CDMA2000 is used by Bell and Telus and is not UMTS… CDMA2000 is the standard we know commonly as CDMA whereas W-CDMA/UMTS is a separate standard and the continuation of the GSM standard (sometimes referred to as 3GSM in Europe).

Within 1xRTT networks, CDMA2000 is considered 2.5G whereas within EVDO networks it is considered as 3G.

December 11, 2005:
http://www.bmannconsulting.com/blog/bmann/wireless-data-in-canada-is-ridiculously-expensive

thanks for the comment!

i made an error with GSM which is in fact a 2G technology. sorry about that

however, i don’t want to differentiate technologies with 2, 2.5, 2.75, 3 and 4G technology. i was talking about canada and the usage, which is actually phone calls and SMS.

if Rogers and videotron goes to 3G, i believe it will create a disruption in the way canadians use their mobile phone.

1G: analogue circuit switched voice, several standards.

2G: digital circuit switched voice; two dominant standards, GSM which has about 70% of the world market and is present in almost every country and CDMA with perhaps a 20-25% share of the global market and is concentrated in North America, South Korea and a few other places. Bell and Telus use CDMA, while Rogers/Fido use GSM.

2.5G: digital circuit switched voice + low speed packet data. An intermediate step (relatively low-cost upgrade) on the path to 3G. GPRS is the 2.5G upgrade to GSM and 1xRTT is the equivalent in the CDMA world.

2.75G: (yeah I know this is getting ridiculous) digital circuit switched voice + intermediate speed packet data. EDGE for the GSM folks and EVDO for the CDMA gang.

3G: digital circuit switched voice + high speed packet data. In the GSM world, the technology used is CDMA2000, but the service is called UMTS. In practice many people just use the term UMTS. In the CDMA world the 3G technology is EVDO revision A, B. 3G technology is widely deployed in the more industrialised Asian nations, in Europe and is being rolled out in North America.

4G: high speed packet data. Everything is an IP packet, even the voice call, so you are, in effect, using VoIP when making a call with a 4G system. No real deployments yet.

I obviously don’t know nearly enough about these technologies.

It’s unfortunate that Quebecor will be spearheading this project though. They will surely find a way to screw us out of something good.

I know I know… this can be argued for hours. It’s just my opinion ;)

GPRS and EVDO are 2 names for 2G networks. you can get the internet, and some pre-recorded videos with EVDO (think of Bell ads for instance)

UMTS is 3rd Generation, which brings broadband internet (like you have at home) in your cell phone

Currently, North America is at 2G, while Europe and Asia are at 3G