okay, someone explain this to me if you will...i was checking out the RAZR V3xx page at phone scoop (http://www.phonescoop.com/phones/phone.php?p=1086) and saw that the phone supports GSM 850/1800/1900 and WCDMA 850/1900

i've never heard of WCDMA before (i haven't kept up, really)...a VERY brief google search gave me somewhat ambiguous results - WCDMA is the 3G CDMA network...right? but they require SIM cards, too? i saw that it's the attempt to seamlessly join CDMA and GSM (or so i understood it to be)

but does this mean that if i were to get a V3xx (supported only by AT&T/cingular in the US), it could work on the alltel/verizon CDMA network? how is WCDMA/GSM support different than phones like the blackberry 8830 world edition sold by alltel that actually supports CDMA and GSM?

9/25/2007 8:12:33 AM

CDMA and WCDMA are 2 completely different technologies.

A lot of new phones built for GSM networks are including WCDMA technology which is starting to catch on here in the US but is a lot bigger in Europe. WCDMA as part of the 3G technology allows for much greater data bandwidth then the GPRS and EGPRS networks that are extensive on current cell networks.

WCDMA utilizes 5MHz channels for uplink and downlink while CDMA provides only 1.25MHz. What WCDMA has in common with CDMA is the use of "Code Division Multiple Access" instead of the TDMA "Time Division Multiple Access" technology used in GSM phones.

WCDMA also employs use of the SIM card much like in GSM networks.
3G access isn't very widespread in the US so I would not worry about it right now. If you are trying to do a lot of data transmission I would just ensure you get an EDGE capable phone

[Edited on September 25, 2007 at 10:34 AM. Reason : l]

9/25/2007 10:30:28 AM

Quote :

"3G access isn't very widespread in the US"

we have it in raleigh, cary, chapel hill, and durham, that's good enough for me

9/25/2007 10:44:00 AM

Quote :

"V3xx (supported only by AT&T/cingular in the US), it could work on the alltel/verizon CDMA network"

nah, it won't.

There may be a few phones that are capable of using both technologies but I'm not aware of any..and they'd hardly be worth it IMO.

9/25/2007 10:44:01 AM

another issue is that usually the phones you buy from say from AT&T are locked to prevent you from using them w/ another cell phone provider.

9/25/2007 11:45:06 AM

Quote :

"WCDMA also employs use of the SIM card much like in GSM networks. 3G access isn't very widespread in the US so I would not worry about it right now. If you are trying to do a lot of data transmission I would just ensure you get an EDGE capable phone"

This has actually expanded quite a bit...pretty much every major metro area has 3G coverage. Hell, you can travel down 40 and pick up 3G coverage in the Triangle area, Triad area, and Charlotte.

9/25/2007 5:33:38 PM

its a JEW!!!

9/27/2007 10:04:15 AM