| Below I will explain the following important cell phone | | | | you are working in an corporate environment, |
| terms.What is UMTS? Universal mobile telephone | | | | Cingular wireless is currently offering a nationwide |
| service.What is GSM? Global system for mobile | | | | EDGE /WiFi service that allows you to truly |
| communications. I quickly learned that with all the | | | | experience what is is like to access your email and |
| trips I take to Asia and Europe having a phone with | | | | surf the interent on your mobile smart phone or |
| GSM was critical. GSM means Global System for | | | | blackberry device 24 hours a day seven days a |
| Mobile Communications and is a digital format used | | | | week anywhere you can pick up a cellular signal.What |
| widely in Europe and Asia. In the U.S. only T-Mobile | | | | are some of the exciting applications of the higher |
| and some AT& T and Cingular phones use GSM. It | | | | download speed using the Universal mobile telephone |
| keeps calls separate by assigning a slice of time to | | | | service? With download speed between 220 -- 320 |
| each carrier. | | | | kB per second, mobile subscribers will be able to use |
| What is GPRS? General packet radio service.What is | | | | video to monitor their brand-new baby sitter that |
| CDMA? Code division multiple access is a digital | | | | they have just hired for the first-time, be able to |
| format used by Sprint, Verizon wireless and some | | | | watch digital TV, be able to listen to digital radio and |
| other regional carriers. CDMA is incompatible with | | | | be able to listen to video on demand or music on |
| other digital formats. With CDMA each caller is | | | | demand.GPRS is the slowest data service on GSM |
| assigned additional code to separate the calls. Below | | | | phones. The download speed is only 35 kB per |
| is a chart that explains the typical speed of | | | | second which is comparable to dial-up Internet |
| downloading data from the Internet and the network | | | | access. It is painfully slow compared to a modem |
| providing it.TDMA: Time Division Multiple Access. The | | | | cable Internet connection. However for a lot of |
| digital format used mainly by AT&T Wireless and | | | | non-business users, it is the only affordable option. |
| Cingular. TDMA is incompatible with other digital | | | | For example, for folks who own blackberry devices, |
| formats. TDMA is similar to GSM. | | | | PDAs or Treo Palm one devices, they would typically |
| SMS: Short Message Service is also known as text | | | | subscribe to a GPRS network which allows them to |
| messaging. With SMS I can send a short text | | | | have text messaging, e-mail and basic wireless |
| message from one cell phone to another or from the | | | | application protocol Internet browsing for a similar |
| Internet to a cell phone. This is great for attending | | | | price that they would be paying for their cell phone |
| trade shows. I use it to send a quick message to | | | | service calling plans.To make this a bit easier to |
| clients about meeting for coffee, or at their | | | | understand, below is an example of how long it takes |
| booth.Network download speed (kbps)GPRS 30 to | | | | to download 1 MB(megabyte) file using the different |
| 40Edge 70 to 130UMTS 220 to 320HSDPA 400 to | | | | networks.If you are on the 2G. network, GPRS -- it |
| 700What do all the letters mean? i HOPE I have | | | | would take a full four minutes to download 1 MB file |
| explained the cell phone network terms clearly for | | | | which to me is a very long time.If you are on a 2.5 G. |
| you. If you are business cellular phone subscriber, you | | | | network EDGE -- that same file will take 60 seconds |
| will want to have Internet download speeds ranging | | | | to download.If you are on any 3G. network, UMTS |
| from 400 -- 700 kB per second. This will be the | | | | (Universal mobile telephone service) -- a 1 MB file |
| fastest available cellular broad brand technology | | | | would take only 40 seconds to download.If you are |
| allowing you to experience the same Internet speeds | | | | on a 3 G. network, HSDPA -- it would only take 15 |
| as if you were at home on a wired network. The | | | | seconds to download a one megabyte file. That is |
| advantage of being on a UMTS And HSDPA network | | | | significant compared to a full four minutes on a 2G. |
| is you would be able to make data calls as well of | | | | network.3.5 G. Network is in development, and the |
| voice calls at the same time on your mobile. If for | | | | download speeds would be comparable to what you |
| example you have a smart phone that is on the | | | | would get if you were at home or office and you |
| HSDPA network you'll also be able to access any | | | | subscribed to a cable modem broadband Internet |
| type of Internet information as well as using your | | | | service. On a 3.5 G. Network you'll be able to watch a |
| smart phone as a cell phone. Also, the other benefit | | | | TV program, download any CD-quality audio and play |
| is the cost savings from the carrier's point of view. | | | | video games with other portable wireless devices on |
| Not only is there an increased efficiency because | | | | your smart phone or tv or mp3 cell phone.According |
| both the voice and data is able to go on a single | | | | to Cingular wireless, UMTS is available in only six cities |
| UMTS network, but many cell phone subscribers will | | | | currently: Seattle, San Francisco, San Diego, Phoenix, |
| love the savings.If you are impatient, you probably | | | | Detroit and Dallas. By early 2006, the above cities will |
| would not be happy with the speed of the GPRS | | | | be upgraded to HSDPA. And eventually there will be |
| network at only 35 kB per second, it is like watching | | | | 15 to 20 cities where Cingular wireless will offer |
| a snail perform a 4 minute run when downloading | | | | UMTS/HSdPA.Learning the cell phone language has |
| only 1 megabyte file. You will be perhaps happier with | | | | brought me in touch with what my own cellular needs |
| the enhanced data rates for GSM evolution or EDGE | | | | are as well as for my clients. Most of the work I do |
| service by Cingular wireless. The typical download | | | | is from my vehicle, so I can't wait until a nationwide |
| speed is from 70 to 130 kB per second. Therefore | | | | carrier will be able to offer wireless Internet access |
| allowing you to download photos, send photo | | | | while I'm traveling in my car at 60 kph. I currently |
| messaging, access high-speed color Internet access, | | | | own a PDA as well as a cell phone, at the end of the |
| send or receive video and music clips, and access | | | | day I feel like a clown performing a juggling |
| your e-mail. This is ideal for business people, because | | | | act.Source: Pocket PC November 2005, Consumer |
| the download speeds are much faster than dial-up. If | | | | Reports digital buying guide 2004. |