Sprint to Launch International Wireless Device for Globe-Trotting Business Customers; Phone Brings Customers the World -- at Simple, Predictable Prices

Just noticed this new PR from SPCS. I won't reprint the article, but for
those who do travel internationally on a regular basis, this new phone may
be of interest to you.

http://tinyurl.com/48lnb

Bob

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› See More: Sprint to Launch International Wireless Device for Globe-Trotting Business Customers; Phone Brings Customers the World -- at Simple, Predictable Prices

Bob Smith wrote:
> Just noticed this new PR from SPCS. I won't reprint the article, but for
> those who do travel internationally on a regular basis, this new phone may
> be of interest to you.
>
> http://tinyurl.com/48lnb

Old news - the phone, not that Sprint is carrying it. The Samsung IP-790 is
most likely the same Samsung SCH-A790 that Verizon already sells, that runs on
US CDMA frequencies and European GSM frequencies (and has no analog).

Still, it's good to see Sprint carrying it. Gives Sprint customers an option if
they want to roam internationally.

--
JustThe.net - Apple Valley, CA - http://JustThe.net/ - 888.480.4NET (4638)
Steven J. Sobol, Geek In Charge / [email protected] / PGP: 0xE3AE35ED

"In case anyone was wondering, that big glowing globe above the Victor
Valley is the sun." -Victorville _Daily Press_ on the unusually large
amount of rain the Southland has gotten this winter (January 12th, 2005)

Actually acording to Sprintpcsinfo.com, the phone is being given away to the
oscars people and then it might be sold as well, my question is why the hell
sprint wouldn't make it gsm quad band or tri band.


"Steve Sobol" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Bob Smith wrote:
>> Just noticed this new PR from SPCS. I won't reprint the article, but for
>> those who do travel internationally on a regular basis, this new phone
>> may
>> be of interest to you.
>>
>> http://tinyurl.com/48lnb
>
> Old news - the phone, not that Sprint is carrying it. The Samsung IP-790
> is most likely the same Samsung SCH-A790 that Verizon already sells, that
> runs on US CDMA frequencies and European GSM frequencies (and has no
> analog).
>
> Still, it's good to see Sprint carrying it. Gives Sprint customers an
> option if they want to roam internationally.
>
> --
> JustThe.net - Apple Valley, CA - http://JustThe.net/ - 888.480.4NET (4638)
> Steven J. Sobol, Geek In Charge / [email protected] / PGP: 0xE3AE35ED
>
> "In case anyone was wondering, that big glowing globe above the Victor
> Valley is the sun." -Victorville _Daily Press_ on the unusually large
> amount of rain the Southland has gotten this winter (January 12th, 2005)

I'm not sure I understand your question. The Sprint PCS web site
states "Digital quad-band operates on both CDMA and GSM networks".

Capn wrote:
> Actually acording to Sprintpcsinfo.com, the phone is being given away to the
> oscars people and then it might be sold as well, my question is why the hell
> sprint wouldn't make it gsm quad band or tri band.

My guesses:

a) there is no analog in Europe and many other places, just GSM and/or CDMA

b) Sprint's all digital, Verizon has no analog-only coverage anymore, and
neither has an overriding need for AMPS phones; they both sell digital-only
handsets. The Verizon 790 doesn't have analog either

c) (and I believe this to be the number one reason) there wasn't a way to fit
analog AND dual-band GSM AND dual-band CDMA all into one phone...

--
JustThe.net - Apple Valley, CA - http://JustThe.net/ - 888.480.4NET (4638)
Steven J. Sobol, Geek In Charge / [email protected] / PGP: 0xE3AE35ED

"In case anyone was wondering, that big glowing globe above the Victor
Valley is the sun." -Victorville _Daily Press_ on the unusually large
amount of rain the Southland has gotten this winter (January 12th, 2005)

Jerome Zelinske wrote:
> I'm not sure I understand your question. The Sprint PCS web site
> states "Digital quad-band operates on both CDMA and GSM networks".

he was asking why couldn't it do AMPS too

--
JustThe.net - Apple Valley, CA - http://JustThe.net/ - 888.480.4NET (4638)
Steven J. Sobol, Geek In Charge / [email protected] / PGP: 0xE3AE35ED

"In case anyone was wondering, that big glowing globe above the Victor
Valley is the sun." -Victorville _Daily Press_ on the unusually large
amount of rain the Southland has gotten this winter (January 12th, 2005)

Steve Sobol wrote:
> Jerome Zelinske wrote:
>
>> I'm not sure I understand your question. The Sprint PCS web site
>> states "Digital quad-band operates on both CDMA and GSM networks".
>
>
> he was asking why couldn't it do AMPS too

Probably because the US is really the only country that still uses AMPS,
and it was likely tough to engieer a phone that does all three.


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There probably is a way, but why increase the cost, size and weight?
Our phones are set to Sprint PCS only. Hopefully the next time I need
to buy a phone, Sprint PCS will have some single band phones again.

Jerome Zelinske wrote:
> There probably is a way, but why increase the cost, size and weight?
> Our phones are set to Sprint PCS only. Hopefully the next time I need
> to buy a phone, Sprint PCS will have some single band phones again.

What I AM wondering is if the the IP790 will do GSM on the US cellular
and PCS bands. The wording on the press releases and the website is
vague, but seems to suggest that for North America the phone is CDMA only.

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Isaiah Beard wrote:

> What I AM wondering is if the the IP790 will do GSM on the US cellular
> and PCS bands. The wording on the press releases and the website is
> vague, but seems to suggest that for North America the phone is CDMA only.

The SCH-A790 on Verizon only does European GSM and US CDMA frequencies, and I
have no reason to believe Sprint's will be different.


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JustThe.net - Apple Valley, CA - http://JustThe.net/ - 888.480.4NET (4638)
Steven J. Sobol, Geek In Charge / [email protected] / PGP: 0xE3AE35ED

"The wisdom of a fool won't set you free"
--New Order, "Bizarre Love Triangle"

Which is basically superfluous, because there are no USA gsm covered
areas that do not have CDMA coverage.

Jerome Zelinske wrote:
> Which is basically superfluous, because there are no USA gsm covered
> areas that do not have CDMA coverage.

Superfluous?

Larose Parish, LA
Cumberland County, NJ
Portales, NM and points west
Carson City, Nevada
all of Southeastern Utah

Those are some of the palces I know of where GSM coverage exists, but
CDMA does not. If the GSM carriers can cover these areas, then I think
it's worthwhile for CDMA carriers to offer such coverage, either by
covering it themselves, or offering a phone that can roam on these GSM
networks.






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"Isaiah Beard" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> Jerome Zelinske wrote:
>> Which is basically superfluous, because there are no USA gsm covered
>> areas that do not have CDMA coverage.
>
> Superfluous?
>
> Larose Parish, LA
> Cumberland County, NJ
> Portales, NM and points west
> Carson City, Nevada
> all of Southeastern Utah
>
> Those are some of the palces I know of where GSM coverage exists, but
> CDMA does not. If the GSM carriers can cover these areas, then I think
> it's worthwhile for CDMA carriers to offer such coverage, either by
> covering it themselves, or offering a phone that can roam on these GSM
> networks.
>

If Carson City doesn't have CDMA coverage, then how was I able to make
and receive more than a dozen SPCS calls there last week?

Admittedly, I did drop back to analog roaming near the southern end of
the Carson Valley, while driving toward the Kirkwood ski area.
But Carson City and Reno have solid CDMA coverage.
Even including inside the casinos, which surprised me.

I suppose there can be exceptions, but I was under the impression that
since there are two digital formats, CDMA and gsm, and there are two
cellular licensees, A and B, that one usually went CDMA and the other
went tdma/gsm. The FCC might even have had a hand in it.

Jerome Zelinske wrote:
> I suppose there can be exceptions, but I was under the impression
> that since there are two digital formats, CDMA and gsm, and there are
> two cellular licensees, A and B, that one usually went CDMA and the
> other went tdma/gsm. The FCC might even have had a hand in it.

Ok.

Here's the deal:

** There are five digital formats. CDMA, TDMA, GSM, iDEN and i-mode.

CDMA and GSM continue to be used worldwide.

iDEN is used by Nextel and its affiliates, and Clearnet in Canada for their
"Mike" walkie-talkie service. Nextel is said to be planning to move to CDMA.

TDMA is being phased out in favor of GSM by most carriers that have used TDMA.

i-mode is in use only by one of the Japanese carriers (NTT DoCoMo, I think). I
don't know much about it and can't comment about upgrade paths to or from i-mode.

A and B band refer to analog service, not digital service.

HTH.


--
JustThe.net - Apple Valley, CA - http://JustThe.net/ - 888.480.4NET (4638)
Steven J. Sobol, Geek In Charge / [email protected] / PGP: 0xE3AE35ED

"The wisdom of a fool won't set you free"
--New Order, "Bizarre Love Triangle"