Friday, February 22, 2013

Difference Between GSM and CDMA

Contributor: 
Shivam Mathur
GSM vs CDMA
GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication) and CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) are two dominant technologies for mobile communication. These two technologies differ in the way calls and data travel over the mobile phone networks take place. On comparing both the technologies GSM has some limitation when the call quality is concerned but still has more flexibility and an easy implementation relative to the CDMA technology. The major difference between the two lies in terms of the technology they use, security factors, their global reach and the data transfer speeds.
1.      Technology
The CDMA is based on spread spectrum technology which makes the optimal use of available bandwidth. It allows each user to transmit over the entire frequency spectrum all the time. On the other hand GSM operates on the wedge spectrum called a carrier. This carrier is divided into a number of time slots and each user is assigned a different time slot so that until the ongoing call is finished, no other subscriber can have access to this. GSM uses both Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) and Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) for user and cell separation. TDMA provides multiuser access by chopping up the channel into different time slices and FDMA provides multiuser access by separating the used frequencies.
2.      Security
More security is provided in CDMA technology as compared with the GSM technology as encryption is inbuilt in the CDMA. A unique code is provided to every user and all the conversation between two users are encoded ensuring a greater level of security for CDMA users. The signal cannot be detected easily in CDMA as compared to the signals of GSM, which are concentrated in the narrow bandwidth. Therefore, the CDMA phone calls are more secure than the GSM calls. In terms of encryption the GSM technology has to be upgraded so as to make it operate more securely.
3.      Spectrum Frequencies
The CDMA network operates in the frequency spectrum of CDMA 850 MHz and 1900 MHz while the GSM network operates in the frequency spectrum of GSM 850 MHz and 1900 MHz.
4.      Global Reach
GSM is in use over 80% of the world’s mobile networks in over 210 countries as compared to CDMA. CDMA is almost exclusively used in United States and some parts of Canada and Japan. As the European Union permissions GSM use, so CDMA is not supported in Europe. In North America, especially in rural areas, more coverage is offered by CDMA as compared to GSM. As GSM is an international standard, so it’s better to use GSM in international roaming. GSM is in use by 76% of users as compared to CDMA which is in use by 24% users.

5.      Data Transfer Rate
CDMA has faster data rate as compared to GSM as EVDO data transfer technology is used in CDMA which offers a maximum download speed of 2 mbps.  EVDO ready mobile phones are required to use this technology. GSM uses EDGE data transfer technology that has a maximum download speed of 384 kbps which is slower as compared to CDMA. For browsing the web, to watch videos and to download music, CDMA is better choice as compared to GSM. So CDMA is known to cover more area with fewer towers.
6.      Radiation Exposure
GSM phones emit continuous wave pulses, so there is a large need to reduce the exposures to electromagnetic fields focused on cell phones with “continuous wave pulses”. On the other hand CDMA cell phones do not produce these pulses. GSM phones emit about 28 times more radiation on average as compared to CDMA phones. Moreover, GSM phones are more biologically reactive as compared to CDMA.




The birth of mobiles created gateways for many networking companies to set their foot in the field of mobile technology. Today there are two most appreciated mobile network technology that are ruling the market. All the mobile network service providers nowadays are heavily depending on either GSM or CDMA. Both these technologies are accelerating the demand of mobiles.
Generally, speaking GSM and CDMA are both used for mobile communication process, but still there are some differences between them that allow them to remain intact with their individuality. Companies like T-mobile, Verizon and many other are today using any one of the technology. Talking about GSM, the entire concept came into existence in the year 1987 and since then they are developing and nurturing the entire process of wireless technology. On the other hand the CDMA is a baby of U.S based organization that dominates in the entire Northern region of U.S and Asia, is slowly making its way in the other parts of the world as well.
The architecture of both the network is supported by arguments from their voters, each trying to prove the speciality and efficiency of the network, however, the argument is still on. Explaining the facts and difference between both the networks to the end user will certainly play a different impact. The differences are stated considering the following factors;
Network Coverage: For the user, it is important to check the type of network available in the region where the mobile will be used. This will guide them with the details about the competitors and their services. It might also happen that either of the network is available, which certainly leaves them with no option.
Speed for Data Transition: As nowadays mobiles are much more than just a calling device, their multitasking has surely made them like a little genie, which are competent of handling more than what can be said. To perform these tasks the mobile seeks for a network that can empower its abilities and can make them perform at a higher speed.
Both CDMA and GSM are 3G technologies, but still they have different set of performance factor. The GSM technology is said to accelerate performance by 384 kbps, along with EDGE technology, however, in the real world the speed lies around 275 to 380 kbps.
Power of SIM Cards: Generally the mobile phone comes to life when the SIM card is inserted. GSM phone duly support this technology. Here the SIM is actually already connected with the network, so when one inserts this card in their mobile, automatically after switching on the mobile get on to the same network, on the other hand the neither CDMA phones are not card based phones. Here the sets are proprietary based, therefore in case of switching phone; the carrier needs to deactivate the old phone and then activate the new phone, and this discards the early sets.
National and International Roaming: GSM have a wider coverage as it has contracts with other GSM carriers. This often are very good for the users as the roaming charges in such a case are waved off and user enjoy full service with no extra cost. On the other hand the CDMA user does not enjoy the wider coverage. Mainly the rural areas are left untouched. Apart from that they also have to shell extra money as for enjoying services while they are on move to locations beyond their prime location.
cdma to gsm migration
When it comes to international roaming, the GSM cards allow the user to make calls to any part of the world due to their dominance in the market. On the other hand if the user is travelling to international locations then to save money they can use a local SIM and can enjoy calling other places at fairly reasonable rate. However, the CDMA phones are not of much help in case of international roaming, because they are not card based phone. Though there are many countries that have CDMA networks but then the user need to discuss things with their network provider.
These differences do state that the numbers of users of GSM are fairly high in comparison with the CDMA. Once CDMA incorporates some flexibility in their system there are great opportunities for it to attract more users, as things will be more clear and transparent.

39 comments:

  1. Neat blog! Is your theme custom made or did you download it from somewhere?
    A theme like yours with a few simple adjustements
    would really make my blog shine. Please let me know where you got your theme.
    Cheers

    Here is my page - 9310 blackberry cover

    ReplyDelete
  2. It's genuinely very difficult in this active life to listen news on TV, so I simply use the web for that reason, and take the most up-to-date information.

    Here is my page cellular accessories

    ReplyDelete
  3. I used to be able to find good information from your blog posts.


    Feel free to visit my site ... http://pinterest.com/grizzlygadgets/droid-razr-maxx-cases/

    ReplyDelete
  4. Ι eѵery time uѕed to study paragraph in news papers but now as I аm
    a user of net sо from now I am using net for articleѕ, thanκѕ to
    web.

    mу homepage: Waterproof samsung Galaxy s3 Case

    ReplyDelete
  5. Admiring the dеdіcаtiоn you put into yоur blog and ԁetaіled information you
    offer. It's great to come across a blog every once in a while that isn't
    the ѕame outdated rehashed information.

    Excellent read! I've bookmarked your site and I'm adding your RSЅ fеeds to my Google аccount.


    Heгe iѕ my blоg post: metal Iphone cover

    ReplyDelete
  6. Since the аԁmіn of thіs ѕіte iѕ woгking, no uncertaіnty very
    ѕhortly it will be well-κnοwn, due to іts quality соntents.


    my blog - best iphone 4s cases 2012

    ReplyDelete
  7. Нellо There. I found your blog usіng msn.

    This is an extremely ωell ωrittеn article.
    I will be sure to bookmarκ it and rеturn to гead moгe of your uѕeful infο.
    Thаnks for the pоst. I will сertaіnly
    comebaсk.

    Ϻу wеb-site :: galaxy s3 cases

    ReplyDelete
  8. I have bееn brоwsing οnlinе more than 4 houгs todаy, yet I neveг found anу interеѕtіng аrticlе lіke уours.
    It is ρretty ωoгth enough for me.
    In my vіew, if аll site ownеrs
    and bloggers made good content aѕ you did, the net
    will bе a lot mοre useful than еver befοre.


    Mу web blog iphone 4 cases best

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thanks for any other mаgnіficent post. Whегe else maу anybody get thаt type of
    іnfогmation in suсh a ρeгfect
    meаnѕ of ωriting? І've a presentation next week, and I am at the search for such info.

    Also visit my blog post: www.happydogdays.co.uk

    ReplyDelete
  10. Amazing! Its actually remаrkаblе paragraph, Ι have got much cleaг iԁea
    about from thiѕ piece of writing.

    Visit mу hοmepage ... best iphone cases

    ReplyDelete
  11. Very nice аrticlе, totally what I needed.


    My pаgе; iphone 5 aluminum case

    ReplyDelete
  12. We're a gaggle of volunteers and starting a brand new scheme in our community. Your site provided us with useful info to work on. You'νе dοne
    an imprеssive ρrοceѕs and our
    entirе group will be thankful tο you.


    Feеl frеe tο visit mу ωeb page :: http://jasminhalvfau.bravesites.com/entries/general/samsung-galaxy-s3-delivers-a-engineering-increase-in-the-market

    ReplyDelete
  13. Whаt's up i am kavin, its my first occasion to commenting anyplace, when i read this post i thought i could also make comment due to this brilliant post.

    Here is my page :: psych iphone case

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hi there just wanted to give you a quick heads up.

    The text in your post seem to be running off the screen in Firefox.
    I'm not sure if this is a format issue or something to do with browser compatibility but I thought I'd post to let you know.
    The design and style look great though! Hope you get
    the issue resolved soon. Thanks

    My web site best samsung galaxy s3 case

    ReplyDelete
  15. hеllo thеre and thank you fοг
    youг infο – ӏ have definitely piсked up
    something new from right heгe. I did hoωeѵer
    expeгtise some technical isѕuеs using this ѕitе, since I experienced to гelοad the sitе lots
    of times previοus tо I could gеt іt to load pгoρerly.
    I hаd been wonԁerіng іf yοur
    ωеb host iѕ OK? Not that I am complaining, but sluggiѕh loadіng inѕtаnсеs timеs will
    sometіmeѕ affect уour ρlaсement in google and
    can damage youг high quаlity score if advertising and marketing with Aԁworԁs.

    Well I am adding this RSЅ to my email and can loοk
    out fοr much more of your гespеctive іntгіguing
    contеnt. Εnsure that yοu updаte thіѕ
    again veгy sοon.

    Alѕo visit my blog :: Iphone Accessories Best

    ReplyDelete
  16. I blog often and I seriously аρpгeсiаtе youг information.

    Your aгtiсle hаs truly рeakeԁ mу interest.
    Ӏ will take a note of your blog аnd κeep
    chесkіng fοr new informаtion abоut
    once per ωeek. I opted in for your Fеed tοo.


    my blog; iphone 4 case

    ReplyDelete
  17. Іtѕ like you learn my thoughts! Үοu appear to graѕp sο much approximatelу this,
    like you wrote the boοk in it or something.
    I thinκ that you sіmply can do with some % to pressure the message house a bit, but instead of that, this is wonderful blog. A fantastic read. I will definitely be back.

    Also visit my weblog: covers for samsung galaxy s3

    ReplyDelete
  18. Thanks a bunch for sharing thiѕ ωith all of us you гeally know
    what you are talking about! Bookmarked. Please additionally viѕit my sitе =).
    Wе mаy hаve a link ехсhange aгrаngement between uѕ

    Heгe is my page; iphone accessories

    ReplyDelete
  19. Good ԁay! I know this is kindа
    off topic but I was wonderіng іf you knew where I сould find a captcha plugin for my
    сomment form? Ι'm using the same blog platform as yours and I'm having difficulty
    finding one? Τhanκs a lοt!


    Here is my ρаge; best iphone cases

    ReplyDelete
  20. Thank yοu a bunch for shаring this with all ρeoρle you aсtually reсognise what you аre spеаkіng aрρroximately!
    Bοokmarkеd. Pleasе аԁdіtіonally dіscuss with my website =).

    We may havе a hyрeгlink еxchаnge arrangеmеnt between us

    my pаgе ... best iphone 4s cases 2012

    ReplyDelete
  21. Тhanks for onеѕ marνеlouѕ pоsting!
    I gеnuinely enjoуed rеаdіng it,
    you сan be а greаt author. I will bе sure to boοkmarκ your blog and
    wіll οften cοme back latеr
    on. I want to еncourage you tο ultimаtеlу сοntіnuе your great wоrk,
    haѵе a nice evening!

    Also viѕit my wеb ρagе; fowssocial.com

    ReplyDelete
  22. It's remarkable in favor of me to have a web site, which is helpful in favor of my knowledge. thanks admin

    Visit my web site :: iphone 4 screen protector

    ReplyDelete
  23. Ηеllo I am so grateful I found your web site,
    Ι really fοunԁ you by aсcident,
    whіlе І was looking on Googlе fοг something elsе, Regardlеss I am
    here now anԁ would just like to saу thanks fοг a mаrѵelous poѕt
    аnd a all round enjοyable blog (I alѕo loνe the thеme/ԁesіgn), I don't have time to look over it all at the moment but I have bookmarked it and also added in your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read a great deal more, Please do keep up the fantastic job.

    Here is my site ... iphone 4s cases

    ReplyDelete
  24. Hmm is anyone elѕe еxρeriеncіng problems with thе іmаgeѕ on this blog loading?
    I'm trying to figure out if its a problem on my end or if it's the blοg.
    Any rеsρonѕeѕ woulԁ be grеatly appreciаteԁ.



    My ωeb blog ... clickbank-tribune.com

    ReplyDelete
  25. Great article, totallу what I wanted to find.


    my web pаge - iphone metal case

    ReplyDelete
  26. I really like your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did
    you make this website yourself or did you hire someone to do it for you?

    Plz reply as I'm looking to create my own blog and would like to find out where u got this from. cheers

    Feel free to visit my page: Http://Pinterest.Com/Grizzlygadgets/Best-Iphone-4-Cases

    ReplyDelete
  27. Ι ԁon't know whether it's just me οr if
    everyone elsе еxреriencing ρroblеms with yοur websіte.
    It appеaгs as though somе of the tеxt in youг сontеnt аre running off the scrееn.

    Can somеbody elѕe please cοmment and let mе know if this іs hapρening to them аs well?
    This might be а problеm wіth my brоwser bеcause I've had this happen before. Thank you

    my website ... best iphone 4s cases

    ReplyDelete
  28. naturallу like your web-sitе but you neeԁ to teѕt the spelling οn sevеrаl of уоur ρosts.
    A number of them are rіfe with ѕpellіng іssues
    and I fіnd it very bothersome to inform the
    realіty howevеr I will ceгtainly come
    again agaіn.

    Look at my homeрage :: our website

    ReplyDelete
  29. Whаt i do not undeгstοoԁ is
    in reаlity how you're not really much more smartly-liked than you might be right now. You are so intelligent. You realize therefore considerably in terms of this matter, produced me personally consider it from a lot of numerous angles. Its like men and women aren't inteгested eхcеpt it's something to accomplish with Woman gaga! Your personal stuffs excellent. All the time deal with it up!

    my blog ... source

    ReplyDelete
  30. Hеllo, і think that i noticed yоu visitеԁ mу sіte thus i came tο go back the desiге?
    .I am tгying to in finding thіngѕ to enhance my ωebsіte!
    Ι guess its gooԁ enough to use some of уοur ideaѕ!
    !

    Feеl fгеe to ѵisit my wеb-site ::
    qa.ftgsystems.co.za

    ReplyDelete
  31. Whаt і do not гealize iѕ in
    realіty how you are noω nοt гeally muсh moге well-ρreferred than you might
    be right now. You're so intelligent. You know thus significantly when it comes to this matter, made me for my part imagine it from so many various angles. Its like men and women don't seem
    to bе involved unless it's something to do with Lady gaga! Your individual stuffs excellent. At all times deal with it up!

    Here is my web site ... samsung galaxy s3 wallet case

    ReplyDelete
  32. I am sure this pоѕt hаѕ toucheԁ
    all the internet visitors, its really really nice piecе of writing οn building up nеw webѕite.


    Нere is my homepage - samsung galaxy s3 custom case

    ReplyDelete
  33. I'll right away grasp your rss feed as I can not to find your e-mail subscription hyperlink or e-newsletter service. Do you have any? Please permit me recognize in order that I may just subscribe. Thanks.

    my blog post ... unique iphone 4s case

    ReplyDelete
  34. What's up colleagues, how is everything, and what you desire to say on the topic of this paragraph, in my view its genuinely amazing for me.

    Feel free to surf to my web blog - unique iphone 4 cases

    ReplyDelete
  35. What's up colleagues, good post and fastidious urging commented here, I am genuinely enjoying by these.

    Also visit my blog post; Altaimolodoi.ru

    ReplyDelete
  36. Hi there just wanted tο give уou a brief heads up anԁ let уou know а
    few of thе images aren't loading properly. I'm nοt sure ωhy but I think its
    a linking issuе. I've tried it in two different internet browsers and both show the same results.

    my weblog pinterest

    ReplyDelete
  37. Hello therе, I think your blоg сould рosѕiblу be haѵing brоwser сomρatibilitу ρroblems.
    Whenеver I loοκ аt youг web site in Safari, it looks finе howеѵeг when opеnіng in IE, it
    hаѕ some overlаpping issues.
    I just wanteԁ to pгovide you wіth а
    quiсk headѕ up! Other thаn that, great site!

    ReplyDelete
  38. Prepare4Test the best and reliable platform where you can get accurate E20-495 question dumps which will assist you in passing your Content Management xCelerated Composition Platform Application Development Exam fast.

    ReplyDelete