WCDMA Desire - Desire Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I have a desire in Korea running on a WCDMA sim chip on the SK Telecom network. I'm currently in Canada for a while and would like to not have to use roaming. Is it possible to unlock this phone? Are there android 2.2 roms for this phone? If I do this will it disrupt my service with SKT at all? Korea does things a little differently.

I'd head over to the dev forum where you can find a load of unofficial Froyo ROMs.
You can unlock by either paying for an unlock code online and popping that in when using another SIM or flashing the radio which will require root if I'm correct.

Thanks. Whenever I see posts about the desire its always about gsm phones and my sim says its wcdma. Will these roms work?

WCMDA *is* GSM. More correctly WCDMA is a part of the technology used by most GSM networks to implement 3G.
Regard,
Dave

You're saying that CDMA is the same as GSM? Huh?

cliff_dangers said:
You're saying that CDMA is the same as GSM? Huh?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
WCDMA and CDMA are not related and completley different.

Dude, you need to go and Google the difference between CDMA and WCDMA or 3G for everyone else out there. Your WCDMA phone is nothing special over the other phones out there
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App

WCDMA uses the same system as gsm (uses interchangeable sim cards) but is used on 3g networks running hsdpa because it was found that the old system (tdma) could not cope with the exponential growth of mobile phones and the fact they will consume more of the network's resources. All WCDMA phones are also equipped with old style gsm radio for when there's no 3g coverage. One worry about roaming to north America is that WCDMA uses different frequencies than the rest of the planet but for straightforward phoning and texting and edge you should fine since the 2g bit of the phone is quad band.
Source: cloudy memories from communications technology lessons, please correct me if wrong.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App

huwwatkins said:
WCDMA and CDMA are not related and completley different.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not exactly true! They are very closely related technologies, but the actual implementations are incompatible.
Regards,
Dave

Related

[Q] GSM or CDMA Desire?

Hi all, Firstly iv got a O2 UK branded desire. Iv already rooted it and im now running leedriod2.2 but my problem is I wish to also install the psfMod But im confused at which file I need to download, as the titlle suggests I need to know if its GSM or CDMA or how can I find this out. Thanks in advance.
suprvibes said:
Hi all, Firstly iv got a O2 UK branded desire. Iv already rooted it and im now running leedriod2.2 but my problem is I wish to also install the psfMod But im confused at which file I need to download, as the titlle suggests I need to know if its GSM or CDMA or how can I find this out. Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
CDMA has no SIM, GSM does. Your phone is GSM.
Oh so thats the difference lol, I feel silly now. thanks for the reply.
Kalavere said:
CDMA has no SIM, GSM does. Your phone is GSM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Im almost certain this is wrong.
Its to do with the type of network you operator uses.
Can be found on the HBOOT Screen.
Bravo = GSM
Bravoc = CDMA
Aldasa said:
Im almost certain this is wrong.
Its to do with the type of network you operator uses.
Can be found on the HBOOT Screen.
Bravo = GSM
Bravoc = CDMA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well yes, it's down to the cellular network used, codecs used to transmit the data, different frequency and network structure. But in the most absolute laymans terms, GSM has a removable SIM card and CDMA doesn't.
He wanted to know what file to download for his Desire, not a comparative on the different standards adoped by each technology. So I gave him the most basic answer so he could go ahead and install the program to his phone, makes sense don't you think?
Kalavere said:
Well yes, it's down to the cellular network used, codecs used to transmit the data, different frequency and network structure. But in the most absolute laymans terms, GSM has a removable SIM card and CDMA doesn't.
He wanted to know what file to download for his Desire, not a comparative on the different standards adoped by each technology. So I gave him the most basic answer so he could go ahead and install the program to his phone, makes sense don't you think?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well i have to give u right the CDMA is only operating in
2G Network CDMA 800 / 1900
3G Network CDMA2000
GSM in
2G Network GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G Network HSDPA 900 / 2100
4G in
2G Network GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G Network HSDPA 900 / 1700 / 2100
here is a little about it
In cellular service there are two main competing network technologies: Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) and Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA). Cellular carriers including Sprint PCS, Cingular Wireless, Verizon and T-Mobile use one or the other. Understanding the difference between GSM and CDMA will allow you to choose a carrier that uses the preferable network technology for your needs.
The GSM Association is an international organization founded in 1987, dedicated to providing, developing, and overseeing the worldwide wireless standard of GSM. CDMA, a proprietary standard designed by Qualcomm in the United States, has been the dominant network standard for North America and parts of Asia. However, GSM networks continue to make inroads in the United States, as CDMA networks make progress in other parts of the world. There are camps on both sides that firmly believe either GSM or CDMA architecture is superior to the other. That said, to the non-invested consumer who simply wants bottom line information to make a choice, the following considerations may be helpful.
Coverage: The most important factor is getting service in the areas you will be using your phone. Upon viewing competitors' coverage maps you may discover that only GSM or CDMA carriers offer cellular service in your area. If so, there is no decision to be made, but most people will find that they do have a choice.
Data Transfer Speed: With the advent of cellular phones doing double and triple duty as streaming video devices, podcast receivers and email devices, speed is important to those who use the phone for more than making calls. CDMA has been traditionally faster than GSM, though both technologies continue to rapidly leapfrog along this path. Both boast "3G" standards, or 3rd generation technologies
also known as CDMA2000, is CDMA's answer to the need for speed with a downstream rate of about 2 megabits per second, though some reports suggest real world speeds are closer to 300-700 kilobits per second (kbps). This is comparable to basic DSL. As of fall 2005, EVDO is in the process of being deployed. It is not available everywhere and requires a phone that is CDMA2000 ready.
GSM's answer is EDGE (Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution), which boasts data rates of up to 384 kbps with real world speeds reported closer to 70-140 kbps. With added technologies still in the works that include UMTS (Universal Mobile Telephone Standard) and HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access), speeds reportedly increase to about 275—380 kbps. This technology is also known as W-CDMA, but is incompatible with CDMA networks. An EDGE-ready phone is required.
In the case of EVDO, theoretical high traffic can degrade speed and performance, while the EDGE network is more susceptible to interference. Both require being within close range of a cell to get the best speeds, while performance decreases with distance.
Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards: In the United States only GSM phones use SIM cards. The removable SIM card allows phones to be instantly activated, interchanged, swapped out and upgraded, all without carrier intervention. The SIM itself is tied to the network, rather than the actual phone. Phones that are card-enabled can be used with any GSM carri
The CDMA equivalent, a R-UIM card, is only available in parts of Asia but remains on the horizon for the U.S. market. CDMA carriers in the U.S. require proprietary handsets that are linked to one carrier only and are not card-enabled. To upgrade a CDMA phone, the carrier must deactivate the old phone then activate the new one. The old phone becomes useless.
Roaming: For the most part, both networks have fairly concentrated coverage in major cities and along major highways. GSM carriers, however, have roaming contracts with other GSM carriers, allowing wider coverage of more rural areas, generally speaking, often without roaming charges to the customer. CDMA networks may not cover rural areas as well as GSM carriers, and though they may contract with GSM cells for roaming in more rural areas, the charge to the customer will generally be significantly higher.
International Roaming: If you need to make calls to other countries, a GSM carrier can offer international roaming, as GSM networks dominate the world market. If you travel to other countries you can even use your GSM cell phone abroad, providing it is a quad-band phone (850/900/1800/1900 MHz). By purchasing a SIM card with minutes and a local number in the country you are visiting, you can make calls against the card to save yourself international roaming charges from your carrier back home. CDMA phones that are not card-enabled do not have this capability, however there are several countries that use CDMA networks. Check with your CDMA provider for your specific requirements.
According CDG.org, CDMA networks support over 270 million subscribers worldwide, while GSM.org tallies up their score at over 1 billion. As CDMA phones become R-UIM enabled and roaming contracts between networks improve, integration of the standards might eventually make differences all but transparent to the consumer.
The chief GSM carriers in the United States are Cingular Wireless, recently merged with AT&T Wireless, and T-Mobile USA. Major CDMA carriers are Sprint PCS, Verizon and Virgin Mobile. There are also several smaller cellular companies on both networks.
janielsen said:
well i have to give u right the CDMA is only operating in
2G Network CDMA 800 / 1900
3G Network CDMA2000
GSM in
2G Network GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G Network HSDPA 900 / 2100
4G in
2G Network GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G Network HSDPA 900 / 1700 / 2100
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know this, I don't really care either if you'll excuse my bluntness. The question was simple enough and I gave a very simple answer.
Kalavere said:
I know this, I don't really care either if you'll excuse my bluntness. The question was simple enough and I gave a very simple answer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i dont excute anything
im just pointing out that u are right
an i explaine to the person ho ask fore it
what an how about GSM an CDMA
it has nothing todo whit u or ur answer
In most cases I've seen, GSM are European variants of the device and CDMA are usually US devices.
That is just from my own experience though, so I could be wrong..
Sent from my GT-P1000 using XDA Premium App
Kalavere said:
CDMA has no SIM, GSM does. Your phone is GSM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
o yeah?? how comes mine have sim card slots?
yess the CDMAs ussualy not having sim card slots we must injection the number to the phone, but mine have the slots.
for not trying for making another thread, i also want a help from you guys here.
my phones are HTC desire ADR6275,
android ver 2.2
baseband version (also called radio ver) 2.15.00.09.88
kernel 2..6.32.21-g7a207a4
build number 2.11.573.5 CL325935
PRI version 1.70_027
i have trouble for read and access my SIM card for reading phone book and also having call from my SIM card.
is it because the radio version or the OS version or ??

Motorola Defy US GSM or CDMA ?

Okay so, I just debranded my phone rooted and everything. Now I want to know how I'll achieve faster 3G speeds on my phone. Should I leave it at GSM auto ? CDMA auto? or just CDMA or GSM ? Dial *#*#4636#*#* to get there. THANKS in advance!
Could anyone who understands elucidate? I thought in the States T-Mo & AT&T were using GSM, and Verizon and Sprint were on CDMA. Yet, that hidden panel shows the Defy on WCDMA, and the dropdown seems to cover every, it seems, network type (wow, there are many!). Does it mean that the Defy is capable of functioning on any of them? Why is WCDMA selected?
WCDMA is a term used interchangeably with UMTS by some phone manufacturers.
It basically just means '3G'.
The Defy is only compatible with GSM networks, not CDMA.

[Q] got a question

i know this is the wrong section, but the guys in the ATT section aren't as smart as you guys.
i have a motorola atrix from ATT which is gsm, but motorolas web site says phone is ===
NETWORKS4
WCDMA 850/1900/2100, GSM 850/900/1800/1900, HSDPA 14Mbps (Category 10) Edge Class 12, GPRS Class 12, eCompass, AGPS
and sprint is wcdma so is there a way i can use this phone on sprint, if so what will i need to do ?
No, ATT is a gsm network, sprint is a cdma network. Cannot cross the two.
but specs. says it's dual network, what does that mean ?
tattoo jaco said:
but specs. says it's dual network, what does that mean ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
WCDMA is the 3G technology used in the US by AT&T and T-Mobile.
WCDMA defined
But the term "CDMA" is also commonly used to refer to one specific family of technologies (IS-95 and CDMA2000) used in the US by Sprint and Verizon Wireless.
CDMA defined
tattoo jaco said:
but specs. says it's dual network, what does that mean ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Meaning you could possibly have usage of it overseas, on other gsm carriers on different bands.
You could use the phone on t-mobile because they are gsm, but not sprint, as they're cdma.
ok i knew i'd get the answers i needed in here, thanks guys.

What are GSM and CDMA ?

I see these words on some threads in development section. Could you please tell What are they ?
It's a network, GSM is 2G and CDMA is 3G. Correct me if I'm wrong.
Giankwang said:
It's a network, GSM is 2G and CDMA is 3G. Correct me if I'm wrong.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
GSM now more describes a umbrella of generations rather than specifically 2G I reckon.
To the OP thought GSM and CDMA are simply terms used to describe different systems used for mobile phone networks.
GSM is the more popular.
AstroZombie1 said:
GSM now more describes a umbrella of generations rather than specifically 2G I reckon.
To the OP thought GSM and CDMA are simply terms used to describe different systems used for mobile phone networks.
GSM is the more popular.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OOPSS!!
Sorry, I didn't really know about that . My mistake.
Giankwang said:
It's a network, GSM is 2G and CDMA is 3G. Correct me if I'm wrong.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dis guys answer is the 1 u want other guys was just buffling with knowlege unneeded
AstroZombie1 said:
GSM now more describes a umbrella of generations rather than specifically 2G I reckon.
To the OP thought GSM and CDMA are simply terms used to describe different systems used for mobile phone networks.
GSM is the more popular.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
GSM is more popular outside of the US. CDMA is used by most US cell providers.
cdma is mostly provider verizon
Difference between GSM and CDMA
In cellular service there are two main competing network technologies: Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) and Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA).
Both boast "3G" standards, or 3rd generation technologies.
Only GSM phones use SIM cards. CDMA carriers require proprietary handsets that are linked to one carrier only and are not card-enabled (for the most part).
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-difference-between-gsm-and-cdma.htm
At& t and t-mobile usethe gsm system.
Sprint and verizon use cdma.
The two frequencies are incompatible.
Sent from my R800x using xda premium
netizenmt said:
GSM is more popular outside of the US. CDMA is used by most US cell providers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hence why it'd be more popular as the rest of the world is evidently bigger than the US. Also it's actually more popular and practical as you can use phones ( that are GSM ,) anywhere , with any carrier in the entire world , provided you just unlock your phone of course, so .. Practicality = GSM, usability = GSM, freedom= GSM , better phones actually = GSM.
Sent from my R800i using xda premium
Giankwang said:
It's a network, GSM is 2G and CDMA is 3G. Correct me if I'm wrong.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thats GSM and WCDMA not CDMA
Sent from my R800i using Tapatalk
jpzzle said:
Hence why it'd be more popular as the rest of the world is evidently bigger than the US. Also it's actually more popular and practical as you can use phones ( that are GSM ,) anywhere , with any carrier in the entire world , provided you just unlock your phone of course, so .. Practicality = GSM, usability = GSM, freedom= GSM , better phones actually = GSM.
Sent from my R800i using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I beleve some networks in japan and china use CDMA too.
Sent from my R800i using Tapatalk

[Q] CDMA to GSM - is there any possibility

is there a possibility to make usable a CDMA phone to work in GSM...?
That depends there are patches some work but it depends on the the firmware like ics jb or gb I'm trying to get GSM to work on CDMA
Sent from my R800x using xda premium
darkharbinger81 said:
That depends there are patches some work but it depends on the the firmware like ics jb or gb I'm trying to get GSM to work on CDMA
Sent from my R800x using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so can u tell me where should be directed if u know for more information about this problem...?
I thought GSM required sim cards?
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda premium
Yea, sim cards, frequencies, etc...
There is a lot more involved in the two different technologies than just "cooking" up a ROM.
I don't believe it possible to change a phone from gsm to CDMA and vice versa. Nor can it be tdma, or any other wireless technology. They operate on different bandwidths.
Think of it as attempting to transmit FM radio on a AM station.
Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk 2
cbucz24 said:
Yea, sim cards, frequencies, etc...
There is a lot more involved in the two different technologies than just "cooking" up a ROM.
I don't believe it possible to change a phone from gsm to CDMA and vice versa. Nor can it be tdma, or any other wireless technology. They operate on different bandwidths.
Think of it as attempting to transmit FM radio on a AM station.
Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Chuck Norris listens to AM radio on his FM radio...
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda premium
cbucz24 said:
Yea, sim cards, frequencies, etc...
There is a lot more involved in the two different technologies than just "cooking" up a ROM.
I don't believe it possible to change a phone from gsm to CDMA and vice versa. Nor can it be tdma, or any other wireless technology. They operate on different bandwidths.
Think of it as attempting to transmit FM radio on a AM station.
Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lets hope darkharbinger81 to make smth with his patches
Sent from my HTC Desire using xda premium
Two basic technologies in mobile phones, CDMA and GSM represent a gap you can't cross. They're the reason you can't use AT&T phones on Verizon's network and vice versa.CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) and GSM (Global System for Mobiles) are shorthand for the two major radio systems used in cell phones. Both acronyms tend to group together a bunch of technologies run by the same entities. In this story, I'll try to explain who uses which technology and what the real differences are.
Which Carries are CDMA? Which are GSM?
Five of the top seven carriers in the U.S. use CDMA: Verizon Wireless, Sprint, MetroPCS, Cricket, and U.S. Cellular. AT&T and T-Mobile use GSM.
That means we're mostly a CDMA country. It also means we're not part of the norm, because most of the world is GSM. The global spread of GSM came about because in 1987, Europe mandated the technology by law, and because GSM comes from an industry consortium. What we call CDMA, by and large, is owned by chipmaker Qualcomm. This made it less expensive for third parties to build GSM equipment.
There are several variants and options carriers can choose, like toppings on their technological ice cream. In this story we'll be talking about U.S. networks.
For call quality, the technology you use is much less important than the way your carrier has built its network. There are good and bad CDMA and GSM networks, but there are key differences between the technologies. Here's what you, as a consumer, need to know.
It's much easier to swap phones on GSM networks, because GSM carriers put customer information on a removable SIM card. Take the card out, put it in a different phone, and the new phone now has your number. What's more, to be considered GSM, a carrier must accept any GSM-compliant phone. So the GSM carriers don't have total control of the phone you're using.
That's not the case with CDMA. In the U.S., CDMA carriers use network-based white lists to verify their subscribers. That means you can only switch phones with your carrier's permission, and a carrier doesn't have to accept any particular phone onto its network. It could, but typically, U.S. carriers choose not to.
In other words, you can take an unlocked AT&T phone over to T-Mobile (although its 3G may not work well because the frequency bands are different). You can't take a Verizon phone over to Sprint, because Sprint's network rejects non-Sprint phones.
3G CDMA networks (known as "EV-DO" or "Evolution Data Optimized") also, generally, can't make voice calls and transmit data at the same time. Once more, that's an available option (known as "SV-DO" for "Simultaneous Voice and Data Optimization"), but one that U.S. carriers haven't adopted for their networks and phones.
On the other hand, all 3G GSM networks have simultaneous voice and data, because it's a required part of the spec. (3G GSM is also actually a type of CDMA. I'll explain that later.)
So why did so many U.S. carriers go with CDMA? Timing. When Verizon's predecessors and Sprint switched from analog to digital in 1995 and 1996, CDMA was the newest, hottest, fastest technology. It offered more capacity, better call quality and more potential than the GSM of the day. GSM caught up, but by then those carriers' paths were set.
It's possible to switch from CDMA to GSM. Two carriers in Canada have done it, to get access to the wider variety of off-the-shelf GSM phones. But Verizon and Sprint are big enough that they can get custom phones built for them, so they don't see the need to waste money switching 3G technologies when they could be building out their 4G networks.
dimmy1405 said:
Lets hope darkharbinger81 to make smth with his patches
Sent from my HTC Desire using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How about I am currently porting a gsm rom to cdma?
Sent from my R800x using xda premium
But we are talking about cdma to gsm, more accurate evo 4g verizon operator...
Sent from my HTC Desire using xda premium
darkharbinger81 said:
How about I am currently porting a gsm rom to cdma?
Sent from my R800x using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Porting a GSM rom to CDMA is not the same thing as using a CDMA phone on a GSM network.
Diablo67 said:
Two basic technologies in mobile phones, CDMA and GSM represent a gap you can't cross. They're the reason you can't use AT&T phones on Verizon's network and vice versa.CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) and GSM (Global System for Mobiles) are shorthand for the two major radio systems used in cell phones. Both acronyms tend to group together a bunch of technologies run by the same entities. In this story, I'll try to explain who uses which technology and what the real differences are.
Which Carries are CDMA? Which are GSM?
Five of the top seven carriers in the U.S. use CDMA: Verizon Wireless, Sprint, MetroPCS, Cricket, and U.S. Cellular. AT&T and T-Mobile use GSM.
That means we're mostly a CDMA country. It also means we're not part of the norm, because most of the world is GSM. The global spread of GSM came about because in 1987, Europe mandated the technology by law, and because GSM comes from an industry consortium. What we call CDMA, by and large, is owned by chipmaker Qualcomm. This made it less expensive for third parties to build GSM equipment.
There are several variants and options carriers can choose, like toppings on their technological ice cream. In this story we'll be talking about U.S. networks.
For call quality, the technology you use is much less important than the way your carrier has built its network. There are good and bad CDMA and GSM networks, but there are key differences between the technologies. Here's what you, as a consumer, need to know.
It's much easier to swap phones on GSM networks, because GSM carriers put customer information on a removable SIM card. Take the card out, put it in a different phone, and the new phone now has your number. What's more, to be considered GSM, a carrier must accept any GSM-compliant phone. So the GSM carriers don't have total control of the phone you're using.
That's not the case with CDMA. In the U.S., CDMA carriers use network-based white lists to verify their subscribers. That means you can only switch phones with your carrier's permission, and a carrier doesn't have to accept any particular phone onto its network. It could, but typically, U.S. carriers choose not to.
In other words, you can take an unlocked AT&T phone over to T-Mobile (although its 3G may not work well because the frequency bands are different). You can't take a Verizon phone over to Sprint, because Sprint's network rejects non-Sprint phones.
3G CDMA networks (known as "EV-DO" or "Evolution Data Optimized") also, generally, can't make voice calls and transmit data at the same time. Once more, that's an available option (known as "SV-DO" for "Simultaneous Voice and Data Optimization"), but one that U.S. carriers haven't adopted for their networks and phones.
On the other hand, all 3G GSM networks have simultaneous voice and data, because it's a required part of the spec. (3G GSM is also actually a type of CDMA. I'll explain that later.)
So why did so many U.S. carriers go with CDMA? Timing. When Verizon's predecessors and Sprint switched from analog to digital in 1995 and 1996, CDMA was the newest, hottest, fastest technology. It offered more capacity, better call quality and more potential than the GSM of the day. GSM caught up, but by then those carriers' paths were set.
It's possible to switch from CDMA to GSM. Two carriers in Canada have done it, to get access to the wider variety of off-the-shelf GSM phones. But Verizon and Sprint are big enough that they can get custom phones built for them, so they don't see the need to waste money switching 3G technologies when they could be building out their 4G networks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice info. Knew some of that, but not all. Learned some good info. Thanks
TEAM MiK
MikROMs Since 3/13/11

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