Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 95

Will the Minstrel S become inoperable with third-generation networks that major U.S. carriers plan to start using this year? I read that Nokia may have to recall millions of cell phones due to a software glitch that renders them inoperable with this upcoming technology. Sprint PCS and Verizon Wireless are definitely upgrading to this new network. And since Verizon seems to be the network Yada Yada uses, will Minstrel S users be affected? If there is a problem' lets hope its just a software problem and not hardware one.

Registered: Nov 2000
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 201

quote:

---

Originally posted by Brooklyn
Will the Minstrel S become inoperable with third-generation networks that major U.S. carriers plan to start using this year?

---

Registered: Mar 2000
Location: Hacienda Heights, Ca
Posts: 302

According to this CNet News Article:

"Nokia's problem involves how the Finnish company interpreted a standard known as CDMA (code division multiple access) when it was doing research on phones nearly a decade ago."

This should not affect the Minstrel unless Novatel made the same sort of mistake.

__________________
Bret Snyder<BR>If you don't know where you're going,<BR>You'll probably end up somewhere else.

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: St. Louis
Posts: 308

I think what realy is great about CDPD is that you get unlimited plans for dicent prices, which 3g cdma won't get you, I can garentie.

3g won't in and of itself render CDPD in opperable, It is an analog service which may be phased out soon, But unless the carrier's take down the analog services, then you'll still be able to use it, and my guess is that analog prices for air time will go through the floor...


sam

__________________
Sam Kleinman

PocketPCThoughts.com
CollectiveArts
Free-ePress
Musings of a Teal Artist
CollectiveArts TechMusings

"Everybody don't like something and we all don't like you." -- Richard Thompson, Hard Luck Stories

Registered: Feb 2001
Location: mass
Posts: 56

Yes, CDPD rides on top of AMPS -- good old analog. I don't think it's going anywhere anytime soon.

I'm very tempted to take advantage of the omnisky offer. If there is something better in a year, like affordable 3G, it will likely be offered integrated into a new pda. Maybe a SB module, but I have a strong suspicion that PalmOS5 devices are going to be very comfortable on 3G networks. Using anything prior to that may be doable, but it might not might not make much sense. At least the free minstrelS modem means I won't feel like I haven't gotten my money's worth out of it. Kinda like Nokia 5100's today.

Here's a link about CDPD for wire-heads:
http://www.ednmag.com/ednmag/reg/1994/101394/21df1.htm

Registered: Oct 1999
Location:
Posts: 231

quote:

---

originally posted by brooklyn:
Will the Minstrel S become inoperable with third-generation networks that major U.S. carriers plan to start using this year?

---

Registered: Jul 2000
Location:
Posts: 3034

quote:

---

Originally posted by pjs
Yes, CDPD rides on top of AMPS -- good old analog. I don't think it's going anywhere anytime soon. [...]

---

Registered: Feb 2001
Location: mass
Posts: 56

Thanks for the tip, Toby. I did a bit more research and you're right, CDPD can work with TDMA. I actually hadn't realized that AMPS and TDMA share spectrum. More interesting stuff at:

http://163.18.14.55/datapro/41015-1.htm#TAG8

-pjs