In terms of cellular service, there're 2 technologies competing in the market right now. They are GSM, i.e. Global System for Mobile Communications, and CDMA, i.e. Code Division Multiple Access. Cellular carriers inclusive of Verizon, Sprint PCS, Cingular Wireless, and T-Mobile make use of one of these two technologies. Comprehending difference between CDMA and GSM would simplify the way of choosing a carrier which utilizes the network technology preferable for your needs.

GSM association can be referred to as one of the international organizations founded in the year 1987, which is dedicated toward the provision, development, and overseeing of GSM standard across the globe. CDMA is amongst the proprietary standards designed by a company called 'Qualcomm' in the US. It has been dominant with regards to network standards for certain Asian countries and the whole of North America. GSM networks, however, continue making roads in US. There're camps on every side, which think of CDMA or GSM to be superior to another. All said and done; the non-invested customer who just wants the bottom-line information for making a choice, the considerations given below might turn out to be useful.

Coverage

The most essential factor is that of getting proper service in areas where phone would be used. Upon having viewed coverage maps of competitors, you might discover that only CDMA or GSM carriers make cellular service available in the area that you need it. If that is the case, there won't be much of a choice.

Speed of data transfer

As cellular phones are performing double, triple duty in the form of streaming video plans, email devices, and pod cast receivers, speed is vital for the people who make use of phone for other purposes, apart from making calls. It is a known fact that CDMA Cell Phones are faster as compared to GSM Cell Phones. Both can boast of third generation technologies, or 3G standards.

SIM (Subscriber Identification Module) cards

In the US, SIM cards are used by GSM phones only. SIM card, that have the ability of getting removed, permits the cell phones to get activated, swapped out, interchanged, and upgraded, without the intervention of a wireless carrier. The SIM here, gets tied to a network, in place of the actual phone. Card-enabled unlocked phones can be utilized with any carrier of GSM.

CDMA equivalent, the R-UIM card, has been made available in certain Asian countries since the last few years. It's, however, on horizon for market of the US. Carriers of CDMA in US need proprietary handsets. They are connected to a single carrier and aren't card-enabled. For upgrading any of the CDMA phones, carrier should deactivate the old phone and then have the new one activated. Old phone turns out to be useless most of the time.

Roaming

Both the networks have a fairly wide coverage in main cities, along with main highways. Carriers of GSM have contracts of roaming with the other carriers of GSM, thereby permitting broader coverage in rural areas, in particular. CDMA networks might not have rural areas covered as effectively as GSM. They might sign a contract regarding roaming with the GSM cells for coverage in rural areas, but the customer would then have to shell out a bit extra.