| The two most popular cell phone backbones are | | | | This allows the user to retain his or her information |
| CDMA and GSM.CDMA has been around since the | | | | after switching phones.A user can also change |
| 1940s, however it has only been used commercially | | | | carriers by simpy changing sim cards, a proccess that |
| since the mid 1990s.CDMA, short for Code division | | | | takes about 2 seconds! Some operators will block this |
| multiple access is used by carriers such as | | | | by allowing the phone to use only a single SIM, or only |
| Sprint,Verizon, and Cricket.All of these massive | | | | a SIM issued by them; this practice is known as SIM |
| companies use CDMA for their networks.Even though | | | | locking, and is illegal in some countries. |
| CDMA is not as popular as Gsm througouht the world | | | | Why GSM is the "standard" |
| it still holds countless millions of subscribers in the United | | | | It isnt a coinceincde that GSM is considered the |
| States, Verizon, a CDMA network is number one in | | | | standard for mobile phone communication and and as |
| subscribers. | | | | a result of the cell phone market worldwide.GSM is a |
| GSM Technology | | | | more standardized technology, while is not.Users on |
| The second and more popular of the two is GSM.One | | | | GSM networks are able to "roam"(which simply |
| of the first GSM networks was launched in 1991 in | | | | means getting signal off of other carriers towers, |
| Finland by Ericsson.GSM is widely considered the | | | | when your carrier is not avalible in the area).Due to the |
| standard for mobile phone technology and is used by | | | | differnces in technlogy and infrastructure CDMA users |
| roughly 80% of cell phone users worldwide.Due to | | | | are unable to "roam" and arestrictly limited only to their |
| GSM's huge market share, some manufactorers make | | | | networks service area.Another advantage of GSM is |
| strictly GSM compatible phonesHuge carriers such as | | | | that they use SIM cards, which holds the users |
| T-Mobile and AT&T use GSM technology for their | | | | contactsand subscriber information, which means you |
| networksAlthough GSM dates all the way back to the | | | | are able to swap phones on the go, while with CDMA |
| mid 1980s, like CDMA only became avalible to | | | | if you want to change cell phones you are forced to |
| consumers during the late 1990s.One of my favorite | | | | visit your carrier's localshop and have them do this for |
| things about GSM is that is uses Subscriber | | | | you.,as a result everytime a user swaps cell phones |
| Identification Modules, commonly known as a "sim | | | | they would have to manually add their contacts into |
| card". The SIM is a detachable smart card containing | | | | the new cell phone, which can sometimes be a huge |
| the user's subscription information and phone book. | | | | hassle. |