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Probably simple questions relating GSM and CDMA...

Hello. I don't understand differences betwen GSM and CDMA so i have few questions.
0. What is the differences betwen this two?
1. In europe GSM is most popular cell network but how is in USA. Is there CDMA network?
2. Can i take my european HTC Kasier to USA and it will be work there with sim card from USA?
Thanks for any help. Best regards.

0) CDMA is newer but expensive compare with GSM but CDMA has better control and quality in data compression when the system reach the maximun number of users in calls. The advantage of GSM is that always is advancing, there're a lot of phone models available, the GSM SIM is a plus, due GSM is old is really well established in the world, with this the roaming is easier..
1) In USA the most popular technology is GSM but there're much more CDMA markets compare to Europe.
2) If the phone is unlocked, yes!

GSM is the way to go, I think. Here in the US, you can't take a domestic CDMA phone out of the country and use it...it's dead in the water. But the GSM phone will work fine, so long as it supports the proper bands.
Now, do I ever travel to Europe and Asia where I need to have to world-phone abilities of the GSM phone? No. But if I did...

Travel to Korea

Hi,
My daughter will be in South Korea for a year.
I would like to set her up with an HTC phone either the Touch Pro or Touch Diamond. I understand that either will support WCDMA or GSM.
Will there be any issues? Any suggestions on another phone or perhaps a good plan in S. Korea?
We expect to use skype on the phone. How is the open wifi availability?
I did SEARCH the forums and most hits were outdated. But, if you must, flame away!
Thanks and Regards,
Jim

jjttnn said:
Hi,
My daughter will be in South Korea for a year.
I would like to set her up with an HTC phone either the Touch Pro or Touch Diamond. I understand that either will support WCDMA or GSM.
Will there be any issues? Any suggestions on another phone or perhaps a good plan in S. Korea?
We expect to use skype on the phone. How is the open wifi availability?
I did SEARCH the forums and most hits were outdated. But, if you must, flame away!
Thanks and Regards,
Jim
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Welcome
As far as I know the limitations won´t be on the phone so look into the provider to choose a plan that cover overseas with a good deal!
Good luck,

as far as i know if phones work outside usa and some other american countries
it works in korea too
as in things which are likely to be incomaptible would be cdma (not wcdma because that seem to be what some people call umts/3g)
and 850Mhz gsm and 2100 umts

Last I heard (and I could be wrong or it could have changed since) was that Korea used CDMA networks with SIM Cards, yeah it sounded strange to me at the time also.
You need to confirm what Bands/network types are being used in Korea then you can find your answers...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_phone
it's not 100% clear but seem to state that korea have several systems
"There are three major technical standards for the current generation of mobile phones and networks, and two major standards for the next generation 3G phones and networks. All European and African countries and many Asian countries have adopted a single system, GSM, which is the only technology available on all continents and in most countries and covers over 74% of all subscribers on mobile networks. In many countries, such as the United States, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, India,, South Korea, and Vietnam, GSM co-exists with other internationally adopted standards such as CDMA and TDMA, as well as national standards such as iDEN in the USA and PDC in Japan. Over the past five years several dozen mobile operators (carriers) have abandoned networks on TDMA and CDMA technologies, switching over to GSM."

Everyone, thanks for your input. We got a Kaiser and will be setting it up over the next few days. Should have some good information from her in a couple of weeks.
Searching/Looking for a good radio now.
Regards

jjttnn said:
Will there be any issues? Any suggestions on another phone or perhaps a good plan in S. Korea?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When I was in Seoul and Busan last year, my GSM quad-band phone did not get any signal. The hotels I stayed at provided their customers a cell phone to use for the stay, and mentioned that US phones -- GSM or CDMA -- would not work in Korea. I would call a provider and ask, just to be sure.

Thanks pavankp, you scared me to action. You are correct, turns out a 3g phone is needed, a quad-band is not enough. Found this at att: http://www.att.com/Common/merger/files/pdf/international_calling/International_Travel_Tips-FS.pdf
Excerpt: A GSM quad-band phone (that works on 850/900/1800/1900 MHz frequencies) provides the widest coverage internationally. Most AT&T phones in stores today are quad-band. For travel to Japan or South Korea, your phone must operate on 3G technology at 2100 MHz. Phones that will operate in Japan and South Korea include the BlackBerry Bold, iPhone 3G, BlackJack II, Sony Ericsson z750, HTC Fuze, LG Incite, Samsung Epix and AT&T Quickfire. ...
Regards.

I spent time in S Korea in the Army. Camp Casey. Sucked. LOL. But that was back in 2000 so I'm sure a lot has changed. But you couldn't get regular AT&T service there. The phones you buy there are a little different. I think the technology is better in my opinion. Back in 2000 the phones there already had colored screens! Granted that most of them was not in English so I really had no interest in playing around with one to see what was so special about it. Wish her luck for me though.

x7510 unlocked but not working in usa

i sent my friend a x7510 on o2 from uk its got a custom rom and its unlocked.
i have used the following networks tmobile,3network,vectone and o2.those who live in uk would know that 3network can be a pain because their sims dont work in all phones.
my friend is telling me his sim dosent work.is the x7510 of uk different to the x7510 in usa.or is it somthing to do with quad or tri band.

adamo86 said:
i sent my friend a x7510 on o2 from uk its got a custom rom and its unlocked.
i have used the following networks tmobile,3network,vectone and o2.those who live in uk would know that 3network can be a pain because their sims dont work in all phones.
my friend is telling me his sim dosent work.is the x7510 of uk different to the x7510 in usa.or is it somthing to do with quad or tri band.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The X7510/Flint will work under GSM on T-Mobile USA but not over 3G/HSPA. T-Mobile uses a non-standard transmission frequency in USA of 1700/2100 UMTS, but the X7510 only has 1900/2100 UMTS
It will still work on GSM but may need to be manually constrained to GSM under Phone/Settings/Band. Phone calls should be OK, but data will only be possible at GSM speeds (up to 100kbps if Edge is available or about 30-40kbps for basic GSM)

thanks, neilM.
adamo86, enjoy the touch pro 2 when it comes.

Using Tmobile G2x in Italy

We will probably be moving to Italy next year, if everything goes right. I was wondering if I could use my unlocked G2x with a carrier in italy and everything work...meaning, voice, txt, and data (and by data, i mean 3g type data not EDGE). anyone have any experience or know if this would work. also, my wife has a MyTouch 4g...same questions apply for that phone too. thanks for your help.

Welcome to the beauty of GSM phones. Alongs they are unlocked voice/text should be fine once you slap in your new carriers sim card.
For data/mms to be correct you would have to do some APN editing but if your on a custom ROM they have alot of Euro APN settings installed already and you just pick the one your on. If not then you have to find the settings and edit it manually on your rooted phone.
A side from that you must choose a carrier that runs on the same frequency bands that tmobile uses,but i'm sure that shouldn't be a problem though.
Unlike CDMA phones all of the carriers information is on the SIM card which allows you to move over your old phone to another GSM carrier because your paying for the Carriers Service not the eletronic device your using.

Most, if not all, the carriers in Europe use 2100 (Band I) for 3G/4G service. The G2X P999 supports Band I (2100Mhz) service. So you will be able to use your phone, if unlocked, and you will most likely get 3G/4G service. Enjoy the pasta and the pizza.

Ahhh thats soooo cool. Me and my G2x are actually leaving Jan 31- Feb 29 for Italy as well. I just ordered a sim from Telestial so I am hoping that at least I get edge, as I will be traveling throughout Italy hopefully France and Croatia.
Please post your results as to how things go, if your there before I am.

Mobile phone for italy

Xda Dear friends, I want to understand something, I would buy a phone from the states, the problem of the consignment through baipassato very useful website (viaddress) I find myself having to choose between the various types of cell present them with the board, without board, t-mobile, verizon, unlooked, etc., which can also be used in Italy?

Anything unlocked GSM with 850/1900 HSPA frequencies (aka AT&T frequencies).
But why are you ordering from the US? Surely the unlocked prices are much better from elsewhere in Europe.

so long as it's unlooked, because of the vast majority unlooked not report if they are at & t or verizon or t-moblile, says only unloked

ulkika said:
so long as it's unlooked, because of the vast majority unlooked not report if they are at & t or verizon or t-moblile, says only unloked
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Click to collapse
Sorry having trouble understanding...
Phones in the US are rarely unlocked. They're almost always carrier locked devices.
Not to mention that ordering from the US severely cuts your choices down. The only phones that'll work in Italy are from AT&T. Verizon and Sprint are CDMA, and T-Mobile operates on different frequencies.
If you're in Italy looking for a device, the US is the wrong place to look.

I apologize but I had a t-mobile htc hd2 and it worked well but not great compared all'hd2 I've had since, as you said?

Also, several people in Italy are selling t-mobile, if as you say they work on different bands why we find them for sale.

not 'not true that mobile phones are cheaper in Europe, especially for used here in Italy is still a well spent money.

T-Mobile in Europe (run by Deutsche Telekom) is different from T-Mobile US.
Every carrier in Europe (with few exceptions) are running on 850/1900 HSPA+ (or within normal quadband UMTS). Buying a T-Mobile branded phone from the US means that it will not get 3G on your networks in Europe. T-Mo US branded phones in the US have AWS for HSPA+ (that's 1700/2100).
As I've said earlier and said in my reply to your PM, buying from the US market will not save you any money, and it will cause more problems for you. Retailers do not sell unlocked phones in the US. They're locked, and you will have even less of a selection because only AT&T has compatible bands for you. T-Mobile US, Sprint, and Verizon phones will not work for you in Italy.
As I said before and in my PM, just buy from Europe. You'll get an unlocked device that will work for your networks, and won't have to deal with hassles of importing form outside the EU. There are tons of quality importers, such as www.handtec.com, www.clove.com, www.expansys.com, and others. There's a reason why people who want cheaper unlocked phones for the US buy from Europe....
Prices are not lower in the US.