| In this article we have the third and final part of | | | | cell phone battery output. |
| "The Cell Phone Scenario Demystified", and we will | | | | G) If you will be making calls only in the U.S. |
| be taking a look at the second cellular telephone | | | | (North America) then CDMA is a good option. |
| technology (standard): CDMA. I will then give you | | | | Some CDMA phones support GSM for |
| my opinion concerning the cellular telephone | | | | international use. |
| scenario as well as a great link to the most | | | | This is my humble opinion: |
| popular unlocked phones. | | | | 1) Choose the best carrier over a particular |
| In Part 1 & Part 2 of the series we have | | | | cellphone. You don't know how many times I've |
| discussed the following facts: | | | | heard Apple iPhone users complain about having |
| 1) The definition of a "smart phone". | | | | AT&T as their carrier! What good is it to have |
| 2) The definition of a "dumb phone". | | | | the greatest cellphone in the world if you can't |
| 3) A list of the five top U.S. cell phone carriers | | | | fully enjoy it because of a sub par carrier? |
| and one very popular unit from each carrier. | | | | 2) Get an unlocked GSM phone. Because they are |
| 4) The definitions of a "locked" and of an | | | | more popular globally, you'll have more freedom |
| "unlocked" cellular telephone. | | | | of choice and you can buy one that is not |
| 5) One of the two cell phone technologies: GSM. | | | | offered by any U.S. carrier. They cost more than |
| Let's continue now with our final set of mobile | | | | carrier susidized phones but the cost is less and |
| phone facts: | | | | less every day. If your GSM carrier raises it's |
| 6) Cell Phone Technologies: CDMA | | | | rates or changes it's coverage you can simply |
| A) CDMA coverage is very strong in the U.S., | | | | switch carriers without having to buy a new cell |
| Canada and Mexico. CDMA is particularly strong in | | | | phone. |
| rural areas. | | | | 3) When you go with a carrier subsidized ("free" |
| B) Of the U.S. carriers, Verizon, Sprint, and U.S. | | | | or "heavily-discounted") phone you obviously will |
| Cellular use the CDMA technology. | | | | have to sign a two year service contract. In |
| C) Carriers that use the CDMA network do not | | | | order to make up for the low cost of the phone |
| use SIM card enabled phones. | | | | your carrier will charge more expensive phone |
| D) Since CDMA phones don't use SIM cards, | | | | rates (both domestically and overseas roaming). |
| switching phones is not nearly as easy (if you | | | | Eventually you will end up paying much more for |
| want to switch carriers you have to buy a new | | | | your "free" phone and service than you would |
| phone!). | | | | have had you originally bought an unlocked phone. |
| E) Unlocked phones do not work on the CDMA | | | | 4) Check out the unlocked GSM Nokia cellphones |
| network. | | | | (The E71 is an great older model therefore |
| E) Since CDMA phones have no SIM card you do | | | | cheaper). Nokia sells more cellular telephones in a |
| not have the capability of using a local number | | | | couple of days than Apple sells in a quarter, but |
| when visiting a foreign country. | | | | Nokia isn't as well known in the U.S. I also really |
| F) CDMA is a more complex proprietary standard | | | | like the RIM BlackBerry Bold 9000 (unlocked of |
| (designed by U.S. Qualcomm) and requires more | | | | course). |