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Airprime SB3000: worth the wait?

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Topic: Airprime SB3000: worth the wait?    
steelkilt
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Registered: Feb 2001
Location:
Posts: 57

Post

I'm getting antsy waiting for the Airprime SB3000 Visorphone clone. I'm wondering: will it offer any real advantages over existing GSM visorphone?

Questions for existing Visorphone users and anyone knowledgeable about GSM vs. CDMA:

1. advantages/disadvantages of GSM/CDMA?

2. Will the Airprime offering deliver more features than the GSM visorphone?

3. Is it true (in actual practice) that CDMA web surfing delivers 14.4 while GSM web surfing is closer to 9600?

I'm a Sprint PCS customer so that's my incentive for waiting -- I'm assuming Sprint will carry the AirPrime offering. However, if there's no real payoff for waiting, I'll just get the GSM visorphone now. My needs are pretty straightforward: occasional web email (eudora), PQAs, and very light voice calling. I've been driven toward the product by my need for a single comm device (no cables!) and the desire to manage voice calling via the Datebook.

Thanks,

/Steelkilt

steelkilt is offline Old Post 03-20-2001 06:07 PM
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Jon932
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Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Ft Walton Bch, Fl
Posts: 24

Wink CDMA vs GSM

From what I have seen, CDMA (Verizon, Sprint PCS) coverage is better throughout the US than GSM. Also CDMA supports 14.4 kps connection (I use SPrint to surf the web with my PDA). Also the Airprime module is 3G ready which means when Sprint upgrades the network (Late 2001) to 3G, connections up to 144 kps will be possible.

Jon932 is offline Old Post 03-20-2001 07:00 PM
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MPM
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Registered: Jun 2000
Location: Sunnyvale, CA
Posts: 216

CDMA vs GSM

quote:
Originally posted by steelkilt
I'm getting antsy waiting for the Airprime SB3000 Visorphone clone. I'm wondering: will it offer any real advantages over existing GSM visorphone?

Questions for existing Visorphone users and anyone knowledgeable about GSM vs. CDMA:

1. advantages/disadvantages of GSM/CDMA?

2. Will the Airprime offering deliver more features than the GSM visorphone?

3. Is it true (in actual practice) that CDMA web surfing delivers 14.4 while GSM web surfing is closer to 9600?

I'm a Sprint PCS customer so that's my incentive for waiting -- I'm assuming Sprint will carry the AirPrime offering. However, if there's no real payoff for waiting, I'll just get the GSM visorphone now. My needs are pretty straightforward: occasional web email (eudora), PQAs, and very light voice calling. I've been driven toward the product by my need for a single comm device (no cables!) and the desire to manage voice calling via the Datebook.


Advantages of CDMA over GSM:

1) Much better coverage for CDMA.
2) Better voice quality over GSM. Most GSM phones give ok quality but CDMA is better. Especially Samsung phones.
3) CDMA runs at 14.4Kbps over GSM's 9.6Kbps for data. Also, the AirPrime SB-3000 will be ready to go 144Kbps when the network is upgraded this year.
4) The entire world is switching over to CDMA in the form of 3G WCDMA. Even in Europe where GSM originated from.

Advantages of GSM over CDMA:

1) SMS (Short Message Service). As far as I know this unique to GSM, but simple e-mail or some form of AOL-type Instant Messaging over the Internet-enabled SB-3000 VisorPhone should solve this problem.

Go for CDMA - you won't regret it.

MPM is offline Old Post 03-20-2001 09:14 PM
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critic
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Registered: Nov 2000
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 201

Re: CDMA vs GSM

quote:
Originally posted by MPM

1) SMS (Short Message Service). As far as I know this unique to GSM, but simple e-mail or some form of AOL-type Instant Messaging over the Internet-enabled SB-3000 VisorPhone should solve this problem.



I'm not so sure SMS is exclusive to GSM technology - Verizon just started advertising a service called Mobile Messenger which allows users to send & receive short text messages from an equipped phone (read: phone has correct software). (Not surprisingly, they're aiming this service at teenagers.) So it's entirely possible that the only thing missing was the software.

Last edited by critic on 03-20-2001 at 09:25 PM

critic is offline Old Post 03-20-2001 09:20 PM
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corb
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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: austin, texas
Posts: 61

Question

do we know yet if it will support 800 mhz digital as well as 1.9 ghz? or if it will support 800 analog?

and does visor central have anyone at the conference that's it's being shown at this week?

i'm very hyped about this one, too.

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corb is offline Old Post 03-21-2001 01:21 AM
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EricG
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Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Alive and well on VisorCentral.com
Posts: 861

Re: CDMA vs GSM

quote:
Originally posted by Jon932
From what I have seen, CDMA (Verizon, Sprint PCS) coverage is better throughout the US than GSM. Also CDMA supports 14.4 kps connection (I use SPrint to surf the web with my PDA). Also the Airprime module is 3G ready which means when Sprint upgrades the network (Late 2001) to 3G, connections up to 144 kps will be possible.


You probably won't see it widely available for a few years, and I bet you have to pay a premium for the higher speed..

I'm going to wait and see what they gouge people for the service..

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EricG is offline Old Post 03-21-2001 01:29 AM
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