Mobiles or cell phones, rather than being a luxury, have become a basic necessity to be in touch with the loved ones and to keep yourself abreast with the latest. Every year around hundreds of models with the latest technology of different mobile companies are launched.
But do you know on what technology your cell phone runs? Cell phones generally run on GSM technology or CDMA.
Global System for Mobile Communications or GSM:
GSM is a cellular network in which mobile phones search for the cells in the immediate vicinity to connect with the network.
GSM is one of the most popular standards used in mobile phones today, with over 82 per cent of the mobile market globally using it. GSM is said to have pioneered the concept of Short Messaging Services (SMS) which is implemented in other standards or technologies as well.
Most of the GSM networks operate in 900 MHz or 1800 MHz bands while those in Canada and the United States use 850 MHz AND 1900 MHz bands. Some countries like Scandinavia use 400 and 450 MHz bands, which are rarer.
Advantages of GSM:
- In GSM phones, signaling and speech channels are digital, providing good quality.
- GSM phones also help its users to use their phones in different parts of the world as it facilitates networking between different mobile phone operators. So they don’t have to switch to different phones to switch to a different mobile phone operator if they are in a different city, state or country.
- GSM phones are advantageous to the network operators as well as they have the option to choose from many vendors implementing the technology.
- GSM also provides the facility of an Emergency Telephone Number 112, which can be used worldwide and makes it easier for frequent travelers to contact emergency services even if they don’t know the local emergency number.
Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card, a detachable card which stores information relating to users’ subscription and phonebook, is one of the important features of GSM-enabled cell phones. SIM enables the user to retain his phonebook related information even after he changes his handset. Also, a user can switch to a different mobile operator while retaining his handset by changing the SIM card.
Some operators lock the mobiles, allowing the user to only use a single SIM card or the SIM issued by them. The practice, known as SIM locking, is prevalent in Australia, Canada, Europe and the United States. However, a subscriber can request the mobile operator to remove the lock by paying fees or unlock the handsets themselves by using software and websites on the internet. On the other hand, in countries like Belgium, Costa Rica, India, Indonesia, Pakistan and Malaysia, mobiles are not locked.
As far as security part of the GSM is concerned, it provides confidentiality and authentication but limited authorization capabilities and non-repudiation.
Code Division Multiple Access or CDMA:
CDMA has been designed by Qualcomm in the United States. It is a dominant network standard in North America and parts of Asia.
Like GSM’s SIM card which enables the user to switch to a different carrier or a cell phone, CDMA has an R-UIM card but that is only available in parts of Asia. In the United States, CDMA cell phones are linked to one carrier only and in order to switch to a different carrier, one has to deactivate the old phone, rendering the old phone useless.
Advantages of CDMA
CDMA-enabled cell phones are faster than GSM-enabled phones though both claim to be operating on third-generation technologies. CDMA’s EVDO claims to have the speed of about 2 megabits per second though some reports give the figure as 300-700 kilobits per second (kbps). On the other hand, GSM’s EDGE claims to have the speed of up to 384 kbps while the reports suggest it to be around 70-140 kbps.
Disadvantages of CDMA
- As far as coverage of rural areas is concerned, CDMA networks fare poorer than GSM carriers. Though they may seek help from GSM network for increasing the coverage in rural areas, it will cost comparatively more to the user when compared to GSM carriers.
- CDMA phones may take a beating in international roaming too, especially if it is not R-UIM card-enabled. Unlike GSM phones which can be used while going abroad by using a new SIM card, CDMA phones do not gives its users this kind of facility. However, you may benefit if the country you are going to has CDMA network.
Though both the GSM and CDMA phones have their advantages and disadvantages, GSM seems to be the popular among the two as its network is spread far and wide.
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