07-09-2003, 11:30 PM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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One Reason Why I Like GSM (GPRS) over CDMA (1XRTT)
You can't truly understand the beauty of being able to move a GSM SIM card into a new device, and have it work, until you try to do something similar with a CDMA device. You can't.
Samsung was generous enough to send an i700, their awesome 1XRTT device with a built in camera, to review. They sent it to me a little over a month ago, and I figured "Well, Telus is the local CDMA carrier here in Calgary, so I'm sure I can connect with their PR people, get a demo account, activate the phone, and write the review." The first part went well - I got in touch with a nice lady from Telus, she said they could give me a demo account to use for the review. Then came activation time.
:soapbox:
The activation process was painful - we were looking for the ESN number, and couldn't find it on the device, so there was a flurry of emails back and forth between Telus, Samsung and myself as we tried to figure this out. By the end of the nearly month-long process, I was informed that Telus only let devices onto their network that they had been tested. Since they hadn't yet tested the i700 (and won't unless they decide to sell it), I might be able to get the i700 activated by, oh, 2004. :roll: I'll have the same problem if I can get my hands on their i600 Smartphone - which basically makes any CDMA useless to be as long as Telus has their current activation policies in place. <sigh>
Contrast that with the GSM world - I'm currently using the Fido network, and I had a SIM in my XDA until I broke it. Then I moved that SIM into my T68i and used it as a data modem over Bluetooth with my Dell X5 and a Socket Bluetooth card. When I received my SPV Smartphone, I put the SIM in that, and have been using it since. Zero problems: I just put in the SIM, and it worked.
Isn't that the way technology is supposed to be? Magical? You just plug it in and it works, the first time, and every time. The importance of being able to do that can't be overstated: while most people don't have as many devices as I do, the ease of being able to get a new phone or Pocket PC, pop in a card, and just use it, really can't be underestimated.
The CDMA people could really learn a few things from the GSM camp...
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07-09-2003, 11:34 PM
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,998
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I'm with you 100% Jason. I have a T68 on the Rogers network. I've been able to use my SIM to test out a Sierra Wireless Aircard 750 and, more recently, a Siemens SX-56 (same as the XDA). In the case of the Siemens, Rogers even sent a sample SIM, but I didn't bother with it. Why mess around when I can just slap in my SIM and my phone #, essential contact #'s and my data plan goes with it?
Simplicity at its finest.
The CDMA folks need a :twak:
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07-09-2003, 11:41 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 130
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Amen to That!!!
I remember the very long proccess to activate my 2032sp"thera" from Sprint. Better yet I don't want to remember :cry: It was when the devise was new to them and everything went wrong. The phone part worked the first day but the data part took a few days...
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07-09-2003, 11:43 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 91
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behind you all the way... I would never go with anything other than GSM, just for the sheer simplicity...T/CDMA phone broken? Getting a loaner? hope you have all your contacts written down somewhere... SIMs make switching phones, for whatever reason, easy as pie. I've never been worried about switching my SIM between phones... it's also one of the few global standards... I like it especially if I'm gonna do any travelling. If I go to Europe, I can switch SIMs whenever I need to, and not worry about if my phone will be supported or not.
I say death to T/CDMA 0X
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07-09-2003, 11:43 PM
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Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 15,171
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BTW, this isn't the protocol's fault per se -- Korea has CDMA with SIMs -- it's just the half-assed implementation here. 
As for getting rid of CDMA, that's not happening soon. The whole world is going to a CDMA-style technology in the next 5-10 years. Presumably, GSM's wCDMA/UMTS will still have SIMs, though.
--janak
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07-09-2003, 11:47 PM
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,998
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Janak Parekh
BTW, this isn't the protocol's fault per se -- Korea has CDMA with SIMs -- it's just the half-assed implementation here.
--janak |
Thanks for pointing that out. At least it's possible. It's too bad it wasn't adopted here. Is it because it's a difficult thing to implement/support?
I guess I should have said:
The CDMA folks need a :twak: (except those in Korea). :lol:
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07-09-2003, 11:47 PM
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Philosopher
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 497
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My personal op. CDMA in the USA  . I've tried both and CDMA phones have better coverage areas IMO. My girlfried has AT&T (which uses GSM networks) and curses the thing at least 5 times a week. I use Verizon (CDMA) and never at a loss for a signal.
Just my 2 cents
__________________
HTC Thunderbolt
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07-09-2003, 11:50 PM
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Pupil
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 46
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The networks here in Australia, all have policies in place that *say* you aren't supposed to use a device on the network until it's been certified, including the GSM network.
But of course, try stop me when I buy my phones out of the UK before they are released here.
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07-09-2003, 11:50 PM
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Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 15,171
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by ntractv
My personal op. CDMA in the USA . I've tried both and CDMA phones have better coverage areas IMO. |
This is the most frustrating part. :evil:
Verizon has a better network. 1xRTT is noticeably faster than GPRS. But I can't use any Bluetooth phone, let alone pop a SIM into an unlocked third-party phone. Why is life so hard? :bad-words:
--janak
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07-09-2003, 11:50 PM
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Neophyte
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 2
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Yes, finally I can confirm this!
My girlfriend just bought a T68i to me and she had chance to pay it only �194 (in Italy) because Vodafone made a promotional rebate in june (-�25 on every branded phone 8O ). I always heard about this phone and I must say that it really rocks. I connected to GPRS (for my first time in life) with my Cassiopeia in just a couple of minutes: it was really simple.
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