Chirag 5 Report post Posted August 6, 2004 China launches dual-mode cellphones August 06, 2004 16:16 IST Rediff.com China on Friday officially launched the world's first dual-mode mobile phones, which function in both GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) and CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) networks. China Unicom, the communist nation's second largest telecom carrier, launched the first 400,000-plus dual-mode phones it purchased directly from manufacturers across the country. The phones are expected to sell out by December, chairman and president of China Unicom, Wang Jianzhou said. The new-type mobile phones, priced between yuan 4,500 (about $542.17) and yuan 4,800 (about $578.31), enable users to switch between the GSM and CDMA networks easily with just the push of a button. It would allow customers to have the best of both world -- the unique features of CDMA network and the vast coverage of GSM network. Analysts say the new product will further strengthen the competitive power of China Unicom, the world's third largest mobile operator, which currently operates China's only CDMA network and second largest GSM network. China Unicom lags behind China Mobile, the biggest mobile communications network in China, in terms of scale and signal coverage of its GSM network. As an expedient means, some people carry a CDMA mobile phone of China Unicom and a GSM mobile phone of China Mobile at the same time. Now with one phone, they could enjoy the advantages of both services. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
StaticElectricity 8 Report post Posted August 6, 2004 hey but such dual-mode phones are in the market for quite some time, if i'm not mistaken... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
unwantedmails 0 Report post Posted August 6, 2004 Static, What I also heard Dual-Mode phones were 900/1800MHz GSM Mobiles. Secondly, I think the Idea of a CDMA phone Not to Have a Pluggable Identification Module is that the Phone could be then part of the Service - which if users have the Option to connect GSM, companies like RIM will go on knees. Infact I was myself so excited about the RIM to Garuda Conversion I cant tell you. Maybe It makes sense for People who sell Handsets Independently (NO Attached Service) to sell such phones. Now the question would be - HOW TO GET IT LATER ATTACHED TO A SERVICE ? Regards, PCOGuy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chirag 5 Report post Posted August 7, 2004 If am not wrong, no company can force u to buy a handset just from them to use their service... If u r able to get a phone compatible with the service provider's network, they will have to give u service! It may be that they give u the Standard TRAI Package. Doesn't mind, but they will have to give u. In our country, since the beginning, RIM has seen to it that no CDMA manufacturers enter into local marketing of their phones, meaning: u will not be able to get them locally other than the service providers themselves! Unless other manufacturers enter this strong RIM Protected market in India, we wud not get better handsets at cheaper rates. Other option is to import individual handsets and use them!! The only problem is how affordable wud it be then! hey but such dual-mode phones are in the market for quite some time, if i'm not mistaken Static, we've surely discussed abt this issue earlier at this thread Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RSumit 0 Report post Posted November 7, 2004 First GSM/CDMA Phone The Samsung SCH-A790 is the first handset to support both the CDMA and GSM mobile phone standards. It is a clamshell style phone with dual color displays and an integrated camera. It has recently been approved by the FCC in the United States and is expected to be offered by Verizon Wireless. Samsung SCH-a790 Along side of Verizon Wireless, the US CDMA network operator, Samsung showed its new CDMA/GSM handset, the SCH-a790. The new phone will allow Verizon subscribers to access Vodafone's GSM networks when travelling abroad, and will allow non-US Vodafone customers to make use of Verizon's network when they are travelling in the USA. The SCH-a790 has a pretty up to date feature list, which includes a 262k color internal display and a 64k color external sub-display, MMS support, and GPS/E911 support when in the USA. The handset also has a modern voice dialing system that requires no pre-training; the phone just understands English, much like the LG VX4500 does. The SCH-a790 weighs about 119g, which does not seem too excessive when you consider its dual network capabilities. In order to get those capabilities, Samsung has made use of Qualcomm's MSM6300 chipset, which we first reported on back in October of 2002. The chipset allows a phone handset to access both GSM/GPRS based networks and CDMA2000 1xRTT networks. Verizon Wireless in the USA will be the first to offer the phone. It is currently available from them for $349.99 with a new 2 year contract. No word as to when it might be offered by other networks outside of the United States. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
abhideswal 0 Report post Posted November 19, 2004 This phone is developed by Samsung's Indian R&D Center at Banglore. So, we should not call it to be launched by China. Also it was first launched in USA. I love my India., Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
