what do you mean in theory?? wombough?

Actually, HSDPA will goes up to 14.4mb/s not 7.2mb/s not that it will even ever hit that. It will also go up further with the upgrades and revisions within that HSPA platform. Evolved HSPA is going to provide theoretical speeds of up to 42mb/s. on the HSUPA side the max upload speed is up to 6mb/s. Next generation HSPA or HOSPA will be up to 100mb/s down and 50mb/s up. it’s not like these speeds will even be reached because these are theoretical but if the right circumstances are there, it could be reached. Obviously, I don’t think it would in this country as companies are cautious about spending on next generation technology and using its spectrum. EV-DO obviously has some high expectations and speeds too from REV O, A, B,C and other platfo...
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The big "if's" and limitations we all seem to be avoiding actually saying is the phones. the phones must be able to process all this data at these speeds, with the processor and memory capabilities what they are expected to be, there is no way in hell we will ever realistically see these 100mb/s speeds.

Well, we are seeing some devices out there already supporting higher data speeds especially in the HSPA camp but obviously, we probably won’t ever see those devices reaching those speeds. Those speeds are obviously theatrical and actual speeds will vary on many factors. In some circumstances as I mentioned earlier we could probably see close to it, but it would be a long shot at best. Moreover, many customers out there don’t want that high speed anyway so companies aren’t going to deploying something that customers won’t want. If that demand changes, then obviously we will see them deploying that extra capacity and spectrum to try to reach those speeds. Data on the wire line continues to expand and customers want it so you can see both Comca...
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developmental and experimental devices don't count.
I'm talking about actual production models. Wireless at this stage is where the auto industry was 20 years ago as far as prototypes and developmentals are concerned. the budget was there for the dreamers to actually put one together, but now, they have to focus on what is actually attainable and reasonable. wireless will have to get to that point pretty soon too.

Actually, those kind of devices do count especially since they are in the pipeline to be released to the carrier and then to the public. (I am mostly talking about data cards not about other smart phones or those type of devices)

I don’t think wireless has to do anything especially since they are still seeking revenues on the 2.5G networks and starting to come out with 3G+ devices even though the manufactures have already been working on the software enhancements to those technologies. In a business course, everyone knows that you try to make as much money as possibly on the current technologies and products before you even move to the next generation technologies. Our wireless industry is very slow with providing newer technologies es...
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ok some how we separated on our thinking.. i was referring specificly to smartphones.
now Air cards are a different story. I see those moving alot faster than phones.
ok now that we are on more of the same page, we can agree a little more.

Oh, I am sorry that I didn’t specify about data cards in my argument and not about smart phones and those devices, I thought I did.

With smart phones and those type of devices (also regular mobile phones), there are some starting to come out with HSPA that can deliver up to 3.6mb/s. Of course, most of those devices are overseas and obviously those speeds might never be reached but it gives the ability to perhaps reach those speeds along the lines. Some of those devices are starting to be coming into this marketplace. Obviously, we will see a lot more soon. Again, it has to come with the reality that the older technologies are still gaining revenues with higher margins so obviously they will sell those out first before they come out with ...
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I have come to the conclusion that WCDMA (the technology of HSDPA) is a more sophisticated technology with more long term potential for higher speeds. There can only be so much they can do with the existing CDMA technology. Hence WiMax. The real question is does sprint plan on using it as a true replacement for its CDMA network, and can WiMax even support voice? I'm hoping you'll have some info on this nextel18.

Yes, WCDMA and its upgrades like HSPA, HSOPA, LTE and others allow for higher data speeds at lesser costs for the provider. Problem is, the correct spectrum efficiencies needs to be there and in an ideal situation those speeds could be reached, and however, in the world we currently live in, it does not exist that those speeds would be reached yet. It could especially as costs for that, equipment goes down so that the carrier can offer higher speeds for a reasonable price. These prices right now for the data networks are excessively much for the little speeds that we have. However, remember, it is because of the expense that the carrier needs to pay for those and they justify that by charging what they do.

CDMA has only so much to go by ...
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Thanks for the info. Very informative. I have a feeling the CDMA network will be around for some time to come. I'm assuming that both WiMax and WCDMA networks require their own dedicated cell sites and base stations to operate? Yikes. Building an entirely new network from the ground up and maintaining both old and new seems mind boggling from a fiscal standpoint. Still, if they're doing it, it must be worth while.

I think GSM will move to wcdma for both voice and data like japan has. It makes more sense. And in toyko you can see speeds of 3 to 5 mbs on your phone! And on air cards you see steady speeds of 10mbs.

Well, it depends how much equipment is already on the existing base stations. Sometimes they could put the equipment on it, but sometimes they will have to construct new ones. It just depends.

I'm guessing I'm right about ATT using their wcdma network for data only right now and not voice(?). I figure that these networks are intended to displace the GSM ones completely. As far as I can tell GSM is a pretty antiquated technology. Its only a 2G technology. Whenever I use anybody's GSM phone it sounds bad (tinny/staticky), which is also why I reckon our iden phones provide a similar experience. Both GSM and iden are basically just TDMA. Old school stuff.

wcdma will replace voice also in the future. Japan does it now and is much better then GSM!

It is ideal to upgrade fully from the GSM counterpart to the UMTS/HSPA network as soon as possible. It is more economically friends on the spectrum side to have as much spectrum per carrier as possible to obtain the most data speeds. They should for more efficiency but I don’t remember if they are or not.

I think right now ATT just uses wcdma for data (except for video calling which must be voip). As far as Europe goes, I'm not sure on that one but I'd like to know. I knew Japan was already there but I would like to know if that is all IP or if their calls there are stil routed through switches.

Yea not 100% sure. last time I read with WCDMA is that you need to use both.

It just depends on spectrum efficiency and how well the company feels the network would be. Ideally, both networks can be very fast, but obviously as capacity for voice is starting to go up it uses a lot of bandwidth and spectrum so little of the remaining spectrum is for data and companies do not want to deploy some of it hurting them with data speeds. I have DO also and I think it is a very fast technology, but it can be better when more upgrades come about.

Well any company can claim that they are better than anyone else is, the problem comes to the point of if they can prove it by actual speeds not theoretical speeds. Let the later be the telling of the who wins debate not the former.

That is a tough question between GSM and CDMA...
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i used GSM before and it gets really staticly and cuts in and out, but when i first went to sprint and now using Sprint CDMA my calls are clear even when im down to 1 bar of signal. I went on a road trip and everywhere i get sprint service or roam, but when i was with GSM i had no signal. Is this typical of GSM?? Is there any other countries that use CDMA too? or just us in north america. it seems like GSM is international everywhere...europe, asia, etc..

Yea I noticed that too with GSM with the static and other issues with them. I also used to have them for a short period of time. I did not like GSM. I also went overseas and had GSM I did not like it too much either. When I go to different places in the world I try to have the devices that are natural to them. Meaning, I would get the carrier in the home base if you will. I try to stay away from GSM. It is tough though. With CDMA yea that is true with them. Many clear calls with not many issues.

It has to deal with the spectrum efficiencies of the technologies. Moreover, as you mentioned with roaming that is also key. Some companies just do not want to give up the spectrum for the voice because it is “costly” to do so. Meaning, they do ...
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So what is WCDMA if you dont mind me asking? someone told me its GSM and CDMA combined..that cant be true right?? If you were a free agent, meaning your free to go with whoever...would you ever go with cingular and or a GSM carrier network? just a question.

WCDMA is the 3rd generation upgrade from the 2nd generation GSM platform. WCDMA stands for Wideband Code Division Multiple Access. I don’t know if its GSM and CDMA combined but WCDMA has many standards/properties that utilize that CDMA platform. It gives the provider, for WCDMA, extra capacity and bandwidth than the GSM platform so that they can offer to their consumers better rates both on data and voice.

If I was a free agent, who would I go to? Is there a signing bonus involved? Well, overseas I use GSM and WCDMA networks but in this country, I use Sprint and Nextel’s networks. I can go with whatever company I want since I have no contracts. I tried Cingular and AT&T Wireless a few times but the service wasn’t good. I think I could ...
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also GSM is on the way out. All GSM networks will eventfully do what they did here in japan. Because WCDMA for the entire network.

Ongoing, I believe GSM/UMTS will win the war. It's the dominant world wide technology and with the spread of AT&T and T-Mobile, the GSM coverage map almost doubles every year. Sooner or later, it will make sense for CDMA carriers to switch from a spectrum and roaming stand point. The die has been cast so to speak, it's just the time table that is in question.

“Sooner or later, it will make sense for CDMA carriers to switch from a spectrum and roaming stand point”

It will not make sense at all. You didn’t even think of the billions of dollars it would cost to get the spectrum tuned to deploy such a GSM network, enhance the network infrastructure, team up with their partners to deploy newer cell site gear and handset gear, and other necessary equipment used to deploy the GSM network upgrades and devices. It is all about what they can do with their existence spectrum and network. It might be better to even have the GSM and CDMA networks as overlays and have networks such as Wimax and OFDM and other 4G+ technologies for their data side such as what Sprint is doing and other countries worldwide....
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Sure it means Evolution Data Optimized or Evolution Data Only. 😛