CDMA Phones

**FiSKARZ** · 05-20-2004, 09:55 AM

Correct me if im wrong, but I believe sprint phones use PCS technology, and they are not interchangeable with other carriers. AT&T, Cingular, and T-Mobile all use GSM here in the states, and any factory unlocked, or "once-locked" GSM phones can be used for any of these three carriers. Verizon, like sprint, runs on unique signals so verizon phones are basically bound to the service, even if unlocked..

And yes, I agree. Your best bet is to switch to GSM, for the variety of phones available as well as the different co-compatible carriers. If you do not want to get your phone with a service plan (locked to that service), you can find factory unlocked phones by searching for: "unlocked GSM phones"....factory unlocked phones cost more than locked phones bundled with service contracts, but also have a higher resell value when you want to upgrade, something else to consider...

I bought my P800 direct from sony ericsson, and am switching from at&t to cingular when my contract goes up in august

**ryguy** · 05-20-2004, 10:01 AM

Problem is GSM coverage in canada sucks...

but i guess i'll just have to get two phones...and two plans

lame

oh well. I did do a search a few days ago for the t608 and couldn't find an unlocked one online

**Riff** · 05-20-2004, 11:24 AM

Sprint and Verizon phones can be used on each others networks - but they prefer not to allow this conversion to take place. It's not the easiest process, but it can be done. I know some people have been trying to get the t608 to work on verizon and have met with some success. Look here

**ryguy** · 05-20-2004, 11:39 AM

So are you saying its possible to get a GSM phone to work on a CDMA network!?!?!?!?...

**ryguy** · 05-20-2004, 11:41 AM

ahh, i see with limitations though.

Wouldn't life be so much better if everything conformed to one standard?

**arkadiyp** · 05-20-2004, 12:04 PM

Originally Posted by FiSKARZ

I bought my P800 direct from sony ericsson, and am switching from at&t to cingular when my contract goes up in august

You do realize that att and cigular are now the same thing right? You should have gotten a letter about it a while ago.

**StationRocket** · 05-20-2004, 12:14 PM

these guys sell most of the good stuff and have always been both smart and helpfull

http://www.longrangecordless.com/cordless/

I've got the t610 and have been very satisfied with it. There are those that will say the t68 will have better rf performance but I disagree based on testing I have done myself.

It's too bad the US isn't more like the rest of the world on this issue. We'd have a lot better coverage if everyon's networks worked together...

**FiSKARZ** · 05-20-2004, 02:25 PM

Originally Posted by arkadiyp

You do realize that att and cigular are now the same thing right? You should have gotten a letter about it a while ago.

Absolutely, but didn't receive a letter. News articles predict that they will merge contracts and fix prices before December, but as of right now, they are two separate carriers, both of which are owned by cingular..

Originally Posted by ryguy

So are you saying its possible to get a GSM phone to work on a CDMA network!?!?!?!?....

Neither Sprint nor Verizon operate on the GSM network....the linked thread discusses his change from sprint to verizon. GSM phones operate on a different network, and merely changing the software on a CDMA or GSM phone will not make it cross-compatible.

You can choose to do a modification/hack similar to the one discussed on the other forum, or just pick up a tri (world) band GSM phone, which should work well, even in canada... unfortunately, you can't have both

**pyros** · 05-21-2004, 12:49 AM

ryguy .....

I'm in the same situation as you. Except with me, I'm with Telus because Bell Canada can suck my left nut. I hate those assholes. Sorry for the language, but I've had bad experiences with them :P

I'm actually picking up the z600 (no contract, I dont care about the $150 extra) and switching my telus phone to the lowest plan and get call forwarding. Reason I'm not going for a contract is because A) I can ditch out at any time and B) Telus has put a bid in to buy Fido. The speculation is that if this goes through (which is looking good), most customers will be offered to move to a CDMA phone. Those who dont move would most likely be sold to Rogers.

As far as the using a CDMA on a GSM network, its not possible. Although the two technologies are 'similar', they are very different. CDMA uses carrier division multiplexing (I believe) and GSM is a form of synchronous time division multiplexing. In english, one puts a bunch of different 'phones' in the same space of bandwidth but each signal is changed to a 'different' frequency so on the receiving end a decoder separates the signals. GSM basically gives fixed time slots for the packets for everyone's phone. The next generation network that is beyond 3G is supposed to support both technologies along with a new one. This I'm kinda fuzzy about and am probably speaking out of my *** about.

Blah blah blah I'll shut up now. I'm tired and rambling

**pyros** · 05-21-2004, 12:51 AM

oh.. just on another note... if you're in vancouver or toronto, check out cityfido.. unlimited local calling for $45/month with caller id and **** :P the one in the 'toronto' area just launched today