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How do CDMA Phones Work?

Information on a CDMA cell phone which stands for code division multiple access of all things but is actually how the cell phone interacts with the network – here’s how they work.

What is a cell phone

A cell phone is actually a miniature, personalized, radio transmitter and receiver. The telephone was invented by Alexander Graham Bell in 1876, and wireless communication can trace its roots to the invention of the radio by Nikolai Tesla in the 1880s. Combine these two technologies and you have the basis of the of the now ubiquitous cell phone.

What is a CDMA phone?

The acronym CDMA stands for Code Division Multiple Access, which is a bit of a mouth-full, but is a technical standard which describes the way in which the cell phone interacts with the network. The rival, and most popular, standard is GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications: originally from Groupe Spécial Mobile), which originated in Europe.

How does the CDMA technology Work?

CDMA is a digital technology. Digital cell phones have replaced analog cell phones because of the greater bandwidth capacity and other advantages for both the cell customers and the network carriers.

CDMA works by using a range of cellular frequencies in more advanced ways. With a CDMA technology, the voice data are spread out across the entire available wireless frequency bandwidth, rather than being allocated narrow frequency channels. The information is prevented from merging into one chaotic digital soup by the code in CDMA, which is embedded into every packet of information transmitted.

This embedded code is unique to every caller and allows the packets of information to be reassembled in the receiving phone, while ignoring all other data packets which have a different code. This allows people on many cell phones to be “multiplexed” over the same channel to share a bandwidth of frequencies, which is very efficient in terms of bandwidth usage.

One of the other advantages of CDMA cellular technology is that up to three cell phone towers can be used at any one time. The cell phone can choose which site is giving the best signal, or can even blend the signal from two or more sources. This `soft handoff’ is unique to CDMA cell phones.

What is the Difference Between GSM and CDMA?

The two competing technologies operate in very different ways. Rather like the competition between video formats VHS and Betamax in the 80s, there are users that believe that either GSM or CDMA architecture is superior to the other. So which is better for you?

Coverage: GSM has over 1 billion cell phone users, while rival CDMA can only muster around 270 million. It may be that, in your area, only one technology will be available, leaving you no choice as to which technology to chose, but as the networks expand, this is becoming less likely. You will almost always have a choice.
Data Transfer Speed: CDMA has been traditionally faster than GSM. Both boast “3G” standards, and as people use their phones and mobile devices for data heavy applications such as video, speed is becoming increasing important to the end user. The CDMA network, ‘EVDO’, claims download speeds of up to 2 megabits per second, though in the real world it is often much slower. The rival GSM ‘EDGE’ claims 384 kbps.
The use of SIM cards: Only GSM phones use SIM cards. CDMA uses proprietary handsets, linked to a single carrier. To upgrade a CDMA phone, the carrier must deactivate the old phone then activate the new one. The old phone then becomes useless. The ease with which SIM cards can be switched between GSM phones makes them much more flexible in this regard.
4. Roaming: GSM is well ahead in International Roaming capabilities. With the ability to purchase a local SIM card it is easy to switch to the local networks, at very little cost. This is impossible with most CDMA phones.

The future of CDMA

CDMA phones do seem to lack many benefits of GSM but the technology is developing rapidly, despite the fact that its originator, Qualcomm, abandoned the technology in 2008.

The SIM card equivalent, the R-UIM card, is already available in Asia. The inherent superior download speed of the CDMA phones may be telling with increasing demand for more and more bandwidth.

With the development of 3G and 4G carriers are seeing phenomenal uptake of the innovative services and devices they are offering. CDMA is also being touted as a low cost network option in developing countries.

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