CDMA vs GSM. Which is better?

[yjagota]

Hi guys,
The two technologies are not too much known to me even after using both for a while now. What I want to ask it which is better, GSM or CDMA? Both have there advantages and disadvantages.

CDMA has following advantages over GSM:
1. CDMA offers the greatest network capacity to serve more subscribers with the same amount of infrastructure costs.
2. It has the clearest and most achievable path to future higher speed standards.
3. It is the wireless technology that will provide the highest transmission speed in the next few years.

GSM phones can't match the speed provided by CDMA phones. You can't expect to see live cricket matches or CNN News over a GSM phone. Internet, picture telephoney like things are impossible on a GSM phone. But GSM has following advantages over CDMA:
1. GSM connections are easy to activate.
2. They have low initial costs.
3. They have much more coverage than CDMA.

Will GSM become obsolete at some point of time? Is that time close enough? Will 3G replace 2G? If yes, (probably yes) then when?

[Yotamz]

every technology has its advantages and disadvantages, that is why you have the option to choose which one fits your needs. most of the big phone companies like Nokia, Samsung and others make gsm models and cdma models that are similar, sometimes identical.

but you have to choose what is best for you, for example i don't care about the speed as i don't think i would download news to my cell phone, i prefer a phone that can connect to almost every network in the world, so gsm is a better choice for me.

there are also other factors, like the networks in your area. here in israel we have one cdma provider, but they connect only phones that are being sold in israel, and approved by the government, so if you buy a new phone, a model that is not being sold here from other country, they will not program it, so it will not connect to the network. if it was gsm i would just buy it, unlock it somewhere and put my sim in it.