Difference between CDMA and gsm

Answer 1

CDMA is Code Division Multiple Access.The word itself explains that multiple users accessing the same carrier frequency but having their unique code for each one. Here the overlapping of messages takes place.

GSM is a technique that works under TDMA,which Time Division Multiple Access.GSM

Global Service For Mobile Communication. users having the same carrier frequency with different time slots.Most of the mobile phones which is 2G having frequency of 900MHZ to 1800MHZ.for 3G it operates at2100MHZ.

Answer 2

The difference between GSM and CDMA is how data is received and broadcast in cellphones. CDMA layers calls over one another and GSM allows multiple users to place calls using the same cellphone tower at the same time.

Answer 3

CDMA is code divisable multiple access where this technology has a saperate techniqe of sending data packets it sents packets by giving unique code to every packet and sent through the frequency alloted to the service provider and there is no restiction on the maximum number of calls that u make through allotted network..

where as GSM Global System Mobile it creates a end to end pipeline between two users and the communication flows through the pipeline.. the pipeline takes some frequency from the entire lengh of the frequecy alloted to the service provider, so it has a maximum limit..

There are still so many differences exist between these two technologies.

According to my view CDMA has got edge over GSM in this aspect but there are stil many things to comapre..

Answer 4

GSM phones have sim cards that contain your information and can be transferred between phones, and cdma phones store the information in the phone itself. The two networks are not compatible with each other so phones cant be switched between the two

Answer 5

In cellular service there are two main competing network technologies: Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) and Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA). Cellular carriers including Sprint PCS, Cingular Wireless, Verizon and T-Mobile use one or the other. Understanding the difference between GSM and CDMA will allow you to choose a carrier that uses the preferable network technology for your needs.

The GSM Association is an international organization founded in 1987, dedicated to providing, developing, and overseeing the worldwide wireless standard of GSM. CDMA, a proprietary standard designed by Qualcomm in the United States, has been the dominant network standard for North America and parts of Asia. However, GSM networks continue to make inroads in the United States, as CDMA networks make progress in other parts of the world. There are camps on both sides that firmly believe either GSM or CDMA architecture is superior to the other. That said, to the non-invested consumer who simply wants bottom line information to make a choice, the following considerations may be helpful.

Coverage: The most important factor is getting service in the areas you will be using your phone. Upon viewing competitors' coverage maps you may discover that only GSM or CDMA carriers offer cellular service in your area. If so, there is no decision to be made, but most people will find that they do have a choice.

Data Transfer Speed: With the advent of cellular phones doing double and triple duty as streaming video devices, podcast receivers and email devices, speed is important to those who use the phone for more than making calls. CDMA has been traditionally faster than GSM, though both technologies continue to rapidly leapfrog along this path. Both boast "3G" standards, or 3rd generation technologies.

EVDO, also known as CDMA2000, is CDMA's answer to the Need for Speed with a downstream rate of about 2 megabits per second, though some reports suggest real world speeds are closer to 300-700 kilobits per second (kbps). This is comparable to basic DSL. As of fall 2005, EVDO is in the process of being deployed. It is not available everywhere and requires a phone that is CDMA2000 ready.

GSM's answer is EDGE (Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution), which boasts data rates of up to 384 kbps with real world speeds reported closer to 70-140 kbps. With added technologies still in the works that include UMTS (Universal Mobile Telephone Standard) and HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access), speeds reportedly increase to about 275-380 kbps. This technology is also known as W-CDMA, but is incompatible with CDMA networks. An EDGE-ready phone is required.

In the case of EVDO, theoretical high traffic can degrade speed and performance, while the EDGE network is more susceptible to interference. Both require being within close range of a cell to get the best speeds, while performance decreases with distance.

Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards: In the United States only GSM phones use SIM cards. The removable SIM card allows phones to be instantly activated, interchanged, swapped out and upgraded, all without carrier intervention. The SIM itself is tied to the network, rather than the actual phone. Phones that are card-enabled can be used with any GSM carrier.

The CDMA equivalent, a R-UIM card, is only available in parts of Asia but remains on the horizon for the U.S. market. CDMA carriers in the U.S. require proprietary handsets that are linked to one carrier only and are not card-enabled. To upgrade a CDMA phone, the carrier must deactivate the old phone then activate the new one. The old phone becomes useless.

Roaming: For the most part, both networks have fairly concentrated coverage in major cities and along major highways. GSM carriers, however, have roaming contracts with other GSM carriers, allowing wider coverage of more rural areas, generally speaking, often without roaming charges to the customer. CDMA networks may not cover rural areas as well as GSM carriers, and though they may contract with GSM cells for roaming in more rural areas, the charge to the customer will generally be significantly higher.

International Roaming: If you need to make calls to other countries, a GSM carrier can offer international roaming, as GSM networks dominate the world market. If you travel to other countries you can even use your GSM cell phone abroad, providing it is a quad-band phone (850/900/1800/1900 MHz). By purchasing a SIM card with minutes and a local number in the country you are visiting, you can make calls against the card to save yourself international roaming charges from your carrier back home. CDMA phones that are not card-enabled do not have this capability, however there are several countries that use CDMA networks. Check with your CDMA provider for your specific requirements.

According CDG.org, CDMA networks support over 270 million subscribers worldwide, while GSM.org tallies up their score at over 1 billion. As CDMA phones become R-UIM enabled and roaming contracts between networks improve, integration of the standards might eventually make differences all but transparent to the consumer.

The chief GSM carriers in the United States are Cingular Wireless, recently merged with AT&T Wireless, and T-Mobile USA. Major CDMA carriers are Sprint PCS, Verizon and Virgin Mobile. There are also several smaller cellular companies on both networks.

Answer 6

The difference between CDMA mobile phones compared to other phones are that CDMA mobile phones do not require a SIM card. As well as this the carrier's information is stored in the phone's software.

Answer 7

Answer Easy! A GSM Phone uses a SIM card or else when you turn it on it will say "please insert SIM"

A CDMA has no sim card!.........

I have a CDMA phone and it has a SIM

Answer 8

Basically, the difference lie in the technology used. These two run on different frequencies and use different technologies which are not compatible with each other.