Local consumers will have to wait for iPhone

[funkym]

My statements were not "Thumb-sucked". What I said is what was relayed to me by an executive from Sprint/NextTel. While my information may be wrong, "My Failure to get an education" has nothing to do with it... I simply relayed what I was told when I asked the question...

Thanks for caring enough to "educate" me.

 

[bwana]

No they don't switch to GSM, nor CDMA. What proof do you have of this? Networks don't simply switch.

Cingular's wireless network

Cingular was formed through mergers and acquisitions, and as a result of these — as well as the rapid technological change in the wireless industry — Cingular operates wireless networks using many different wireless communication standards. The most widely used of these technologies is called Global System for Mobile Communications, or GSM. On top of its GSM network, Cingular operates a data network called GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) and an upgrade for faster speeds called EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution). AT&T offers Push to talk (PTT) service using network technology from Kodiak Networks.

Cingular supports legacy D-AMPS/TDMA, and analog networks; however, in March 2006 they announced that these networks would be shut down by February 2008. As part of this effort, Cingular will charge a $5 monthly fee to those customers who still use D-AMPS-based phones. As of March 31, 2007 Cingular no longer supported the TDMA technology for its GoPhone (pre-paid) customers. All GoPhone customers had to migrate to the newer GSM technology.

Former networks also include various paging services and the Cingular Interactive division, which became Velocita Wireless and was recently purchased by Sprint Nextel.

ATT shutting down legacy networks - migrating their customers to GSM.

 

[Hotentott]

Also, here in the US, you cannot simply "buy" a phone to be used openly on any network. That is one thing I like about SA. Buy your phone cash and you can slip any sim card in you wish and simply carry on.
QUOTE]

All that is about to change as Carphone Warehouse mounts a US invasion (i have heard they will be opening 200 outlets in BB stores before this year is out

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/04/24/carphone_us_strategy/

http://www.moconews.net/entry/carphone-warehouse-in-us-deal-with-bestbuy-for-retail-stores

 

[jarr]

Ah, i see, where can i find which networks there are on GSM already, cause then I can upgrade my VC contract, and take the phone with me later when i emigrate.

t-mobile and at&t cingular are probably your best bets (just make sure your phone is not network locked). you can also do a 'coverage check' from their websites to see if they have decent coverage in the area you are planning to go to

GSM carriers:
- AT&T
- Cingular
- T-mobile
...

at&t and cingular are one company now, are they not?

 

[krycor]

GSM can do handovers.. but its hard handovers.. i.e. change in frequency thus there is a change in the freq. eq. etc and so calls are terminated and re-established as the cll re-tunes into negotiated frequency handled by the network management system.

A soft hand over which CMDA allows is simply a encoder code change, and usually the network management system will try to do it, but its not always possible and hard hand overs do happen occasionally.

CDMA is what the US started with, i.e. the technology of choice when cell phones came out, Europe went with gsm as it was simpler and cheaper at the time hence the huge number of gsm subscribers over cdma.

Both are old technologies.. however gsm kinda reached its end point as such after 2.5G? and went over to a cdma system with 3G++(like ye said w-cdma). Uhm I think from what i read alot of the systems in US are cdma2000 and newer ones are w-cdma/3G+ as we know it.

But America has its problems with frequency allocation bureaucracy AND the fact that thier fixed line infrastructure is like everywhere.. so the whole mobility thing is harder to sell. i.e. reason cell co's in africa as whole do well is not cause we hip and with it but cause our fixed line companies are just so spectacular in not investing and pricing that wireless is more feasible :O

 

[bwana]

at&t and cingular are one company now, are they not?

Yes, they are - since the end of last year iirc.

 

[Jerrek]

ATT shutting down legacy networks - migrating their customers to GSM.

Yes sir, I guess they do switch to either GSM or CDMA, although I had assumed the context would be considered. Providers do not switch from GSM to CDMA or vice versa. Older analog networks are being phased out.

 

[Jerrek]

CDMA is what the US started with, i.e. the technology of choice when cell phones came out, Europe went with gsm as it was simpler and cheaper at the time hence the huge number of gsm subscribers over cdma.

Logical error sir. The huge humber of GSM subscribers is because Europe outlawed any other system.

Both are old technologies.. however gsm kinda reached its end point as such after 2.5G? and went over to a cdma system with 3G++(like ye said w-cdma). Uhm I think from what i read alot of the systems in US are cdma2000 and newer ones are w-cdma/3G+ as we know it.

But America has its problems with frequency allocation bureaucracy AND the fact that thier fixed line infrastructure is like everywhere.. so the whole mobility thing is harder to sell. i.e. reason cell co's in africa as whole do well is not cause we hip and with it but cause our fixed line companies are just so spectacular in not investing and pricing that wireless is more feasible :O

Exactly.