Considering GSM

[Kaido]

I've been a little frustrated with Verizon lately, with a recently merging issue as well as pricing and some other things. So I'm looking at GSM. What's good/bad? Can I use ANY GSM phone on any GSM network?

 

[intogamer]

Yes you can use any phone on any GSM network. It has to be unlocked.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: intogamer
Yes you can use any phone on any GSM network. It has to be unlocked.

What does that mean? Is it a software hack?

 

[ric1287]

most phones are "locked" to a specific carrier, but can be easily unlocked (i actually think its a law now that they celly co. must let you do it).

GSM has so many better phones and if you are in a 3g area, you can get great internet speed.

 

[mb]

I generally advise against using a GSM provider in the US, but according to your profile you live in Connecticut and it's not too bad there. My sister lives in Wallingford, and she uses ATT/cingular and is happy with it. My mom lives in Richmond, VA and there ATT/cingular sucks.

That said, I haven't had any problem, anywhere, at any time with Verizon.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: ric1287
most phones are "locked" to a specific carrier, but can be easily unlocked (i actually think its a law now that they celly co. must let you do it).

GSM has so many better phones and if you are in a 3g area, you can get great internet speed.

Where can I get cool GSM phones other than the carrier?

 

[intogamer]

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: intogamer
Yes you can use any phone on any GSM network. It has to be unlocked.

What does that mean? Is it a software hack?

If you buy a GSM phone directly... it will be unlocked. Branded phones such at Tmobile and Cingular will have them locked to their carriers.

But after 90 Days you can request an unlock code from them... say your going to China or something.

But if your getting a phone from your carrier it shouldn't be any problem if your gonna stay with them.

 

[mb]

Originally posted by: intogamer

If you buy a GSM phone directly... it will be unlocked. Branded phones such at Tmobile and Cingular will have them locked to their carriers.

A few years ago when I had T-Mobile, all Cingular phones came unlocked.

 

[mercanucaribe]

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: intogamer
Yes you can use any phone on any GSM network. It has to be unlocked.

What does that mean? Is it a software hack?

Not true. They have to be the right frequency.

 

[Pabster]

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe
Not true. They have to be the right frequency.

Yep. Most GSM phones sold here in the States are single or dual band, a lot of 1900MHz stuff here. Other places in the world you need 950 or 1800. Look for a quad-band GSM phone if you want a true "World" phone.

I also agree that GSM sucks here in the U.S. It is fine in urban/suburbia but just a mile or two outside that, forget it. Coverage is very spotty.

CDMA > GSM in my experience, both in coverage and call quality. YMMV.

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

Get away from CDMA. The only providers that use CDMA are Verizon which locks down your phone and Sprint/Nextel which doesn't have very good service. GSM is a GLOBAL technology so you can use your phone whenever you are so that would be good if you were travelling. And you can also use any phone that you are comfortable with because of the unlocked nature of your GSM phone. Try it out before you buy it.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: ChAoTiCpInOy
GSM is a GLOBAL technology so you can use your phone whenever you are so that would be good if you were travelling.

Unless you're travelling to Japan or Asia where NTT DoCoMo and other providers have a huge CDMA footprint.

It's also worth noting that UMTS is CDMA-based and not GSM-based. GSM is an older technology with lower audio fidelity and lower data rates that is going to be phased out even by GSM providers in the coming years as they transition to the WCDMA-based UMTS standard. Granted, that switchover is 2-5 years out, but it's happening.

The simple fact is that currend GSM technology is based on the now-ancient TDMA technology and that CDMA is several years newer than GSM. The _only_ reason that GSM is in wide use is because of governmental regulation in Europe that is stifling newer and better technologies.

ZV <-- Works in the corporate HQ of a large GSM carrier and talks frequently with the UMTS project and engineering teams.

 

[Synomenon]

Why not sign up with one of Sprint's SERO plans? They include unlimited EVDO data.

 

[mb]

Originally posted by: ChAoTiCpInOy
GSM is a GLOBAL technology so you can use your phone whenever you are so that would be good if you were travelling.

Meh, you can rent or buy a cheap GSM phone for that. I'd rather have the best service (VZW) the rest of the year while I'm in the US.

 

[Mo0o]

be prepared to have phones that dont blow.

i rarely go out of urban/suburban areas so coverage has never been a problem. I swtiched from cingular to tmobile a month back for their myFave plan. no problems, great signal. but i live in bellevue WA, where tmobile started so my coverage experience might be biased

 

[teatime0315]

check this site out for GSM phones if you're willing to import www.gsmarena.com
here in so-cal .. they have a bunch of asian cell-phone stores that carry most if not all these phones

 

[B00ne]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
The _only_ reason that GSM is in wide use is because of governmental regulation in Europe that is stifling newer and better technologies.

Huh?
Its not our business what kind of phone system other counties/companies use. BTW all companies here provide UMTS, but they wont phase out GSM for quite some time.

 

[Colt45]

I'd say GSM will be around a lot longer than 2-5 years. like 20.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: ChAoTiCpInOy
GSM is a GLOBAL technology so you can use your phone whenever you are so that would be good if you were travelling.

Unless you're travelling to Japan or Asia where NTT DoCoMo and other providers have a huge CDMA footprint.

It's also worth noting that UMTS is CDMA-based and not GSM-based. GSM is an older technology with lower audio fidelity and lower data rates that is going to be phased out even by GSM providers in the coming years as they transition to the WCDMA-based UMTS standard. Granted, that switchover is 2-5 years out, but it's happening.

The simple fact is that currend GSM technology is based on the now-ancient TDMA technology and that CDMA is several years newer than GSM. The _only_ reason that GSM is in wide use is because of governmental regulation in Europe that is stifling newer and better technologies.

ZV <-- Works in the corporate HQ of a large GSM carrier and talks frequently with the UMTS project and engineering teams.

Bullsplatter. Most of continental Europe has full EDGE support on GSM, 3G offerings and the UK at least has full 3G carriers and 3G phone choice on traditional GSM carriers with HDSCPA (or whatever it is). All UMTS phones are dual UMTS/GSM hybrids so when you cannot get 3G you have GSM.

How backward is that? You're actually talking smack about a market that in some countries has 110% penetration. The US is a country that has been stifled by regulation, that's why you've been stuck on a technology which, regardless of it's technical merits, is used by just yourselves and Japan. You have crummy handsets and they cannot be used in other countries. Move to GSM and you have great handset choice and mobility. Any argument about origin of 3G or which is better from an engineers (biased) standpoint is moot.