http://www.3gamericas.org/English/News_Room/DisplayPressRelease.cfm?id=2695&s=ENG 81% of Mobile Wireless Customers Use GSM Family of Technologies HSDPA Continues Momentum Bellevue, WA, March 30, 2006 - 3G Americas reported today that 81% of all mobile digital wireless customers worldwide use the GSM family of technologies -- GSM/GPRS/EDGE/UMTS/HSDPA. In fact, from fourth quarter 2004 to fourth quarter 2005, GSM grew by more than 400 million subscribers, compared to the total base of 291 million CDMA customers at year end 2005. Today, there are an estimated 1.8 billion customers in 213 countries around the world using various evolutions of the GSM technology, all with the potential for worldwide roaming. Operators continue to embrace the evolution to next generation UMTS and HSDPA technologies in order to drive down their cost, and improve the efficiency of delivering voice and advanced wireless data services to customers. UMTS is commercially deployed by 103 operators in 47 countries with an additional 93 operators in 23 other countries that have made significant UMTS announcements (including 4 pre-commercial, 61 planned/in deployment, 8 licenses awarded and 20 in-trial). There are more than 250 UMTS devices provided to the market to date, with an increasing number of devices earmarked for North American customers. HSDPA has been deployed by ten operators in the past four months, since Cingular Wireless first deployed HSDPA in the United States in December 2005, and there are 71 additional operators publicly committed to deployment. HSDPA has gained considerable momentum and it is expected that all UMTS operators will deploy HSDPA. Chris Pearson, President of 3G Americas, stated, "GSM has more to offer the world than strength in numbers and economic advantages. At CTIA, the largest cellular wireless show in North America, numerous exhibitors will showcase the technical advancements of the GSM family of technologies. The momentum of GSM and its evolution to 3G and beyond continues in 2006." Pearson continued, "There is early evidence of our prediction that nearly all UMTS operators will evolve their networks to HSDPA. In the past 30 days, we have seen six HSDPA launches, and I expect this trend to continue in 2006 and 2007." "The GSM family of technologies is a proven success in the Americas region," commented Vicki Livingston, Director of Marketing, 3G Americas. "GSM is the #1 mobile wireless technology in the region and the only mobile digital technology in every country of the Western Hemisphere. Add to that the power of EDGE technology, which is widely deployed throughout 18 countries by 37 operators in the Western Hemisphere, as well as the expectation of low cost GSM handsets for Latin America’s emerging markets, and the GSM future continues to be promising." Globally, there are 131 operators in 78 countries worldwide offering commercial EDGE service, and a total of 212 commitments covering 108 countries. More than 200 EDGE devices, including PC cards and mobile phones, have been offered throughout the world since EDGE was first commercialized. For more information, visit the 3G Americas' website at www.3gamericas.org. About 3G Americas: Unifying the Americas through Wireless Technology The mission of 3G Americas is to promote and facilitate the seamless deployment of GSM, GPRS, EDGE, UMTS (WCDMA) and HSDPA throughout the Americas for the benefit of consumers. The organization fully supports the Third Generation technology migration strategy to EDGE and UMTS/HSDPA adopted by many operators in the Americas that is expected to account for up to 85 percent of next-generation customers worldwide. 3G Americas is headquartered in Bellevue, WA with an office for Latin America and the Caribbean in Dallas, TX. For more information, visit www.3gamericas.org.
Thats a great stat and all, but it's not that way in North America, nor in B.F. Iowa where I live. I'd be better off with two tin cans and a string than having a GSM phone.
I dont know I used my same phone , when i went to bermuda, and mexico. Some Verizon people were a bit upset there phones were paperweights. GSM is a world standard. CDMA is a USA option.
Wrong and wrong, but thanks for playing. GSM was designated the Euro-standard a long time ago and other countries used it too because of that. CDMA is used outside the US.
There is about 10 other threads on this topic....but CDMA 2000 is growing in the world market. But it has a ways to go to catch up to GSM in total market share.
Believe it or not, there are major parts of the world that have no coverage period, outside of major city areas, with any device...even string cans.
Corn Country is improving GSM Coverage , But those who will Never Visit IOWA don't Need Coverage. Why do You Need Coverage in Places you Will Never Visit? PS: These Maps and Comments are from HOFO.
That map makes me chuckle. On a brighter not, I myself am getting out Iowa very soon.....yippeeeeeeee!
Because people like agentHibby go there and live there someday. How GSM is gaining is by Iowa Wireless giving local phone companies part of the T-mobile's PCS A block that has been split into over 100 pieces so once that is complete then the local phone company puts GSM on one of there towers they use and/or maybe build a tower and there they go more coverage. GSM coverage this way goes under the name Iowa Wireless. This is how alot of the state will be covered. The problem is on the west side of Iowa the local phone companies are tied to Verizon or some places I should say Lyrix, or Cell 29plus. Lets see in a few years what T-mobile and Iowa Wireless will do next. sorry it becoming an Iowa thread
Who told you nobody visits Iowa? Don't be such a snob. I visited Iowa twice last year and once already this year.
Ok, that makes 2 of You. Agent and You. Who else? i may go there but i'll be staying in the 319 area code.
Kinda makes me wonder what all of the elitist yuppie NYC reporters do when they have to go to Iowa to cover the straw polls and primaries.
it's not just for people who visit there... people who live there need good coverage too... think of people that use a phone there.. but never go on trips out of state. they're the ones who need it most.
Glad to hear it. Hope your fancy GSM phone connects you to 911 after you mouth off to one of the locals and he hauls off and decks you. Pretty big guys in Iowa, you know.
Star Fleet Capt. James T. Kirk is from Iowa. Iowa is nice... kind of like Kansas, except we have more wheat than corn, I think Iowa has more corn than wheat.
