[Peter Creasey]

I have considered buying an iPhone. The cognoscenti seem to advise waiting for soon-to-be-available upgrades...in particular, perhaps, the 3G technology.

However, I also observe that 3G apparently has some drawbacks...

Although 3G was successfully introduced to users in Europe, Australia, Asia, South America, North America (U.S.A.) and Africa, some issues are debated by 3G providers and users:

* Expensive input fees for the 3G service licenses
* Numerous differences in the licensing terms
* Large amount of debt currently sustained by many telecommunication companies, which makes it a challenge to build the necessary infrastructure for 3G
* Lack of member state support for financially troubled operators
* Expense of 3G phones
* Lack of buy-in by 2G mobile users for the new 3G wireless services
* Lack of coverage, because it is still a new service
* High prices of 3G mobile services in some countries, including Internet access (see flat rate)
* Current lack of user need for 3G voice and data services in a hand-held device
* High power usage

Perhaps especially glaring are the issues of lack of coverage and high power usage (especially in light of iPhones reputation of needing frequent recharges).

Can anyone shed some light on whether 3G is worth waiting for...or even advisable?

[Rail Paul]

3G and CDMA have their partisans, and each has sponsorship among major phone groups.

I believe AT&T (Bell South, Cingular) and Verizon are tied into CDMA, while the European owned companies like T-mobile etc are on the 3G platform. When you subscribe the carrier determines whose platform you're on.

[Peter Creasey]

I believe AT&T (Bell South, Cingular) and Verizon are tied into CDMA, while the European owned companies like T-mobile etc are on the 3G platform.

Paul, Interesting!

Since iPhone is aligned with ATT then 3G might not be an option. Guess I better try to learn something about whatever CDMA is.

[EDITED TO ADD]Something I found that would indicate my initial inquiry about 3G is still viable...

Of course the 3G iPhone is coming, that's clearly in the evolution plan. As Jobs said himself, it's only a matter of time until improved batteries allow for it. Still, when AT&T's CEO Randall Stephenson says, "You'll have it next year," well, our ears tend to perk up. The remark was made at a meeting of the Churchill Club in Santa Clara. He didn't say how much it could cost admitting that Jobs and Apple "will dictate what the price of the phone is." However, it wouldn't surprise us if fits back into the $599 slot vacated by the 8GB iPhone while toting a full 16GB of flash like the iPod touch.

NOTE: This blurb was posted last November so "next year" is this year.

[Evelyn]

Cingular/ATT has 3G. My Blackjack uses it.

[Rail Paul]

Cingular/ATT has 3G. My Blackjack uses it.

Thanks, Evelyn.

Peter, I confused GSM and 3G. As Evelyn notes, 3G can be used by either format to describe advanced communications technology, but what it actually does varies among the carriers. GSM, I believe, can also be used in Europe with some phones.

What is the difference between GSM and CDMA

[Eddie L]

My personal cell (iPhone/ATT) is GSM. My work cell (Motorola/Verizon) is CDMA. Both seem to have pretty decent coverage for voice functions. The EDGE network for the iPhone is slow but useable. I don't have the data plan for the work cell, by my boss does and it seems to work OK for him.

Whenever the 3G version of the iPhone comes out I will consider upgading. Here's an interactive map of the ATT 3G coverage. They already cover my home and office, as well as downtown Cleveland, so the 3G would be available for me. At least when I'm at home.

[Evelyn]

Re: the 3G coverage. I think it is good to note, that even if there is a 3G signal, if it is weak (my phone at least, and I'm guessing most) will switch to an Edge signal if it is considerably stronger. And there is a noticeable difference in the speed of downloads between the two. So, take the coverage map with a grain of salt, so to speak.

[Peter Creasey]

It is interesting that after a good bit of research I had pretty much decided the Motorola Q9h was preferable to me over the iPhone...that is, until I checked the pricing.

The Motorola Q9h with limited capabilities is more expensive per month than the iPhone with full capabilities (minus 3G).

[rockdoggydog]

CDMA networks (Verizon and Sprint) have faster data capabilities than GSM networks (AT&T and T-Mobile). That's because of EV-DO, which stands for Evolution Data Optimized, this is an outgrowth of the CDMA and TDMA (Nextel) spec that allows for faster data access than anything available currently on GSM. Speeds can reach up to 3 Mbits/s currently, greatly outpacing the EDGE network. When I travel I use my phone as an EV-DO modem and it is much more reliable and often faster than the wi-fi that is available at various locations. What AT&T calls 3G is not really 3G at all, EDGE barely qualifies as 2.5G because of it's speed limitations. In other countries there data usage on phones is really high and consumer demand fast access and bleeding edge performance you'll find that the standard for most carriers in those areas - namely Japan and Korea, use one flavour of CDMA or another while Taiwan is getting ready to dive into Wi-Max in a big way for the same reasons.

If you're looking for a phone that can do a lot of data, can function as a fully featured smartphone, and you have Verizon as your carrier the Samsung i760 is a really great phone. It's almost enough for me to break my contract and move to Verizon. One of the best features of this phone in the corporate world is that it talks directly to Exchange wirelessly if you have a data plan. If you liked the Motorola Q the Samsung i760 will be even better, as it uses Windows Mobile 6 Pro instead of Mobile 6 smartphone edition.

Rocky

[Peter Creasey]

If you liked the Motorola Q

R, After EXTENSIVE research, I decided my favorite is the Motorola Q Global. I found a special pricing opportunity that is palatable so I've ordered this PDA. The reviews are universally positive and the specs comparisons are compelling, in my view.

I looked at the iPhone, Blackberry, Treo, HTC, and so on. The eyewash appeal of the iPhone is most impressive; in fact, I might have chosen the iPhone if it had the 3G capability and a replaceable battery.

[Carolyn Tillie]

My BF replaced a recent Toshiba laptop with a Dell that has 3G capabilities. He had to sign up via Verizon and I have to admit, it is very impressive. While I wander with my MacAir trying to find a Wifi, he is able to get online wherever he goes. We have no idea what the ultimate cost is going to be (we started with a 7-day free trial), but it made me start researching the capabilities for my my computers and found this thread about potential EVDO possibilities with thumb drives. Very exciting news, indeed!

[rockdoggydog]

If you liked the Motorola Q

R, After EXTENSIVE research, I decided my favorite is the Motorola Q Global. I found a special pricing opportunity that is palatable so I've ordered this PDA. The reviews are universally positive and the specs comparisons are compelling, in my view.

I looked at the iPhone, Blackberry, Treo, HTC, and so on. The eyewash appeal of the iPhone is most impressive; in fact, I might have chosen the iPhone if it had the 3G capability and a replaceable battery.

I love to hate on the iPhone, but that's just me. As long as you're happy with the phone you've got that's what ultimately matters. Don't get me started on non-user replaceable bateries and why in hell Apple would ever choose to introduce their phone on EDGE.

My BF replaced a recent Toshiba laptop with a Dell that has 3G capabilities. He had to sign up via Verizon and I have to admit, it is very impressive. While I wander with my MacAir trying to find a Wifi, he is able to get online wherever he goes. We have no idea what the ultimate cost is going to be (we started with a 7-day free trial), but it made me start researching the capabilities for my my computers and found this thread about potential EVDO possibilities with thumb drives. Very exciting news, indeed!

Sprint charges in the vicinity of $30 to $40 a month with various academic and corporate discounts, I have no idea what Verizon charges for the service. There are also EVDO PC Cards so that you don't have something sticking our of your USB port. The USB ones will do the trick, but the pc card ones will offer better performance in general as they can draw more juice through that bus than you can over USB.

Rocky

[rancho_gordo]

I pay 29.99 for unlimited data with Verizon.

[Carolyn Tillie]

Sprint charges in the vicinity of $30 to $40 a month with various academic and corporate discounts, I have no idea what Verizon charges for the service. There are also EVDO PC Cards so that you don't have something sticking our of your USB port. The USB ones will do the trick, but the pc card ones will offer better performance in general as they can draw more juice through that bus than you can over USB.

Rocky

The MacAir has no card capabilities that I am aware of -- it is USB or bust...

[rockdoggydog]

Sprint charges in the vicinity of $30 to $40 a month with various academic and corporate discounts, I have no idea what Verizon charges for the service. There are also EVDO PC Cards so that you don't have something sticking our of your USB port. The USB ones will do the trick, but the pc card ones will offer better performance in general as they can draw more juice through that bus than you can over USB.

Rocky

The MacAir has no card capabilities that I am aware of -- it is USB or bust...

Oh, bummer, I forgot that you had a new Air, uhm EVDO is going to absolutely kill your battery performance just fyi. It's like running your wi-fi in max performance mode all the time.

Rocky