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Last updated: 23 September 2017

Difference Between CDMA and GSM Mobiles Phones

November 29, 2013 By Lalit Kumar 33 Comments

CDMA an GSM are mobile communication standards. Let’s know about the main differences among mobile phones based on these two industry standards. Also learn the full form of CDMA, full form of GSM and full form SIM in context of the mobile phones.

Many of those people who are planning to buy a mobile phone think hard whether to go for a CDMA phone or a GSM phone. The question is pretty understandable and a good one too. Most people do not understand the difference between CDMA and GSM phones. Both these technologies have been in market for quite some time with a number of service providers offering attractive packages.

Full Form of CDMA, GSM and SIM in Mobile Technologies

First let’s begin by knowing the full forms of these acronyms:

  • Full form of CDMA is Code Division Multiple Access
  • Full form of GSM is Global System for Mobile communications, but originally from Groupe Spécial Mobile
  • Full form of SIM is Subscriber Identity Module

Although, globally GSM is more used but in the United States of America CDMA is more popular than GSM. Some of the CDMA providers in various countries are: Verizon (USA), Bell Mobility (USA) and MTS Mobility (USA), Reliance (India) and BSNL (India) etc. Worldwide availability of GSM makes it more accessible in terms of international roaming. Some of the GSM providers around the globe are: Cell C (South Africa), Idea (India), Vodafone (multiple countries), AT&T (USA) and T-Mobile (UK) etc.

SEE ALSO: World’s top selling mobile phone, Nokia 1100, was a GSM phone.

First of all, we need to understand that CDMA and GSM are not really technologies but the industry standards / specifications for wireless communication. At present, GSM (short form for Global System for Mobile communications, but originally from Groupe Spécial Mobile) specification holds the lion’s share in market. With more than 80% of world market share, usage of GSM is miles ahead of CDMA. The acronym CDMA stands for Code Division Multiple Access.

SEE ALSO: Interesting Facts about Lost Mobile Phones

In practical terms, the most important difference between these two is that the CDMA is a handset based standard. This means that you can not use just any mobile phone –you need to go to market and buy a CDMA phone from a carrier who providers CDMA service. So it is like that your phone number is bound to a handset. Whereas in case of GSM, only SIM card is bound to the phone number and, as a result, you are free to change your mobile phone anytime –you just need to remove SIM card from old phone and insert it in the new phone.

Mobile phone market is full of CDMA and GSM phones

Mobile phone market is full of CDMA and GSM phones

Now let’s get into more technical details. Every CDMA mobile phone has a specific code associated with it. One blanket network covers all the CDMA devices within its coverage area and the device is identified by the associated code. In case of GSM mobile network, each SIM is served by a cell tower whose area the SIM card arrives in. Therefore, the SIM card’s serving tower keeps changing as your drive through a city. This mechanism requires installation of an appropriate number of cellular towers to cover a big area (as that of a city).

GSM vs CDMA: Table of Comparison

Let’s now do a tabular and concise comparison among these two communication standards.

ParameterGSMCDMA
Acronym Full FormGlobal System for Mobile communicationsCode Division Multiple Access
Phone Number BindingWith SIM cardWith mobile handset
Data StorageData is stored in SIM cardPhone’s internal memory
Phone ChangeYou’re free to buy any handset from marketHandset is changed through service provider
Data Transfer Technologies
Supports EDGE/HSDPA as well as newer 3G and 4G. LTE and VoLTE are also supported.EVDO/3G/4G/LTE
Transfer SpeedA wee bit slower – but catching up fastFaster
Battery ConsumptionConsumes less powerConsumes more power
AvailabilityCovers almost the entire globeMainly in USA and parts of Asia
Market ShareApprox 80%Approx 20%
International RoamingVery goodCDMA is not available all over the globe (so if you fly around the world, GSM could be a better choice for you)
 Frequency BandFrom 850 MHz to 1900 MHzOnly 850 MHz

I hope now your concept of of a CDMA and GSM phone is clear. CDMA is phasing out of the world with GSM taken over most of the market. However, you still get CDMA mobile services. In India, for example, Reliance is still providing CDMA service.

Please let me know if you have any questions about this topic. Thank you for using TechWelkin.

Related Articles for More Information:

  1. How to Change Your Mobile Service Operator
  2. Nokia 1100: World’s Most Popular Mobile Phone
  3. Interesting Facts about Lost Mobile Phones
  4. Fun Pictures: Grandma of Mobile Phones!
  5. Microsoft to buy Nokia?
  6. How to Lock Text Messages (SMS) and other Apps on Android Phones
Last updated: 23 September 2017 | Published on: 29 November 2013 | Authored and Edited by: Lalit Kumar and Team | Filed as: Home » Hardware » Mobile Phones » Difference Between CDMA and GSM Mobiles Phones

Filed Under: Mobile Phones

Lalit Kumar is the Principal Author and Founder of TechWelkin. He is a web explorer and he enjoys finding useful information on the Internet. He loves to put things together to create a bigger solution. Lalit is passionate about technology, languages and literature. You can contact Lalit via email (techwelkin [at] gmail [dot] com) or Facebook (facebook.com/techwelkin).

Comments

  1. Dr: Mekkat Sasikumar says

    April 20, 2018 at 7:43 pm

    never before have I seen such a beautiful explanation for a question

    Reply
  2. M M Khan says

    April 25, 2017 at 3:50 pm

    Well explained. Confused on the point whether BSNL continues to provide CDMA or shifted to GSM?

    Reply
  3. Laxmi vinaya says

    April 22, 2017 at 5:08 am

    Thank you for giving a very clear information regarding the topic.

    Reply
  4. Albie says

    July 27, 2016 at 1:00 pm

    Thank you sir for your valuable information about GSM and CDMA. It has increased our knowledge about both the services. Thank you very much.

    Reply
  5. akshay saptal says

    June 30, 2016 at 11:27 pm

    Thank you for this important information..

    Reply
  6. radhe says

    May 24, 2016 at 4:09 pm

    it is very important for new generation

    Reply
  7. ashwanu says

    May 13, 2016 at 10:39 pm

    Thanks for this interesting and useful information.

    Reply
  8. Aaron says

    May 3, 2016 at 9:13 pm

    I was using CDMA until my phone was rebooted. After rebooting, I can’t use the CDMA again unless I switch to GSM of which I don’t like because it does not help my course. What might be the problem?

    Reply
  9. Lokesh kumar Yadav says

    March 3, 2016 at 10:24 pm

    Really it is very useful

    Reply
  10. Anees V M says

    January 21, 2016 at 10:13 am

    It’s good information. But what are the merits of CDMA?

    Reply
  11. Fanka says

    December 26, 2015 at 1:49 pm

    Thanks for this. I have lived in wonder about the difference of these systems untill now. Very useful information!

    Reply
  12. Ajeet Kumar says

    December 26, 2015 at 12:15 pm

    Thank you for this important information.. ?

    Reply
  13. rahul singh says

    December 23, 2015 at 1:31 am

    interesting information… thank you

    Reply
  14. anis says

    December 22, 2015 at 2:58 pm

    Internet service is a revolution providing almost any kind of information sought for.

    Reply
  15. akshay bankar says

    December 15, 2015 at 4:13 pm

    Excellent! It is very helpful information.
    Thanks for that.

    Reply
  16. Jitendra Raghuvanshi says

    December 3, 2015 at 5:58 pm

    Really it is very useful and it enhances my knowledge.

    Reply
  17. R.Kathiravan says

    November 24, 2015 at 6:14 pm

    Very nicely explained. Useful reading.

    Reply
  18. TAPASH RAY says

    November 21, 2015 at 11:47 pm

    I am happy to understand these two words are different.

    Reply
  19. Devaraj. K says

    November 21, 2015 at 4:36 pm

    Thank you sir, for your valuable information

    Reply
  20. SK Ray says

    November 13, 2015 at 11:48 pm

    For long I have been looking for detail meaning and difference between GSM and CDMA . THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING THE SAME

    Reply
  21. Aman verma says

    November 12, 2015 at 11:04 am

    Thanks sir

    Reply
  22. priya jaiswal says

    November 6, 2015 at 3:10 pm

    Thanks sir…for this information about CDMA and GSM

    Reply
  23. sathiendran says

    October 20, 2015 at 2:46 pm

    This is very useful information. Thank you.

    Reply
  24. Kailash says

    October 16, 2015 at 1:39 pm

    thanks for this information.

    Reply
  25. Deepak parida says

    October 12, 2015 at 12:56 pm

    Thanks a lot for giving such type of information

    Reply
  26. Dayanidhi panigrahi says

    October 3, 2015 at 12:03 am

    It was good information for me.

    Reply
  27. Karthik D V says

    July 23, 2015 at 4:12 pm

    Thanks a lot for writing this article! Was very helpful!

    Reply
    • Lalit Kumar says

      July 24, 2015 at 4:36 am

      You’re welcome Karthik! Hope you will find many more useful articles on TechWelkin! Stay connected.

      Reply
  28. Harsh Patel says

    July 14, 2015 at 6:53 pm

    Thanks, I am happy to know about the differences between CDMA and GSM.

    Reply
  29. cyrus says

    February 15, 2015 at 9:50 am

    if only other teachers could learn to split and piece up convoluted concepts as this ones to their students. You make things easy to understand.

    Thank You!

    Reply
  30. ranjana mittal says

    December 5, 2013 at 10:49 am

    Realy its useful n intresting information for me…thanks

    Reply
    • Gangadharan Nambiar says

      February 1, 2015 at 9:11 am

      it was a very good piece of information I always wanted to know ,and you did a wonder by letting me have access it . Thanks all the same.

      Reply
      • Lalit Kumar says

        February 1, 2015 at 2:18 pm

        Excellent! I am happy that you found the information on CDMA vs GSM useful. Stay in touch Gangadharan! :-)

        Reply

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