9/12    What are the pros/cons of using GSM vs. TDMA phones? Thinking about
        Nokia 3560 vs. 6200 vs. 3595
        \_ TDMA is on the way out in this country, being replaced with GSM
           Buy a GSM phone over a TDMA one every time, although it might be
           nice to get a phone that does both if you can find one.
           OTOH, if you mean CDMA in stead of TDMA, that's another story
           \_ cool thanks. How about COVERAGE? Which one has a better
              coverage? The ones I've looked at have GSM/GPRS, whatever
              GPRS means...
              \_ Well, ask 10 different people about their cell service and you
                 will get 10 different answers.  Also depends a lot on where
                 you plan to use it.  GPRS=General Packet Radio Service, which
                 is the data service for GSM phones.  I can tell you more -dgies
        \_ GSM has been cracked, but being able to switch phones is cool.
          \_ The GSM crack is not at all trivial to exploit.  Probably only
             worth worrying about if you think the CIA is out to kill you.
             \_ You ALL think I'm paranoid!!!
        \_ Which service providers are using TDMA these days?
           \_  AT&T and Cingular have parts of their network using TDMA still
               \_ I have found that the TDMA network (AT&T's) is far more
                  widespread and available than any of the current GSM
                  networks.  If coverage is a must, TDMA.  If not, I'd
                  see about finding something else.  For example, when
                  I was in New Orleans for LISA in 2000, you could get
                  TDMA or AMPS coverage, but not GSM.  Check up on the
                  coverage in areas you want to use your phone. --Jon
        \_ only AT&T at the time was using TDMA.  and they are moving
           everything to GSM/GPRS themselves.  So, I would say get a
           GSM phone.  It's a much more flexible technology platform.
           Not that you would care much about the rest of the world,
           but if you do, get one of those tri-band GSM phone, so next
           time you go travel, you can go to their 7-11 and get those
           pre-paid phone card and you are good to go.
                                -GSM fan
        \_ Not as many countries have CDMA compared to GSM.  Mostly
           just US, China and Japan.  Be that as it may, why is it
           that these CDMA service providers don't come together so
           that people's phones can roam in these three countries
           at least?
           \_ you forgot about Korea.  GSM allow you to decouple
              phone services from phone itself.  All you need to do
                is to change the sim card.  With pre-paid SIM card
                widely avaliable, GSM allow you to have the flexibility
                to switch to a local service when you arrive there.
                Same thing can not be said about CDMA.
                \_ The point is the same can be done in CDMA.  There
                   is nothing in CDMA that makes it more difficult
                   to do it vis-a-vis GSM.
            \_ CDMA in Japan (and not inking deals with GSM) has been a way the\
Japanese have controlled their market for a long time.  Until recently....  Even\
 in Korea, if you want to use your GSM chip, you still need to rent a Korean pho\
ne and pay an extra surcharge on all calls (in & out).
               \_ Largest carrier in Japan, NTT Docomo, doesn't even
                  use CDMA.
                  \ No, they use Imode, which is a completely different
                    protocol relying on large numbers of very small cells
                    (perfect for built-up urban environments like lots of
                    Japan.)  They have been trying frantically to push Imode
                    in Europe for a while now--there was a pilot scheduled
                    with TMobile a while ago, but I don't think it ever got
                    anywhere.  -John