They are switching to LTE which is the 4G network for GSM, eventually
the CDMa network will be phased out.
Original message:
I thought Verizon was also switching to GSM?
-----Original Message-----
From: viphone@googlegroups.com [mailto:viphone@googlegroups.com] On
Behalf Of Kelly Pierce
Sent: Wednesday, January 31, 2018 1:46 PM
To: viphone@googlegroups.com
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 <mk...@ucla.edu> 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
/
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