Cellular

{{Welcome}}
{{GoogleSearch}}
{{Contributions}}

{{Donate}}

'''This article covers the practical aspects of wireless access to the Internet via [[wikipedia:Cellular network|Cellular]].'''
{{Tip|tiptext=See also ''[[Cellular on a Boat]]''}}

{{Stub}}

== Introduction to Cellular ==
This article is specifically about cellular '''data''' (including cellular Internet), not cellular voice and other cellular services. For more information on cellular, see [http://cell.wikia.com Cell Phone Enthusiasts Wiki].

== GSM ==
:[[wikipedia:GSM|Global System for Mobile Communications]] (GSM) is a [[wikipedia:Digital|digital]] [[wikipedia:Cellular_network|cellular]] communications technology based on [[wikipedia:TDMA|Time Division Multiple Access]] (TDMA), and is the dominant mobile communications system in most of the world, including Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, and it now has a strong presence in North America as well. First introduced in 1991, the GSM standard has been deployed in four different frequency bands: 800 (called "850" so as not to be confused with [[wikipedia:Digital AMPS|D-AMPS]] on 800), 900, 1800, and 1900 [[wikipedia:Hertz|MHz]]. GSM 850 and 1900 are primarily used in North America; GSM 900 and 1800 are primarily used outside of North America. GSM uses narrowband TDMA that allows up to ''eight'' (or ''sixteen'' with Half-Rate Codec<ref>Initial public perception of Half-Rate Codec quality was so poor that it's not been generally used. However, adaptive encoding has improved quality substantially since then, so it's possible that Half-Rate Codec may be used more widely in the future, particularly in highly cost-sensitive markets (''e.g.,'' less developed countries).</ref>) simultaneous calls on the same [[wikipedia:Radio_frequency|radio frequency]] using different ''time slots'' in the same ''channel''. Along with [[wikipedia:CDMA|CDMA]] and D-AMPS (Digital AMPS, often referred to simply as "TDMA"), GSM represents the [[wikipedia:2G|2nd generation (2G)]] of cellular wireless.

=== [[wikipedia:Circuit Switched Data|CSD]] ===
:CSD (Circuit Switched Data) is similar to dialup modem communications. However, a GSM phone has no real [[wikipedia:Modem|modem]], just a sort of [[wikipedia:Virtual#Computing|virtual]] modem which makes a connection to a carrier's IWU (Inter-Working Unit), located in a service center. The IWU has the actual modem that makes analog data calls and/or fax calls over the [[wikipedia:Public Switched Telephone Network|PSTN]] (public switched telephone network). If the carrier doesn't provide the IWU facility, or if the account isn't provisioned for CSD, then a GSM phone cannot make data and/or fax calls.

:Speed of CSD is 9.6 [[wikipedia:Kilobit per second|Kbps]].

:A regular dialup modem cannot be made to work over a GSM voice channel because of the [[wikipedia:audio data compression|audio data compression]] used.

=== HSCSD ===

=== [[wikipedia:GPRS|GPRS]] ===
:With a [[wikipedia:General Packet Radio Service#GPRS Multislot Classes|Class]] 10 device and good signal, typical download speeds of about '''50 Kbps''' (about 6K Bytes/sec). Available in most GSM service areas.

=== [[wikipedia:EDGE|EGPRS(EDGE)]] ===
:With a Class 10 device and good signal, typical download speeds of about '''150 Kbps''' (about 18.5K Bytes/sec). Latency (as measured by [[wikipedia:ping|ping]]) of about 300 ms. Widely available. Backward compatible to GPRS.

=== [[wikipedia:UMTS|UMTS]] === 
:UMTS stands for Universal Mobile Telephone System. It reaches typical download speeds of '''200-320 Kbps''' (or about 2x EGPRS). Most (but not all; ''e.g.,'' [http://www.novatelwireless.com/products/merlin/merlin-u520.html Novatel U520]) devices are backward compatible to EGPRS and GPRS.


=== [[wikipedia:HSPA|HSPA]] ===
:Typical speeds are currently '''400-700 Kbps''' (or about 4x EGPRS). Latency (as measured by [[wikipedia:ping|ping]]) is about 150 ms (or about 1/2 EGPRS). Backward compatible to UMTS, EGPRS and GPRS.

== CDMA ==

=== 1xRTT ===
Round-trip latency of about 350 ms.

=== EV-DO ===

=== EV-DO Rev. A ===

== Carriers ==

=== AT&T Mobility, Formerly Cingular Wireless===
* Uses 850MHz & 1900MHz '''[[wikipedia:Global System for Mobile Communications|GSM]]/[[wikipedia:Universal Mobile Telecommunications System|UMTS]]''' ''([[wikipedia:Advanced Mobile Phone System|AMPS]]/[[wikipedia:Digital AMPS|D-AMPS]]["TDMA"] being migrated to GSM and phased out)''
* '''[http://www.cingular.com/midtolarge/laptop_connect BroadbandConnect/EDGE(EGPRS)]'''
** [http://www.cingular.com/midtolarge/laptop_connect/integrated Laptops (notebooks) with integrated BroadbandConnect]
*** [http://www.cingular.com/midtolarge/laptop_connect/integrated_dell Dell Latitude]
*** [http://www.cingular.com/midtolarge/laptop_connect/integrated_lenovo Lenovo (IBM) ThinkPad]
**** ''[http://www-131.ibm.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/PromotionDisplay?promoId=1074822927&catalogId=-840&storeId=10000001&langId=-1&re=home_News_us Lenovo (IBM) website]''
*** [http://www.cingular.com/midtolarge/laptop_connect/integrated_sony Sony VAIO]
** Coverage Maps:
***[http://www.cingular.com/business/3G_cov_maps_pop BroadbandConnect]
***[http://onlinestorez.cingular.com/cell-phone-service/maps/pop_mapfinder.jsp?mapt=dataMap EDGE(EGPRS)]
* '''Discussion Groups''' (lots of good info and help)
** [[alt.internet.wireless]] (general discussion)
** [news:alt.cellular.cingular alt.cellular.cingular] (Cingular)
*** ''[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.cellular.cingular Google access to alt.cellular.cingular]''
** [news:alt.cellular.attws alt.cellular.attws] (AT&T Wireless Service, now part of Cingular, newsgroup mostly dormant)
*** ''[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.cellular.attws Google access to alt.cellular.attws]''
** [news:alt.cellular.data alt.cellular.data] (cellular data communications)
*** ''[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.cellular.data Google access to alt.cellular.data]''

=== Sprint/Nextel ===
* Uses '''[[wikipedia:Code division multiple access|CDMA]]''' (Sprint) and '''[[Wikipedia:Integrated Digital Enhanced Network|iDEN]]''' (Nextel) ''(iDEN expected to be migrated to CDMA and phased out)''
* '''Discussion Groups''' (lots of good info and help)
** [[alt.internet.wireless]] (general discussion)
** [news:alt.cellular.sprintpcs alt.cellular.sprintpcs] (Sprint PCS)
*** ''[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.cellular.sprintpcs Google access to alt.cellular.sprintpcs]''
** [news:alt.cellular.nextel alt.cellular.nextel] (Nextel, now part of Sprint PCS)
*** ''[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.cellular.nextel Google access to alt.cellular.nextel]''
** [news:alt.cellular.data alt.cellular.data] (cellular data communications)
*** ''[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.cellular.data Google access to alt.cellular.data]''

=== T-Mobile USA===
* Uses 1900MHz '''[[wikipedia:Global System for Mobile Communications|GSM]]''' & EDGE Data
* '''Discussion Groups''' (lots of good info and help)
** [[alt.internet.wireless]] (general discussion)
** [news:alt.cellular.gsm.carriers.voicestream alt.cellular.gsm.carriers.voicestream] (original T-Mobile group)
*** ''[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.cellular.gsm.carriers.voicestream Google access to alt.cellular.gsm.carriers.voicestream]''
** [news:alt.cellular.t-mobile alt.cellular.t-mobile] (new T-Mobile group)
*** ''[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.cellular.t-mobile Google access to alt.cellular.t-mobile]'' (may not yet be available)
** [news:alt.cellular.data alt.cellular.data] (cellular data communications)
*** ''[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.cellular.data Google access to alt.cellular.data]''

=== Verizon ===
* Uses '''[[wikipedia:Code division multiple access|CDMA]]'''
* '''Discussion Groups''' (lots of good info and help)
** [[alt.internet.wireless]] (general discussion)
** [news:alt.cellular.verizon alt.cellular.verizon] (Verizon Wireless)
*** ''[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.cellular.verizon Google access to alt.cellular.verizon]''
** [news:alt.cellular.data alt.cellular.data] (cellular data communications)
*** ''[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.cellular.data Google access to alt.cellular.data]''

== WAP ==

[[wikipedia:Wireless Application Protocol|Wireless Application Protocol]] (WAP) is a protocol for wireless Internet access that is designed for small screen cellular phones.  Access to the Internet is through a ''WAP Gateway''.

* [http://www.filesaveas.com/wap.html WAP information]

=== WAP Gateways ===

* [http://www.mycellconnect.com BitNet] (free)
* [http://tagtag.com/site/ TagTag] (also free hosting)
* [http://www.wapmob.com/ wapmob.com] (free)
* [http://wappy.to/ Wappy] (shaky)

== Cellular Accessories ==
Cellular Accessories are a common means of extending the functionality of your phone, protecting it, or adding style.  You can find [http://www.TheCellGuru.com Accessories For Most Cell Phones] by the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) or Aftermarket.  The OEM Accessories tend to have more reliable compatibility, but aftermarket accessories, if chosen wisely can be of better quality and cost the same amount if not less.

== Cellular Modems ==
=== GSM/UMTS/HSPA ===
* [[wikipedia:Huawei E220|Huawei E220]] ([[wikipedia:USB|USB]])
=== CDMA ===

== Wireless Broadband Routers ==
* [http://www.evdoinfo.com/ EVDO info]
* [http://www.junxion.com/ Junxion Box] (works with CDMA or GSM)
* [http://www.kyocera-wireless.com/kr1-router/ Kyocera KR1 Mobile Router]
* [http://www.nexusisr.com/ Nexus Hawk] (works with 802.11a/b/g, GSM and CDMA simultainiously)
* [http://www.topglobalusa.com/ Top Global routers]

{{Tip|tiptext=Use of EV-DO data service as a non-mobile DSL/cable modem replacement may be against the terms of service of a given carrier (e.g., Verizon).}}
== Footnotes and References ==
<div class='references-small'>
<references/>
</div>

== External links ==
* [http://cell.wikia.com Cell Phone Enthusiasts Wiki]