Windows 7: Planning to buy a new phone

I need a new phone, and it must be Nokia . While searching various models and comparing those , I found two terms .... 3G (WCDMA) and 3G(HSPA).


What does these two terms mean ? How it may affect my decision ?



Thanks in advance for your advise

What is 3G/WCDMA ?
Developed by the global GSM community as its chosen path for 3G evolution, WCDMA is the air interface for one of the International Telecommunications Union's (ITU's) family of third-generation mobile communications systems.

3G/WCDMA (Third Generation / Wideband Code Division Multiple Access) enables the continued support of voice, text and MMS services in addition to richer mobile multimedia services such as

• Music
• TV and video
• Entertainment content
• Internet access

UMTS offers data speeds up to 384kb/s along with voice services.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HSPA

Standardised by 3GPP, HSPA is the set of technologies that defines the migration path for 3G/WCDMA operators worldwide. HSPA, which uses the FDD transmission scheme, includes HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access), HSUPA (High Speed Uplink Packet Access) and HSPA Evolved. These are also known as 3GPP Releases 5 through to 8.

Unlike many other mobile broadband technologies, HSPA provides very efficient voice services in combination with mobile broadband data.

In most HSPA networks, the end-user can expect to enjoy speeds of at least 1Mbps upwards, depending upon the peak speed of the network (anywhere from 1.8Mbps to 14.4 Mbps) with peak uplink speeds of up to 5.7Mbps.

HSPA Evolved
HSPA Evolved introduces MIMO (Multiple-Input, Multiple-Output) capabilities and higher order modulation (64QAM), enabling greater throughput speeds and higher performance. The first HSPA Evolved services are expected to be deployed at the end of 2008.

For more information on HSPA, network deployments, devices and case studies and white papers, please visit www.gsmworld.com/HSPA.

All info available at http://www.gsmworld.com/technology/index.htm

Thanks for the information, Jeff ! But most of it is purely technical, and so difficult to understand to me . Actually what feature I should buy ? Somebody told me that HSPA is not true 3G . Is it the fact ?

Go for the HSDPA if possible, you'll find the following benefits...

1. WCDMA is commonly referred to as 3G, while HSDPA is commonly referred to as 3.5G.
2. HSDPA provides much higher data rates compared to WCDMA.
3. HSDPA has lower latency times compared to WCDMA.
4. HSDPA has Fast Packet Scheduling and AMC, features that are absent in WCDMA.

More detailed info available Here

Thanks mate

I will buy it today morning (12.30 am now) So I am deciding to buy either of C6-01 or C7 , and will select the final in the store , after seeing the two side by side

I hope either of these two would not be bad

As Orbital already told you, you should absolutely go for HDSPA. A phone capable for 3.5G can use 3G when HDSPA is not available.

At home I get HDSPA:



But if I go to basement, only 3G is available. Phone switches to that automatically:



Kari

Why must it be a Nokia?

Coz in my and Arc's countries .. the nation has Nokia Fever LOL...

Just like the UK has gone iPhone crazy!!

The price of iPhone 16 GB in India .... if converted to US$ , stands to be near about 4 times ! It's their pricing policy to skim up the cream of the market , and I should not be an irrational buyer . Still, there is a steady sell of iPhones