By Ben Charny, 10 October 2003 16:09
NEWS A cellphone technology that dominates Europe is now the fastest-growing standard in North America, according to a trade group. Chris Pearson, executive vice president of mobile trade organisation 3G Americas, on Wednesday said North American use of the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) standard increased 57 per cent from June 2002 to June 2003. That's three times faster than the growth of Qualcomm's Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), which has dominated the North American market. He cited new cellphone market data from EMC, which publishes the EMC World Cellular Database. The news is troubling for Qualcomm, Pearson said, because GSM is apparently beginning to challenge CDMA's stranglehold on the North American cellphone market. However, he conceded that GSM has a long way to go, because there are 71 million North American CDMA phones versus GSM's 22 million. "In the US, especially, CDMA [mobile providers] were the leaders as far as number of subscribers, but that's changing," he said. Representatives from the CDMA Development Group, a CDMA trade organisation, did not immediately comment. Two Qualcomm representatives did not return phone calls seeking comment. The number of North American GSM subscribers is expected to grow to at least 55 million once Cingular Wireless, AT&T Wireless and T-Mobile USA finish converting their subscribers to GSM. Ben Charny writes for CNET News.com
Comments
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1. anonymous
...Once T-Mobile finished converting to GSM???? T-Mobile has always been GSM from the start, even when it was separate companies (Voicestream, Powertel, etc)
2. rob groeneweg
yes,
t-mobile has always onle been gsm right from the start.
3. Steve Panovski
Great read!! Looks like CDMA carriers are getting a run for thier money. GSM in here in the US and things are only getting better!
4. Gordon Smith
So, what happens when GSM runs it's course? GSM doesn't have the capability to run Data like CDMA does and the way phones are going, we are likely to all be using video conferencing in the next 2 years. GSM will be left far behind.
So what's next? The GSM carriers seem to be talking about going W-CDMA; a bastardized version of Qualcomm's CDMA standard that is WAY behind in development. Things will be interesting the next 4-5 years.
5. Dharmendra Misra
AT&T preferred GSM over CDMA, no doubt about it. CDMA has better data transfer capability again true. BUT CDMA is the best in Data Transfer, is it true? NO, No and no. GSM is globally accepted as it came first with better capabilities like roaming and SMS. CDMA is growing but there is something which is coming up OFDM, as per claims and projections it is far better than CDMA. BUT WAIT..... Is it the best....? Cant say... Simply because technology in evolving and a lot of people is working on unconventional communication methods, one option I mentioned in my article which you may see at http://dmisra.netfirms.com. A lot of other unexpected and unknown things are happening and I feel that highly infrastructure based present day telecom will come out as networked operation.
6. Randerson Azevedo
Yeah!! GSM is killing CDMA, and it will be the winner, to convert all TDMA & CDMA into GSM. Here in Brazil, GSM is booming, we have already a very good coverage area, and i hope it grows up quickly than ever. Good GSM for all you americans!
7. Cam Garth
CDMA is the most advanced technology in wireless phones right now. There has been many innovations overseas that most Americans never thought would be possible. AT&T, which is currently for sale, chose GSM since it would A) Be an easier upgrade from TDMA, and B) Because they bargained that GSM might excel in technologies faster than their main competitor Verizon Wireless' CDMA. With the continued friendship and sharing of networks between the two major CDMA networks, that being Sprint PCS and Verizon, and Sprint's recent aquisition of Qwest Wireless, there isn't much GSM can do in the US. In fact most of the world is increasing more in CDMA networks than GSM. GSM is actually a dying technology in mnost of the world.
8. charlie tierrax
...come to Puerto Rico and try to communicate by using CDMA carriers...we got six wireless carriers (4 on CDMa, 2 on TDMA/GSM)on a 100x35 miles territory...GSM is doing great...at this time...problem w/CDMA is when u got many users at one area (like an overflow...)...just need to see what would it be GSM status on the next 2 years...if iti is fully implemented, as seen on Europe, see ya CDMA...
9. Chuck Endicott
71 CDMA + 22 GSM = 93M phones. TDMA=?
10. anonymous
one more example of the level of ignorance in the US, not surprised that this writer did not know that T-Mobile was GSM from the start (omnipoint, voicestream)
11. N. Smith
and where would I use this CDMA technology in Europe ?
who cares about the stupid Americans
12. anonymous
First off WCDMA is not neither CDMA or GSM it is both WCDMA is using the data side of CDMA but for voice calls it use a differant thing call UMTS which is a Higher GSM standard just like GSM is a varient of TDMA so look like that GSM will be a standard at the time it is full through and Lets talk about the only CDMA countries,Korea,China both that have GSM networks and the USA so there you have it that is why GSM is better it is a more cost effective service for both carriers and customers
[Ed. You have a way with words. Much of what you say is correct but Korea and China are far from the only CDMA countries. WCDMA clearly is a type of CDMA but it is the evolution path chosen for GSM networks worldwide. Won't go into the huge 'GSM better than CDMA' debate here.]
13. anonymous
very mature London .....
Do Europeons choose GSM simply because CDMA is controlled by an American company?
c'mon, tell the truth :)
1) I am not a wireless expert, but isn't a circuit switched technology a step backwards?
2) Didn't we decide years ago that TDMA was wasteful?
14. TD
Actually, I believe that GSM is the only legal technology platform in Europe. To my knowledge, it was legislated as the standard, and any competing network standards are illegal.
There's choice for you.
15. anonymous
Maybe us Europeans chose GSM is that it works, that it works worldwide, has a huge choice of handsets from many manufacturers - not just American companies. We've been enjoying texting, downloadable tones, picture messages for years. Now we have video on 3G. I'm surprised Americans are so far behind on this.
16. anonymous
Mobile service is about the ONLY area in which Europe IS more advanced than the US! Everything else in Europe is way behind!
17. Raymond
I work in the wireless industry and what I see is:
1) GSM growing all around the world, EVEN in the US (Cingular, AT&T, T-Mobile, etc) and in Latin American and Caribean countries where CDMA or TDMA arrived first.
2) GSM 3G (aka W-CDMA or UMTS in Europe) is already being deployed in several countries (UK, Italy, Spain, etc.). It has a similar radio interface to CDMA, but the network structure and services are more related to GSM.
The reasons for GSM success are mainly economical: GSM was the first standardised digital cell phone system (early 1990s) and has now plenty of equipment and handset providers. Economies of scale have made its cost go down in the recent years, so it has become a standard de facto worldwide (almost 1.1 BILLION subscribers)
18. Jeb
CDMA outpacing GSM??? I hope this "wireless consultant" doesn't plan on being in the consulting business too much longer!
19. R. Annis-Brown
T-Mobile does not seem to be able to get it right! I have a P900 handset and it is impossible to access the Delta Airlines mobile site or the AOL mail site through the T-Zones or wap. T-Mobile have been doing work on their servers and for a month or two I could access the above sites with no problem. Now I have the same problem. I have contacted T-Mobile numerous times to complain but I get the usual reply "it's your handset" This even after I explain to them that depending on what T-Mobile market I am in I can sometimes access. I can never access in the Atlanta market. I can always get through T-Zones etc when I roam on the Cingular network.
Can anyone shed some light on this?
20. Jeb
Why would GSM "run its course"? It does a great job carrying voice and given the codecs in use by CDMA, GSM gives better voice quality. GSM doesn't do the data signalling anymore, its done by GPRS/EDGE which is growing very quickly around the world. Also, the native path to 3g for GSM data is UMTS with HSPDA downlink (capable of 14.4MB/s) Sorry, GSM isn't dying nor is CDMA such a superior technology. They are both great technologies for voice communications but GSM has the advantage of being a truly global standard and that makes all the differnece.
21. Jason
CDMA and GSM are both very good technology's, but what makes either one count is where they are effective. I live in New York, (Staten Island to be exact). GSM I will admit, I am more partial to.
Due to geographics, GSM is worthless here. Everyone knows the rules of the frequency spectrum. Basic physics, the higher in frequency you go, the harder the penetration of the signal. GSM operating in the 900/1800/1900, europe enjoying the lower bands which would support the arguement, "Europe uses GSM" primarily because of this small factor. Better signal stregnth on and off street coverage. I know someone will say, "But there are carriers who are now using the lower bands in the US!" Yes you are right, ATT has just started doing so. However, like I said, it is where it is effective.
Where you live is a large contributor to the mechanics of this. If you can't move the mountain make a technology that will go around it!
Hand-in-Hand if these two could be adapted, I belive Qualcomm is working on a type of chip that can bridge the gap. Should check it out! Worth the Read!
22. anonymous
You are right.
That's why European developing WCDMA to counter CDMA 2000.
CDMA is the future technology at the present time and growing, more and more country go to CDMA now, especially third world country.
If I'm not mistaken WCDMA is CDMA format, either way Qualcom will collect their patent royalty.
23. dean
Yes it is true that GSM is outpacing CDMA. Why? The answer is very simple...GSM is more advance than CDMA and its a fact. I hope the debate ends here.
24. Jeb
It will never stop.. unfortunately you have hype-machines like VZW that have alot of advertising dollars. At least their promises aren't as empty as ATT wireless! I'm taking a trip to the UK, fortunately I use T-Mobile US so I don't have to switch phones or rent a special handset.
25. anonymous
what is the installed base of camera cell phones in the usa? what is the estimate for 2005?