Re: [PCTECH] PDA: Which is the best one...the best price?

[Douglas Handy <dhandy1@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

David,

>Now, if we could get provider independent cell phones ... 

There are tecchnological differences in the frequency bands and digital encoding
schemes between various flavors of GSM/TDMA or CDMA or whatever.  So while you
can buy say, a Treo 600, for Sprint, you need a *different* Treo 600 for use on
T-Mobile, and neither will work on Nextel.  (Verizon is supposed to be adding
the Treo 600 now too, making a flavor of it available from more providers than
any other phone I've heard of.)

This isn't a matter of SIM locking -- it is a difference in the hardware itself
and whether it used Time Division Multiple Access or Code Division Multiple
Access, not to mention the frequency bands employed.  Even a tri-band GSM "world
phone" still requires GSM providers, but at least handles the various
frequencies used on various continents.

SIM locking affects the ability to change providers using the same technology.

Doug