Project PDA

Trying to decipher what all the wireless phone acronyms mean isn’t easy, especially if you are just starting to look at potential smartphones. That’s why we wrote this guide. It is a bit technical for the average user but it will give you a great overview of the technology on competing networks.

When buying a new Smart Phone the consumer must be careful not to blindly choose a phone that uses an only slightly older data transmission technology. The price for a CDMA 1X or GSM GPRS phone may be attractive but, ultimately, will limit your future use.

However, if choosing EVDO, EDGE, UMTS, or HSDPA examine the wireless coverage map on your provider’s website before taking the plunge. Also consider that where you work and live may have different coverage. With wireless video content available for download these technologies are very important to today’s sophisticated consumer.

If you need to buy a phone today go for a CDMA/EVDO or GSM/UMTS phone. However the download rate of the HSDPA standard is worth the wait and there is no competing CDMA standard yet. If at all possible try to choose a phone that has WiFi built in or available as a SD card. This will save your data charges should your provider not offer an unlimited data plan

Below you will find some easier to understand definitions for this often confusing terminology.

GSM

Global System for Mobile communications. Sometimes called a world phone for marketing purposes. For most parts of the world GSM operates at 900 and 1800 MHz. In North America GSM operates at 850 and 1900 MHz as the European frequencies were already being used in North America. If you travel a lot a GSM phone would be a good choice.

GSM offers a digital signal for mobile communications. When combined with a data plan it offers the GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, and HSDPA technologies for data. GSM networks are actually a type of the TDMA technology. However there still exist competing TDMA networks that are not considered GSM.

GSM/GPRS

General Packet Radio Signal is a mobile data technology used in GSM phones. It is really the minimum acceptable data standard for today’s consumers. It is capable of download speeds of 170 kbits/second, however the realistic speed is more like 30 kbit/second to 80 kbits/second. GPRS is considered 2.5G technology, as a transition technology leading to third generation mobile phone technology.

GSM/EDGE

Also known as Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution. Often referred to as 2.75G, as a prelude to 3G mobile phone technology. Also used with GSM phones and is capable of download rates of up to 230 kbit/second. This is the most populous mobile data standard at the moment for GMS. EDGE is the intermediary step as mobile phone companies adopt UMTS and then HSDPA. EDGE compatible phones include the likes of the Treo 650 and many of the Blackberry phones.

W-CDMA

Wideband CDMA should not be confused with CDMA. It is actually a 3G+ technology that is an evolution of the GSM standard.

W-CDMA(GSM)/UMTS

Universal Mobile Telecommunications System is the first true 3G mobile phone technology for data; 3G meaning third generation mobile phone technology. It builds on the existing GSM technology but is actually called W-CDMA; Wideband Code Division Multiple Access. It offers download rates up to 1920 kbit/second; however reports indicate realistic transfer rates of 384 kbits/second. Some companies choose to skip GSM/EDGE standard altogether in favor of UMTS. The next step after this is HSDPA.

W-CDMA(GSM)/HSDPA

High Speed Downlink Packet Access is sometimes referred to as 3.5G technology. However it is really an evolution of the W-CDMA standard. HSDPA claim download rates of up to 14.4 Megabits/second. The realistic download rate is difficult to judge as this data standard is only now being introduced to the North American Market and devices are only now appearing on service provider shelves. However, consumers should be cautious and check their potential service provider’s coverage for HSPDA before taking the plunge.

Early Adopters rejoice. The second phase of HSPDA is planning for 28 Mbits/second. The third phase is targeting 50 Mbits/second. Sounds like video phones are becoming a reality. Caution must be taken as many countries have not adopted this standard and have no infrastructure in place should your travel there with your HSDPA compatible phone.

CDMA

Code Division Multiple Access is not just the ugly cousin to GSM. Widely used in the USA and Canada it offers partner data technology comparable to GSM. In fact CDMA EVDO is faster (on paper) than UMTS. CDMA should not be confused with W-CDMA a standard built upon the GSM technology. Data standards that use CDMA are: 1xRTT, EV-DO, and 1XEV-DO. There are existing CDMA networks in Asia, Russia, Africa and Europe but care must be taken to ensure your phone will operate on these networks before you travel. For a bit of trivia, CDMA is also used for Global Positional Systems technology.

CDMA/1xRTT

1XRTT sounds complicated but actually means 1 times Radio Transmission Technology. 1XRTT is officially a 3G technology but is called 2G and 2.5G as well to makes things confusing. It claims speeds of up to 144 kbits/second and there is a 3x version of this technology but it is not deployed commercially.

CDMA/EV-DO, or CDMA/1XEV-DO

Evolution Data Optimized are the fastest commercially available CDMA mobile phone technology at the moment. It is now widely available in North America with many supporting devices. There are even laptops that come with EVDO built in. It is capable of download rates greater than 2 Mbits/second, which makes it the real CDMA 3G technology.

IDEN

Integrated Digital Enhanced Network is a proprietary mobile technology used in push-to-talk phones. Motorola and Nextel are the owners of the wireless technology. Although primarily used for business there are consumer products available for IDEN subscribers, even a Blackberry PTT device is available. IDEN phones are widely available are considered 2G or second generation phones.

TDMA

Time Division Multiple Access. This is an older mobile phone transmission technology. Still used in many parts of North America but was replaced GSM. It is often called digital PCS and is compatible with older Analogue cellular phones. TDMA phones are considered 2G, or second generation mobile phone technology.

CDPD

Cellular Digital Packet Data is the obsolete data standard that has largely been disabled in North America. Existing on analogue phone networks it is considered 1G or first generation mobile phone technology. There are older data and voice technology but it is not worth examining anymore.