There is no government requirement or law that says a GSM/CDMA handset couldn't be built (in fact there are GSM / CDMA handsets). There is also no law that says Cingular and Verizon can't have roaming agreements.

The reason they aren't mass produced for the USA is cost and the marketplace. Very few people would be interested in paying the cost for said handset and those cross technology roaming agreements wouldn't come about unless there was said handsets first.

It's very difficult to achieve a multi-network phone like that. The experience we had with the GAIT phones proves that. I'm not saying it could never be done but it would take a significant amount of R&D to get it right. Research on this capability was started back in the 1990's and it still never worked right. When we had the GAIT phones they were supposed to have the ability to hand off between GSM and TDMA. Well, it never worked like it was intended (at least in my market). You could be riding down the road talking on a TDMA signal, then the signal would drop out and you'd lose the call. As soon as the call dropped it would go to full strength on a GSM tower. So that proves that it wasn't handing off properly.

As far as anythin...
(continues)

Actually, I think GSM and CDMA will both be phased out as soon as 3G networks mature. Both CDMA2000 and W-CDMA(UMTS) will end up at the same place and there will be one network in America eventually.

So I don't see anyone converting from CDMA to GSM or vice-versa.

sangyup81 said:
Actually, I think GSM and CDMA will both be phased out as soon as 3G networks mature. Both CDMA2000 and W-CDMA(UMTS) will end up at the same place and there will be one network in America eventually.

So I don't see anyone converting from CDMA to GSM or vice-versa.

W-CDMA and CDMA2000 are incompatible with each other. There will always be competing technologies. There will always be more than one network in America as well as elsewhere. The fewer networks you have the more your service will eventually cost.

I see the United States having different standards from the rest of the world for years to come. I know nothing about W-CDMA & CDMA2000, or EDGE & GPRS. But with Cingular who's got 3 digital standards, I wonder how many TDMA towers they acquired from the AT&T buyout. I know many of them in Indiana, Illinois, and SW Michigan were sold to US Cellular, who is converting them to CDMA to expand their coverage. Some of it was done before the sale of AT&T to Cingular was final.

I thought GAIT (Nok 6340i & that ugly Ericsson) was an overlay on top of the network because of the problems with that Seimens phone that had both TDMA & GSM?

While I highly doubt that CDMA is going to go anwhere in a while, for the moment, CDMA is the way to go. I have Sprint and love it. The Power Vision features are great.

So how is your Cingular's 3G network? Too bad we had ours out 5 years ago. (Chuckle) 🤣

but our 3g will kill yours

(chuckle) 🤣

Maybe your 3G will kill ours, but it doesn't matter any more, because we are past 3G.

When you can watch TV, download music, get news, sports, weather, and movie times all right from the main menu on a Cingular phone, then come and talk to me. Until then, I'm happy watching Family Guy on my phone. 😉

CptFarlow said:
Maybe your 3G will kill ours, but it doesn't matter any more, because we are past 3G.

When you can watch TV, download music, get news, sports, weather, and movie times all right from the main menu on a Cingular phone, then come and talk to me. Until then, I'm happy watching Family Guy on my phone. 😉

Watch TV? Check.
Download music? Check.
Get news?
Sports?
Weather?
Movie times? Check, check, check, check.

None of those are exactly groundbreaking capabilities. Yeah, Cingular has been able to do those for quite some time too.

Oh come on...you can download music with one phone, the Motorola ROKR E1. There may be others that can do it, but without removable memory, what is the point?

Yes, you can do all of those things that I listed. Of course you missed how I put "right from the main menu" in my sentence. I did it for a reason. Take a look at any Power Vision phone. Full articles on anything you can think of. Science, politics, entertainment. Weather tailored to the zip code of the user, sports news and movie times at broadband speed.

Before Power Vision, Sprint's TV sucked. It was choppy and worthless. Now I can watch Fox News Live, NBC news, stand-up comdey, cartoons (anything from Adult Swim to Tom & Jerry), and tons of other stuff.

Can you lis...
(continues)

CptFarlow said:
Oh come on...you can download music with one phone, the Motorola ROKR E1. There may be others that can do it, but without removable memory, what is the point?

Yes, you can do all of those things that I listed. Of course you missed how I put "right from the main menu" in my sentence. I did it for a reason. Take a look at any Power Vision phone. Full articles on anything you can think of. Science, politics, entertainment. Weather tailored to the zip code of the user, sports news and movie times at broadband speed.

Before Power Vision, Sprint's TV sucked. It was choppy and worthless. Now I can watch Fox News Live, NBC news, stand-up comdey, cartoons (anything from Adult Swim to Tom & Jerry), and

...
(continues)

Nice to here a fellow Pittsburgh-er (lol) tell it how it is!!

Sprint blows and Power Vision (yea) Verizon has had it bud, also watch out for Cingular

by the way, Sprints phones blow also

Since when did Sanyo or Samsung start to suck? 😕 They are the best phones out on the market.

Imposible ...


1. Ugly
2. Samsung GUI is a f'in joke (clowns and balloons gimme a f'in break)
3. Bulky



SPRINT HASN'T ANY STYLE WHEN COMPARED TO CINGULAR OR TMOBILE! maybe when compared to Verizon ... but that just comes with cdma

You might think they are ugly, but that is all opinion, so let's just throw that out...

As far as the User Interface? It is better than the phones I've seen for Cingular's phones. What is that about clowns and balloons? Which phone is that?

Some Sanyo phones are bulky, yes. The Sanyo 9000 is big, but it can do a lot. The Sanyo 8300 is not a bulky phone.

You think your RAZR is great? I've never seen a more overrated phone in my life. I've been selling Samsung Blade's like hot cakes, and when I follow up with a customer I haven't had any complaints on any Samsung or Sanyo...

CptFarlow said:
While I highly doubt that CDMA is going to go anwhere in a while, for the moment, CDMA is the way to go. I have Sprint and love it. The Power Vision features are great.

So how is your Cingular's 3G network? Too bad we had ours out 5 years ago. (Chuckle) 🤣

Sprint has had 3G technology out for 5 years now? Nah. Try about 6 months. About the same as Cingular.

CDMA 1xRRT is not 3G. EVDO is. They just released that this year...

I'll admit, I was a bit wrong. We haven't had it out for 5. It's actually 3 years.

EVDO is not 3G. Our 3G network started when we went to 1900 MHz.

It really doesn't matter in the end. The better technology will prevail. We're both happy with what we have.

I did go to the Cingular store right next to where I work, and all three employees that were working knew nothing of being able to watch TV on any Cingular phone.

I have one question, have you seen a Power Vision phone and the features they have?

CptFarlow said:
I'll admit, I was a bit wrong. We haven't had it out for 5. It's actually 3 years.

EVDO is not 3G. Our 3G network started when we went to 1900 MHz.

It really doesn't matter in the end. The better technology will prevail. We're both happy with what we have.

I did go to the Cingular store right next to where I work, and all three employees that were working knew nothing of being able to watch TV on any Cingular phone.

I have one question, have you seen a Power Vision phone and the features they have?

You are still completely full of garbage.

Sprint has not had 3G technology deployed for more than 1 year. Let alone 3.

EVDO is the 3G upgrade to the CDMA tech that Sprint...
(continues)

Alright, listen here a.sshole. I never insulted you once. I was trying to have a friendly debate.

I think I know what happened.

You are right. I have come to learn that the general "3G" term is EV-DO. Since I have come into the cell phone industry seriously, about mid-2004, I was taught that 3G loosely meant any phone that had something more than text web access. Still, I don't see how 3 of my bosses, one a former Executive for Cingular northeast, could be lying to me.

As far as your MobiTV, I am curious to see it for myself, and see how it compares to Power Vision. I think my mistake was going to an indirect Cingular store. They knew nothing of it. 😕

I live in CT. When I said northeast I meant New England. Just for kicks thoug...
(continues)

For the last time, my problem isn't with the features Sprint provides (they're great), but with the quality of the network I have to use them on (which sucks). If I have a feature packed phone that I can never use, what good is that for?

A map and personal experience are two very different things. If you're ever in Pittsburgh, try it out some time. You'll see what I mean in a heartbeat.

This Sprint guy is a total tool

3G means anything besides text HA THATS 2G BUDDY


SPRINT = GARBAGE

Look, I admitted I learned things wrong...but no matter what you say, I still think Sprint is better. At least in my area it is.

I could say the same thing about Cingular. I just had a customer come over from Cingular...so does that mean that Cingular is garbage? No. I have plenty of friends who have Cingular, and are happy with it. Only one of them has dropped calls, though. I've gotton used to it hanging up when I talk to him, mostly when he is on the highway...

Whereas I have never had a dropped call. I've lost signal, but that is about it...

Sprint is notorious for dropping calls! In fact Sprint is so crappy when you are on a call in a Sprint area and your phone needs to hand off to roaming, it has to drop a call!

Your friend might want to get his phone checked because that is unlike Cingular.

Well handing off to a roaming tower is different than going from a Sprint to Sprint tower.

I guess my problem is that I never have to roam. I can understand people not liking Sprint if they don't have much service in their area, but in my area I wouldn't go with anything else...

He did take his phone to a corporate store, but they have always said it was fine.

i never said that it was different

and good luck if you are ever going to travel .... drop drop drop drop

I do travel. I live in CT. I went to PA to vist family for Xmas. I never roamed...not once. The only place I didn't have service was at my parents home, but that't cause they live in the middle of nowhere.

I went to South Carolina over the summer. I had service the entire time. So no...there is no drop drop drop drop...

you only here the drop drop drop if you are on the call a**

I know that...

But that is what you don't get. I have my phone set to only use the Sprint network. When I have a signal, I am connected to more than one tower at the same time. On the way down there I remember one phone call that lasted about 20 minutes. I probably saw about 7 towers along the highway during that period, and my signal was being handed off to each tower. The "soft" handoff works great. Therefore, I've never had a dropped call. A.ss.

CptFarlow said:
I'll admit, I was a bit wrong. We haven't had it out for 5. It's actually 3 years.

EVDO is not 3G. Our 3G network started when we went to 1900 MHz.

It really doesn't matter in the end. The better technology will prevail. We're both happy with what we have.

I did go to the Cingular store right next to where I work, and all three employees that were working knew nothing of being able to watch TV on any Cingular phone.

I have one question, have you seen a Power Vision phone and the features they have?

a cingy rep once told me we were the 1st to have mobi tv. i have had it for quite some time on all my phones except my v551 and my nokia. and this has been atleast for 5 or six mon...
(continues)

Then since the Cingular reps couldn't show me, what can you watch on it?

I wanted to get Cingular to try it out, but a $500 deposit is just crazy.

CptFarlow said:
Then since the Cingular reps couldn't show me, what can you watch on it?

I wanted to get Cingular to try it out, but a $500 deposit is just crazy.

Do you have established good credit? If not they'll want a deposit. That's nothing new.

I'm no stranger to sarcasm. And yeah, my credit isnt the greatest. But the max deposit for Sprint is $250. I just couldn't justify spending $500 just to try a carrier out...

Normally I wouldn't ressurect a thread this old, but I felt it was worthwhile...

http://kb.pcsintel.com/index.php?title=Sprint_FAQ »

I would like to point your attention to question 1.5.

Don't get me wrong, Cingular has it's pros and cons...just like Sprint. Just thought I would share the knowledge I found.

You do realize that link is from Wikipedia...an encyclopedia that anybody (you, me, the guy sitting on a bench in Central Park) can edit?

If you went around taking a poll on whether or not 1xRRT is considered a 3G standard, I guarantee you about 90% of the people would say no.

Why did it take you two months and some odd days to find a link?

you forgot about UMTS

Sorry to disappoint you, but the industry will not move to a GSM standard, in fact GSM will cease to exist in a few years in favor of UMTS. But even UMTS's days are numbered in favor of whatever 4G technology becomes standardized.

Why would the CDMA carriers go backwards to GSM when they already have 3G capabilities with EVDO. Future releases of EVDO (a and b) will make CDMA competitive and maybe a bit favorable over UMTS or its upgrades (HSDPA and HSUPA) Before some of you start the natural flaming that occurs when someone mentions the other technologies favorably let me state that UMTS/HSDPA and CDMA/EVDO are merely different paths to achieve the same thing. CDMA will compete very well and will gain subscriber base, especially in Asia ...
(continues)

Whitehorse said:
Tad harsh there - not everyone on this forum is going to be a cell tech nerd like me, let's show some patience & good customer service skills... 😉

A company could theoretically put several technologies in a phone - you're describing a quad-band phone in the original post. Roaming agreements would need to be hammered out, don't think there's much to be done regarding inter-technology handoffs... Possible, not likely though...

Actually at present there are CDMA/GSM hybrids but they're not meant for domestic use in North America. They're hybrids so you can use them in the Americas on CDMA networks and have GSM 900 and 1800 to use on GSM networks in Europe and Asia. The don't have ...
(continues)

That's how Verizon markets their quad-band phones; to the business user. It's true it's CDMA 800/1900 in the USA on Verizon Wireless & GSM 900/1800 on Vodaphone's network outside of the USA. As for the typical CMDA phone to be used in portions of Asia on CDMA, the phones have to be flashed for that country at Verizon Wireless stores. That can be a hassle. But a GSM/CDMA to have both cellular & PCS bands on them for the USA only won't happen. I see it this way, Verizon & Sprint won't want to have roaming agreements with GSM carriers and vice versa with Cingular & T-Mobile having roaming agreements with Verizon & Sprint. Another problem is which standard actually gets activated first, since GSM uses a SIM card and CDMA uses an ESN number...
(continues)

dave73 said:
Another problem is which standard actually gets activated first, since GSM uses a SIM card and CDMA uses an ESN number.

Well, in Chinese CDMA they use R-UIM which is basically a SIM for CDMA. My guess why CDMA operators haven't adopted it here is that it would put too much "freedom" in the hands of subscribers and it would mean that each CDMA operator couldn't make their phones proprietary as they are now.

lordrevan05 said:
They tried it already with little or no success it was called GAIT technology!

GAIT? Mmmmm, nope, that was definitely hybrid TDMA/GSM.

Forsyth is right. A CDMA/GSM hybrid would be pointless because the two technologies could never successfully hand off.

Obscure or not there isn't a reason to be how he is with people. No reason at all

Okay now you are in check

also you keep saying it but WHY IS CDMA BETTER THAN GSM??? EXPLAIN YOUR OPINION!


Also you stumped the Cingular rep BECAUSE HE WAS AN INDIRECT AND DIDN'T KNOW A F'in THING!

In check? No. I'm not in check, I'm just not a stubborn prick like many people.

Let's see. This is retarded to go into, but oh well.

Why is CDMA better than GSM?

For one thing, in any cellular system which had three or more cells, CDMA can carry far more traffic within a given allocation of spectrum than any form of TDMA. Anywhere from 3 to 5 times as much.

In CDMA, the amount of bandwidth you use changed 50 times per second, and varies over a scale of 8:1. When you are silent, you are using 1/8th your bandwidth. Even talking doesn't take all of it up. It's mostly important for data, which can be very bursty.

GSM had to allocate a whole new carrier for it. GPRS is exactly that. It handles just data. This cuts down on bandwidth...
(continues)

Good points

Im not gonna prove you wrong I just wanted somebody to actually back up their opinions with facts!

Well done!

Cingular's phone blow cdma out of the water though ... if you want to admit that or not is your choice

Only time will tell.

By the way...do you work for Cingular? I work for a third-party retailer for Sprint. I like it but they run this place like a prison sometimes...

Nope I am a Political Science major at the University of Akron


im unbiased

Ah gotcha.

thanks for all ur help i understand now.
-llkoola1