The second installment of this series covers the ongoing transformation in cell phone technology.
Cell phone technology has undergone a silent transition in recent years. Where most devices were primarily analog even as late as 2000, most phones and networks have gradually migrated to digital modes. The days are officially numbered for analog service, and the FCC will not require legacy wireless carriers (the old A and B side networks) to provide analog service past February 18, 2008. Past that date, it’s up to the individual carrier whether to continue with the old analog (AMPS) system, or shut it down. Here’s what you should know: Digital Modes: Several digital technologies exist in North America and worldwide: CDMA is the most common mode used throughout North America, used by Verizon, Sprint, Alltel (plus other regional carriers) in the USA, and Bell Mobility and Telus in Canada.
GSM is the world standard, used on this continent by T-Mobile, Cingular/AT&T (and others), and Canadian operators Rogers Wireless and Fido. North American services operate on 850 and 1900MHz; the rest of the world on 900 and/or 1800. Most GSM phones marketed in the USA will work on both foreign and domestic frequencies. These are those phones with the little chip (SIM card) behind the battery.
TDMA was the first digital mode in North America. It has a lot of analog dependence on the back-end. It is about as obsolete as analog. Many current GSM operators were former TDMA operators. While some of those providers may run both TDMA and GSM for the time being, no TDMA-only networks remain in North America.
iDEN is the Nextel technology, loosely based on GSM, but in a class by itself. Again, this is an all-digital technology.
What’s going away and when: If you’re on a CDMA carrier, chances are that your phone is dual-mode. In other words, it handles both CDMA and analog. When your local carrier shuts down analog, your phone will still continue to work in digital mode. Since virtually all of your usage has been digital anyway, you probably won’t even know the difference. The analog mode in those phones is primarily there for roaming purposes anyway. Web browsing, text messaging, and all of those new toys require digital service.
If you’re on a GSM carrier, nothing will change. GSM networks are 100% digital.
TDMA is also going to the death chamber, and in some places it’s already six feet under. TDMA carriers that did not have an analog network have already turned the system off. The remainder–those paired with an analog system–are slated to go away on or soon after 2/18/2008.
If you’re one of the few who still own an analog-only device, an TDMA device, or a dual-mode analog/TDMA device (like the Nokia 5160 or 2160-series handsets), now is the time to put it out to pasture, as it will cease to function in six months when the networks that support it go dark. By now, you’ve probably been contacted by your carrier to inform you of the need to upgrade handsets. You’ll need to do that to continue service.
Other “Gotchas:” Not all cell phone issues involve handheld devices. Home security system users should check their systems. For those who use a cell phone instead of a landline (which could be cut and disabled), many of those modules are analog. Contact your alarm company to discuss your options.
OnStar users are also at risk. The devices installed in GM cars prior to about 2002 use analog cell networks. They cannot be retrofitted, so owners of these vehicles will lose their service when the analog network goes away.
Summary:The end result of these changes are threefold: First, the carriers can handle more capacity in digital modes than in analog mode. Second, the subscriber maintains a higher level of security and call clarity. And third, it allows the carrier to provide (and the subscriber to use) the new and emerging services, from high-speed data to full-motion video, advanced messaging, video sharing, and conferencing.
In short, if you keep up to date with the current cell phone technology by upgrading your equipment as often as your carrier allows, then you will be staying ahead of these changes, and you will never miss what’s about to be turned off. If you are still attached to the venerable Motorola “Brick,” you will soon feel the affects of the service shutdown.
