Started thread in General Cell Phone Forum on 2/25/10, probably should have posted here. Has to do with simultaneous phone/internet, and whether having that is a function of carrier (ATT, Verizon, whatever) or receiver (iPhone, Eris, whatever). Would appreciate someone taking a look and dealing with questions posed. Many thanks in advance.
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Simultaneous phone/internet capability ...
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AskMeStuff
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Only GSM phones with 3G capability allow simultaneous data and voice use. With CDMA or iDEN phones you have to use one or the other unless you have Wi-Fi in use.
Many thanks. I've received added info since first posting, and now understand GSM's capability of simultaneous voice/data has to do with its two separate systems (or is it two separate "signals"?), one voice and one data, vs CDMA's single system (or signal). Do I seem to have this right?
Also, I now understand that GSM phones have SIM cards, which seem an obviously advantageous gizmo to have, whereas CDMA phones do not. However, apparently CDMA carrier stores can easily transfer an old phone's address book to a new phone with no trouble, so seems about equivalent to transferring a SIM card. Am I missing anything is this?
I've gotten from various sources that CDMA has advantages of better penetration in buildings and, a widely advertised, broader 3G coverage. So seems to come down to these two CDMA positives vs. GSM's simultaneous voice/data capability and of course the iPhone interface.
Kind of down to two alternatives in phones, iPhone if GSM, Eris 2.1 (been assured 2.1 version is just around corner) if CDMA. I'm sold on each phone's virtual keyboard design, and since retired from business, both certainly are adequate for my less-frantic level of use.
One thing concerning me about both phones is privacy. My current old dumb flip phone has solid cover (no window), and when set to fully silent (both ring and vibrate off), only a tiny light blinks to indicate incoming call or text. With iPhone and Eris, apparently there's no way to avoid face lighting up like a billboard when a call or text is coming in. Light level can be reduced, but inconvenience continually adjusting that for when you want brighter, and then adjusting again for when you want added privacy, etc. And even at reduced light level, no where near the privacy of my current tiny blinking light. I don't make any excuse for privacy being an issue, no reason required, pretty basic right. You know of anyway achieving that on either phone mentioned? Carriers don't seem to.
Also, I now understand that GSM phones have SIM cards, which seem an obviously advantageous gizmo to have, whereas CDMA phones do not. However, apparently CDMA carrier stores can easily transfer an old phone's address book to a new phone with no trouble, so seems about equivalent to transferring a SIM card. Am I missing anything is this?
I've gotten from various sources that CDMA has advantages of better penetration in buildings and, a widely advertised, broader 3G coverage. So seems to come down to these two CDMA positives vs. GSM's simultaneous voice/data capability and of course the iPhone interface.
Kind of down to two alternatives in phones, iPhone if GSM, Eris 2.1 (been assured 2.1 version is just around corner) if CDMA. I'm sold on each phone's virtual keyboard design, and since retired from business, both certainly are adequate for my less-frantic level of use.
One thing concerning me about both phones is privacy. My current old dumb flip phone has solid cover (no window), and when set to fully silent (both ring and vibrate off), only a tiny light blinks to indicate incoming call or text. With iPhone and Eris, apparently there's no way to avoid face lighting up like a billboard when a call or text is coming in. Light level can be reduced, but inconvenience continually adjusting that for when you want brighter, and then adjusting again for when you want added privacy, etc. And even at reduced light level, no where near the privacy of my current tiny blinking light. I don't make any excuse for privacy being an issue, no reason required, pretty basic right. You know of anyway achieving that on either phone mentioned? Carriers don't seem to.
Bailey0825
New member
With GSM phones, the phone number is stored on the SIM card. When you place that SIM card into another compatible phone, your phone number now works through that phone. You can do this anytime you want to. CDMA phones store the phone number on the phone and requires interaction with the carrier to change phones.
Most savvy GSM phone users store their addressbook in the internal memory of the phone rather than on the SIM card. SIM card storage is limited both in capacity and information details. With online and computer synchronization, internal storage of addressbooks is essential. Many modern GSM phones do not easily permit routine storage on the SIM cards.
Most savvy GSM phone users store their addressbook in the internal memory of the phone rather than on the SIM card. SIM card storage is limited both in capacity and information details. With online and computer synchronization, internal storage of addressbooks is essential. Many modern GSM phones do not easily permit routine storage on the SIM cards.
Wow, efparri, that's helpful! I was completely ignorant of preference of internal storage vs SIM card, hadn't even considered that. What kind of "information details" are we talking about here?
Any thoughts on the privacy issue I raised, particularly as regards the iPhone and Eris? Are there display/sound settings I'm not considering?
With all I wrote earlier, plus what you've explained, plus what Verizon tells me of 4G introduction in major markets sometime in 2010 (I'm mostly in Chicago, guess that qualifies as a major market), the 2.1 Eris is looking awfully good, with a software upgrade to 4G when it's out. All of a sudden, GSM's ability of simultaneous voice/data is seeming less important. And I've been told elsewhere that 4G will allow that anyway, not sure how, but that it will, so even stronger argument for the Eris or equivalent.
Many thanks for the assist.
Any thoughts on the privacy issue I raised, particularly as regards the iPhone and Eris? Are there display/sound settings I'm not considering?
With all I wrote earlier, plus what you've explained, plus what Verizon tells me of 4G introduction in major markets sometime in 2010 (I'm mostly in Chicago, guess that qualifies as a major market), the 2.1 Eris is looking awfully good, with a software upgrade to 4G when it's out. All of a sudden, GSM's ability of simultaneous voice/data is seeming less important. And I've been told elsewhere that 4G will allow that anyway, not sure how, but that it will, so even stronger argument for the Eris or equivalent.
Many thanks for the assist.
Xx_OneLove_Xx
New member
With many phones you can store multiple phone numbers per name, email addresses, street addresses, birthdays, Facebook or Twitter names and instant messaging names. Only contacts stored internally in the phone memory can be synchronized with programs on your computer or online. Some phones only permit assignment of ringtones or photo IDs to names stored in the internal memory of the phone. Some SIM cards may store only 250 names and each phone number may require a separate entry. You may see "John" or "John$" for SIM card stored names. A 3G SIM card in a 3G phone might allow more information per contact but that extra information is split into multiple names if you put that SIM card into a non-3G phone. The extra information might even be unreadable in some older phones.
*this war is ours*
New member
Passions run high in this stuff. Good input, although limiting my search to full screen/virtual keyboard. Thanks for stepping in (or stomping in, all in good humor) ...