for more
than making calls. CDMA
has been traditionally
faster than GSM, though
both technologies
continue to rapidly
leapfrog along this path.
Both boast "3G"
standards, or 3rd
generation technologies.
ROCKY13 2010/02/07 17:47
EVDO, also known as
CDMA2000, is CDMA's
answer to the need for
speed with a downstream
rate of about 2 megabits
per second, though some
reports suggest real world
speeds are closer to
300-700 kilobits per
second (kbps). This is
comparable to basic DSL.
As of fall 2005, EVDO is in
the process of being
deployed. It is not
available everywhere and
requires a phone that is
CDMA2000 ready.
EVDO, also known as
CDMA2000, is CDMA's
answer to the need for
speed with a downstream
rate of about 2 megabits
per second, though some
reports suggest real world
speeds are closer to
300-700 kilobits per
second (kbps). This is
comparable to basic DSL.
As of fall 2005, EVDO is in
the process of being
deployed. It is not
available everywhere and
requires a phone that is
CDMA2000 ready.
ROCKY13 2010/02/07 17:48
GSM's answer is EDGE
(Enhanced Data Rates for
GSM Evolution), which
boasts data rates of up to
384 kbps with real world
speeds reported closer to
70-140 kbps. With added
technologies still in the
works that include UMTS
(Universal Mobile
Telephone Standard) and
HSDPA (High Speed
Downlink Packet Access),
speeds reportedly increase
to about 275380 kbps.
This technology is also
known as W-CDMA, but is
incompatible with CDMA
networks. An EDGE-ready
phone is required.
GSM's answer is EDGE
(Enhanced Data Rates for
GSM Evolution), which
boasts data rates of up to
384 kbps with real world
speeds reported closer to
70-140 kbps. With added
technologies still in the
works that include UMTS
(Universal Mobile
Telephone Standard) and
HSDPA (High Speed
Downlink Packet Access),
speeds reportedly increase
to about 275380 kbps.
This technology is also
known as W-CDMA, but is
incompatible with CDMA
networks. An EDGE-ready
phone is required.
ROCKY13 2010/02/07 17:48
In the case of EVDO,
theoretical high traffic can
degrade speed and
performance, while the
EDGE network is more
susceptible to
interference. Both require
being within close range
of a cell to get the best
speeds, while
performance decreases
with distance.
In the case of EVDO,
theoretical high traffic can
degrade speed and
performance, while the
EDGE network is more
susceptible to
interference. Both require
being within close range
of a cell to get the best
speeds, while
performance decreases
with distance.
ROCKY13 2010/02/07 17:48
Subscriber Identity
Module (SIM) cards: In
the United States only
GSM phones use SIM
cards. The removable SIM
card allows phones to be
instantly activated,
interchanged, swapped
out and upgraded, all
without carrier
intervention. The SIM
itself is tied to the
network, rather than the
actual phone. Phones that
are card-enabled can be
used with any GSM
carrier.
Subscriber Identity
Module (SIM) cards: In
the United States only
GSM phones use SIM
cards. The removable SIM
card allows phones to be
instantly activated,
interchanged, swapped
out and upgraded, all
without carrier
intervention. The SIM
itself is tied to the
network, rather than the
actual phone. Phones that
are card-enabled can be
used with any GSM
carrier.
ROCKY13 2010/02/07 17:49
The CDMA equivalent, a
R-UIM card, is only
available in parts of Asia
but remains on the
horizon for the U.S.
market. CDMA carriers in
the U.S. require
proprietary handsets that
are linked to one carrier
only and are not card-
enabled. To upgrade a
CDMA phone, the carrier
must deactivate the old
phone then activate the
new one. The old phone
becomes useless.
The CDMA equivalent, a
R-UIM card, is only
available in parts of Asia
but remains on the
horizon for the U.S.
market. CDMA carriers in
the U.S. require
proprietary handsets that
are linked to one carrier
only and are not card-
enabled. To upgrade a
CDMA phone, the carrier
must deactivate the old
phone then activate the
new one. The old phone
becomes useless.
ROCKY13 2010/02/07 17:49
Roaming: For the most
part, both networks have
fairly concentrated
coverage in major cities
and along major highways.
GSM carriers, however,
have roaming contracts
with other GSM carriers,
allowing wider coverage of
more rural areas,
generally speaking, often
without roaming charges
to the customer. CDMA
networks may not cover
rural areas as well as GSM
carriers, and though they
may contract with GSM
cells for roaming in more
rural areas, the charge to
the customer will
generally be significantly
higher.
Roaming: For the most
part, both networks have
fairly concentrated
coverage in major cities
and along major highways.
GSM carriers, however,
have roaming contracts
with other GSM carriers,
allowing wider coverage of
more rural areas,
generally speaking, often
without roaming charges
to the customer. CDMA
networks may not cover
rural areas as well as GSM
carriers, and though they
may contract with GSM
cells for roaming in more
rural areas, the charge to
the customer will
generally be significantly
higher.
ROCKY13 2010/02/07 17:50
International Roaming:
If you need to make calls
to other countries, a GSM
carrier can offer
international roaming, as
GSM networks dominate
the world market. If you
travel to other countries
you can even use your
GSM cell phone abroad,
providing it is a quad-band
phone
(850/900/1800/1900 MHz).
By purchasing a SIM card
with minutes and a local
number in the country
you are visiting, you can
make calls against the
card to save yourself
international roaming
charges from your carrier
back home. CDMA
phones that are not card-
enabled do not have this
capability, however there
are several countries that
use CDMA networks.
Check with your CDMA
provider for your specific
requirements.
International Roaming:
If you need to make calls
to other countries, a GSM
carrier can offer
international roaming, as
GSM networks dominate
the world market. If you
travel to other countries
you can even use your
GSM cell phone abroad,
providing it is a quad-band
phone
(850/900/1800/1900 MHz).
By purchasing a SIM card
with minutes and a local
number in the country
you are visiting, you can
make calls against the
card to save yourself
international roaming
charges from your carrier
back home. CDMA
phones that are not card-
enabled do not have this
capability, however there
are several countries that
use CDMA networks.
Check with your CDMA
provider for your specific
requirements.
ROCKY13 2010/02/07 17:50
According CDG.org,
CDMA networks support
over 270 million
subscribers worldwide,
while GSM.org tallies up
their score at over 1
billion. As CDMA phones
become R-UIM enabled
and roaming contracts
between networks
improve, integration of
the standards might
eventually make
differences all but
transparent to the
consumer.
According CDG.org,
CDMA networks support
over 270 million
subscribers worldwide,
while GSM.org tallies up
their score at over 1
billion. As CDMA phones
become R-UIM enabled
and roaming contracts
between networks
improve, integration of
the standards might
eventually make
differences all but
transparent to the
consumer.
ROCKY13 2010/02/07 17:51
The chief GSM carriers in
the United States are
Cingular Wireless, recently
merged with AT&T
Wireless, and T-Mobile
USA. Major CDMA carriers
are Sprint PCS, Verizon
and Virgin Mobile. There
are also several smaller
cellular companies on
both networks.
The chief GSM carriers in
the United States are
Cingular Wireless, recently
merged with AT&T
Wireless, and T-Mobile
USA. Major CDMA carriers
are Sprint PCS, Verizon
and Virgin Mobile. There
are also several smaller
cellular companies on
both networks.
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