I thought Verizon was also switching to GSM? -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Kelly Pierce Sent: Wednesday, January 31, 2018 1:46 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: CDMA vs. GSM Phone Networks: What's the Difference?, Digital Trends
IPhones support both GSM and CDMA. I always by my iPhone at the Apple store so the unlocked phone supports all networks. If an iPhone is bought at AT&T or T-Mobile, the phones only work on GSM networks. I was on the T-Mobile networks for years and now use Verizon. T-Mobile is GSM and Verizon is CDMA. Kelly On 1/30/18, M. Taylor <[email protected]> wrote: > CDMA vs. GSM: What's the difference between these cellular standards? > By Brendan Hesse - Posted on January 30, 2018 9:04 am > > If you're in the market for a new smartphone or carrier - or you're > simply interested in cell phone networks - you've likely encountered > the acronyms CDMA and GSM before. But what are they, and how do they affect > your phone? > > The two cellular standards function in different regions and allow for > global communication between individuals, and each converts incoming > and outgoing data into radio waves differently. Neither should be a > huge factor when buying a cell phone (unlike 4G and LTE), but it's > definitely worth knowing your stuff, since not all cell phones are > guaranteed to work on both standard. It depends on where you are, what > you're looking for, and who you're with. > > GSM explained > > The iPhone 7 is a smartphone that typically functions on a GSM network. > GSM stands for Global System for Mobile Communication, and unless you > live in the United States or Russia, this is probably the technology > your phone network uses, given it's the standard system for most of > the world. GSM networks use TDMA, which stands for Time Division > Multiple Access. TDMA works by assigning time slots to multiple > conversation streams, alternating them in sequence and switching > between each conversation in very short intervals. During these intervals, > phones can transmit their information. > In > order for the network to know which users are connected to the > network, each phone uses a subscriber identification module card, or > SIM card. > SIM cards are one of the key features of GSM networks. They house your > service subscription, network identification, and address book information. > The cards are also used to assign time slots to the phone > conversation, and moreover, they tell the network what services you > have access to. They store your address book, too, along with relative > contact information. They can even be used to pass information between > phones, if a carrier allows it. > > CDMA explained > > The Google Pixel XL is a smartphone that runs on a CDMA network. > CDMA - or Code Division Multiple Access - is often found in the U.S > and Russia, though GSM is also present in those countries. The Allied > Forces developed the technology during World War II, primarily as a > method to prevent Nazi forces from jamming radio signals. Unlike GSM, > CDMA grants users full access to the entire spectrum of bands, thus > allowing more users to connect at any given time. It also encodes each > user's individual conversation via a pseudo-randomized digital > sequence, meaning the voice data remains protected and filtered so > that only those participating in the phone call receive the data. > Phones on CDMA networks do not use SIM cards. Instead, each phone is > built specifically to work on that carrier's network. What does this > mean for consumers? For starters, it means that phones are tied to a > carrier and their bands, so if you decide to change providers, you'll > have to buy a new phone. > > Is one better than the other? > > Huawei's phones very rarely support CDMA Not necessarily. Both are the > global standards for cell communication. The major factor affecting > call quality is the network itself, not the method it uses to transmit > information. Of course, there are some things to keep in mind when it > comes time to choose between CDMA and GSM phones. For starters, CDMA > phones without SIM slots are tied to their carriers, and cannot be > transferred to other networks. A Verizon phone could not be > transferred to Sprint's network, for instance, or vice versa. But > sometimes it's not as cut and dried as all that - although some > Verizon devices do use CDMA, they also have an unlocked SIM slot, so > could be unlocked for use on other networks. > Sprint is less forthcoming with unlocked SIM slots when its devices do > contain one, but you can usually find ways get your carrier to unlock > your phone when you're done with them. > In contrast, GSM phones are fairly easy to unlock and transfer to > other networks. Additionally, third-party manufacturers often sell > phones designed for GSM networks, since they don't require access to a > specific carrier's bands. GSM phones will even work in countries with > compatible GSM networks. > CDMA networks allow for a greater number of users, meaning their > capacity for communication is greater than that of GSM networks. > Moreover, CDMA is the infrastructure on which all 3G networks are > based - for both GSM and CDMA carriers. However, there's now a third > type of network that is quickly becoming the frontrunner in terms of > quality, with many major cell phone companies quickly adopting it. > Dubbed LTE for Long-Term Evolution, the technology represents an > evolved form of GSM, and uses a similar technology as GSM networks. > The new standard boasts enhanced voice quality and functions as the > base of high-speed, 4G data networks. In this case, LTE does have an > edge over the competition in terms of overall speed and quality. > If you're a U.S. customer and wondering what companies use which type > of network, the split is right down the middle: AT&T and T-Mobile are > GSM carriers, while Verizon and Sprint are CDMA. In truth, picking a > new phone or carrier solely based on what standard it adheres to > doesn't necessarily matter because the services, features, phones, and > service quality a network offers aren't solely dependent on their > network infrastructure. So unless you have a particular need for > choosing one over the other, go with the carrier that best fits your > tastes, needs, and budget. > > Original Article at: > https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/cdma-vs-gsm-differences-explained > / > > -- > The following information is important for all members of the V iPhone > list. > > If you have any questions or concerns about the running of this list, > or if you feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please contact > the owners or moderators directly rather than posting on the list itself. > > Your V iPhone list moderator is Mark Taylor. Mark can be reached at: > [email protected]. Your list owner is Cara Quinn - you can reach Cara at > [email protected] > > The archives for this list can be searched at: > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google > Groups "VIPhone" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send > an email to [email protected]. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/viphone. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. > -- The following information is important for all members of the V iPhone list. If you have any questions or concerns about the running of this list, or if you feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please contact the owners or moderators directly rather than posting on the list itself. Your V iPhone list moderator is Mark Taylor. Mark can be reached at: [email protected]. Your list owner is Cara Quinn - you can reach Cara at [email protected] The archives for this list can be searched at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "VIPhone" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/viphone. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. -- The following information is important for all members of the V iPhone list. If you have any questions or concerns about the running of this list, or if you feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please contact the owners or moderators directly rather than posting on the list itself. Your V iPhone list moderator is Mark Taylor. Mark can be reached at: [email protected]. Your list owner is Cara Quinn - you can reach Cara at [email protected] The archives for this list can be searched at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "VIPhone" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/viphone. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
