Wireless Choices

I the US, Wide-Area Wireless Network (WWAN) choices abound. The competitive advantages for any of these depends on a number of factors that are decided from the user.

  1. Availability - What is your local area, likely roaming area, nationwide or global roaming area, etc.

  2. Cost - Not just the monthly plan, but cost of usage averaged out over three months of use. When wireless data is figured in, the minutes start adding up quickly (unless you have a plan that provides unlimited usage)

  3. Hardware - what you need to get up and running.

Network

Practical Speed (tested)

Availability

Definition

GSM

4.8 - 9.6kbps

Currently available in over 120 countries, 750 million subscribers

Global Standard for Mobile. 1 in 7 humans on the planet use this technology. Considered 2G

CDMA / CDMAOne / IS-95A

4.8 - 14.4kbps

Currently available in 35 countries, 80 million subscribers

Code Division Multiple Access. Considered 2G

GSM - GPRS

20 - 60kbps

Launching USA / Canada Q3 2002

General Packet Radio Service. Considered 2.5G

CDMA - 1xRTT / IS-95B / CDMA2000

20 - 60kbps

Launching USA / Canada Q3 2002

Code Division Multiple Access. Considered 2.5G

CDPD

14.4 - 19.2kbps

Available in 95% US & Canada Metropolitan business areas, Israel, South America, Mexico, Canada, Taiwan, China

Cellular Digital Packet Data. This standard has been running solid for ten years as an overlay on cellular systems. Data-only, no voice.

Ricochet - MCDN

80 - 128kbps

Currently unavailable for commercial use, has limited metropolitan coverage

Aerie Networks now owns Ricochet, is relaunching the proprietary MicroCellular Distributed Network (MCDN). Data-only, no voice.

Circuit Switched Cellular (CSC)

4.8 - 9.6kbps

100% coverage, virtually unlimited US.

Old style cellular, not encrypted, susceptible to lots of interference from other sources. Considered 1G