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The State of the Union |
scotsboyuk
Joined: Jun 02, 2003
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From: UK
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@richy240
There seems to be the possibility of a rivalry between competing 3G standards with Europe adopting UMTS, along with DoCoMo, whilst America and the other Japanese networks go down the CDMA 2000 road. Hopefully we will be able to get a world standard this time instead of the rediculous competition between standards that have plagued 2/2.5G networks.
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richy240
Joined: Jan 24, 2003
Posts: 465
From: Houston, Texas, USA
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AT&T just launched the first 3G network in North America, a UTMS network. Since (from what I have read) CDMA2000 is the next logical step from GSM to 3G, I would assume that AT&T would implement a CDMA2000 network. That isn't happening, and already we're seeing the same problems with 3G as we did with 2/2.5G. It is complete bullshit.
A big thing in America is competition. A lot of times, different netowrk standards are promoted to keep cometition fresh amongst the operators. I would think they could still compete with the same types of networks, that way you're still comparing apples to apples. But not in the USA... Everyone's got to be different and special.
What a crock of shit.
EDIT: Keep in mind, AT&T's UTMS network isn't even the same standard as NTT DoCoMo's in Japan. I know Cingular just aquired AT&T, but the 3G networks are a direct result of NTT DoCoMo's stake in AT&T. Why would they use a competing standards if their vision is the same? You never know with these bastards.
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[ This Message was edited by: richy240 on 2004-10-06 14:59 ] |
scotsboyuk
Joined: Jun 02, 2003
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From: UK
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@richy240
That is a real shame if the U.S.A. is going to have the same problem all over again, 3G could be a chance to really leap forwards. It would be far better for customers if there was a single global standard.
"I may be drunk my dear woman, but in the morning I will be sober, and you will still be ugly." WSC |
richy240
Joined: Jan 24, 2003
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From: Houston, Texas, USA
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Yeah, it is downright shitty. And it isn't going to change... If all networks were using the same technologies, we'd have much better coverage also. But instead, there are three or four competing standards, each with different coverage areas. Some might overlap and some might not, but that isn't a concern anyway because we can't roam on a network that isn't supported by our handset.
It's the same shit all over again, you're right. But Americans think their way is the best, regardless of what might be best for the industry as a whole. Here it doesn't matter what's best for everyone - only what's best for you.
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scotsboyuk
Joined: Jun 02, 2003
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From: UK
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@richy240
What I don't understand about the American networks is that they don't seem to have learnt anything from 2/2.5G. They must know that all those competing standards have left them trailing the rest of the world. Mobile technology is one of the few areas, in which U.S. companies do not dominate the global market. Both networks and mobile manufacturers in the U.S. are not in the same league as non-American companies, with the exception of Motorola. When one thinks of global leaders in these fields one thinks of companies such as Nokia, Samsung, Vodafone, NTT DoCoMo, etc.
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"I may be drunk my dear woman, but in the morning I will be sober, and you will still be ugly." WSC
[ This Message was edited by: scotsboyuk on 2004-10-07 22:31 ] |
Jake Blues
Joined: May 24, 2004
Posts: > 500
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right, this may make me sound dim but so what!
how do cdma handsets actually work if they dont use sim cards?
what if the user wanted to change networks/phone numbers?
on a diffrent point do u guys have pay as you go in the us?
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kimcheeboi
Joined: Dec 19, 2003
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From: Abducted by hot blondes to Les
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i don't know about the rest but quite a few people have a pay-and-go phone. You can pick up pay-and-go cards at gas (petrol) stations, supermarkets, convenience stores, and the local wal-mart (  )
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richy240
Joined: Jan 24, 2003
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From: Houston, Texas, USA
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There is an ID number (which I assume is similar to an IMEI or something) that you can give to your provider and they activate the phone. It isn't as simple as GSM (SIM cards) but it is just as effective I guess.
Pay to go, as kimchee mentioned, is readily available through various providers. You buy a pre-paid kit, which includes a phone and some starter minutes, and then buy refill cards at different locations around town. They are avilable all over the place. But the minutes are really expensive when compared to post paid accounts.
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Sammy_boy
Joined: Mar 31, 2004
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From: Staffordshire, United Kingdom
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It's a similar case here in the UK, and probably across Europe. Pay as you go call charges are generally 20-35p (peak) 2-10 pence (off peak) a minute on pay as you go, and around 2-10 pence a minute (peak and off peak) on contract (prepaid) phones.
Just heard an article too on the news saying that pagers are no longer being sold in this country (except for specialist purposes like the lifeboats, hospitals, emergency services, industrial sites etc.) due to the explosion of mobile phones, text messaging and cheap pay-and-go handsets.
"All it takes for evil to flourish is for good men to do nothing" - Edmund Burke
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scotsboyuk
Joined: Jun 02, 2003
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From: UK
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@Sammy_boy
I think Pay-As-You-Go deals are long overdue for an overhaul. They do tend to cost more to use than contract deals, but they have gotten a little better recently, on some of the networks, especially with regards to texting.
@richy240
What other methods of topping up can Pay-As-You-go customers in the U.S. use?
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"I may be drunk my dear woman, but in the morning I will be sober, and you will still be ugly." WSC
[ This Message was edited by: scotsboyuk on 2004-10-08 15:13 ] |
richy240
Joined: Jan 24, 2003
Posts: 465
From: Houston, Texas, USA
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Phone, internet, etc. - Otherwise, I'm not sure... I've only had one pre-paid phone.
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Residentevil
Joined: Feb 29, 2004
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From: Raccoon City, USA
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Have not had a prepaid phone so far.
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scotsboyuk
Joined: Jun 02, 2003
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From: UK
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@richy240 & Residentevil
Do either of you text much?
"I may be drunk my dear woman, but in the morning I will be sober, and you will still be ugly." WSC |
richy240
Joined: Jan 24, 2003
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From: Houston, Texas, USA
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Yeah, I use it but not for important things... I want verbal confirmation for some stuff. I can't rely on my friends and family to check their SMS; as I said before, people just don't use it all that much here.
I often send contacts via SMS. I like this feature because they load right into the contacts database without a lot of copying and pasting. I also use them to send "thinking of you" messages to my GF and "kiss my ass" messages to my friends, which are pretty much the same messages now that I think about it, just worded differently. (No, I'm not gay - although it may sound like it based on that last sentence. Shut up, you do it too.)
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plasmadog
Joined: May 06, 2004
Posts: > 500
From: Beantown, India
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guys,
the point u made about pay as you go is very interesting. because they say in the more mature markets of asia and europe.. payg has about 70-80 % of marketshare. because payg is what most people i know here use. and mobile phones started getting more and more popular with the use of payg cards. because its affordable and u can have a control of mobile bills.
do u have any idea what percentage of prepaid and postpaid customers are in the U.S?
another issue would be the caller party pays feature i.e incoming calls being free. is it true that on some rateplans u have to pay for incoming calls?
apart from standardization (which in itself plays a huge role) i feel these issues need to be addressed as well.
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Posted: 2004-10-05 23:55
