>From time to time there is a discussion on the Zine about cell phones for use in the U.S. and Europe. Basically, the U.S. now has three systems: TDMA, CDMA and GSM. The latter is used by T-Mobile, Nextel and AT&T. AT&T also provides a CDMA service, but is trying to switch over its network to GSM. GSM is prevalent in Europe and Australia while the U.S. focused on CDMA/TDMA systems. GSM and CDMA/TDMA systems are not compatible. Since GSM is the newest kid on the block in the U.S. coverage is improving, but it still does not have the coverage that the CDMA/TDMA systems have.

I use AT&T's GSM service in the U.S. with a Nokia 6280 tri-band cell phone. That allows it to work in the U.S. and in Europe. An ordinary U.S. GSM phone with only two bands will not work in Europe. If you ring my cell phone here in the U.S., the call will automatically find me if I am in Europe.

Tom in Carlisle