What the hell is EDGE?

[BigDamHero]

I can't find a straight answer. What is EDGE. Does it just mean 3G?

What is UTMS? what are relevant to me in the UK

thanks
Lewis

[rookery]

I can't find a straight answer. What is EDGE. Does it just mean 3G?

What is UTMS? what are relevant to me in the UK

thanks
Lewis

let's read the post under mine, Thanks

[decebal]

from www.wikipedia.org

EDGE:
Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) is a digital mobile phone technology which acts as a bolt-on enhancement to 2G and 2.5G (a.k.a.GPRS(General Packet Radio Service)) networks. This technology works in TDMA and GSM networks. EDGE (also known as EGPRS) is a superset to GPRS and can function on any network with GPRS deployed on it (provided the carrier implements the necessary upgrades).

EDGE provides Enhanced GPRS (EGPRS), which can be used for any packet switched applications such as an Internet connection. High-speed data applications such as video services and other multimedia benefit from EGPRS' increased data capacity.

UMTS:
Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) is one of the third-generation (3G) mobile phone technologies. It uses W-CDMA as the underlying standard, is standardized by the 3GPP, and represents the European/Japanese answer to the ITU IMT-2000 requirements for 3G Cellular radio systems.

UMTS is not the only 3G technology used. CDMA-2000_1x-EvDO is an alternative to UMTS. CDMA2000-1X-EVDO has been deployed commercially nationwide in Japan since December 2003 with transfer rates of 2.4Mbit/s, which is about 6 times faster than UMTS in the first development stage in major cities of Europe (around 2005). PHS, which is widely deployed in Japan, China, and other areas of Asia, also achieves similarly high data transmission rates and therefore is a strong competitor in the market place to UMTS networks. Data connections at wLAN locations (Hot Spots) also compete with UMTS in urban centers.

To differentiate UMTS from competing network technologies, UMTS is sometimes marketed as 3GSM, emphasizing the combination of the 3G nature of the technology and the GSM standard which it was designed to succeed.

[BeyondtheTech]

EDGE is considered 2.5G.

It's average download speed is 70-135 kilobits per second (Kbps), and it's burst speed is up to 200 Kbps. It's more than 3 times the speed of GPRS, and nearly twice the speed of CDMA 1xRTT (Verizon Wireless' Express Network before EV-DO).

In the USA, EDGE has already been rolled out to Cingular's network and just now to T-Mobile's network.

The HTC Wizard is EDGE ready, Class B. Class B means it can take voice or data, but not both simultaneously. Depending on the wireless carrier, you will likely drop (or suspend) a data session if an incoming call comes in.



UMTS is considered 3G.

It's average speed is 220-320 Kbps, with a burst speed of 384 Kbps. It's about 8 times the speed of GPRS.

From what I hear about the UK, they have skipped over EDGE and gone straight to UMTS. In the USA, UMTS is currently rolled out in very few select cities and on a different frequency than UK, which makes the JASJAR's new UMTS capability incompatible with USA-based wireless carriers. However, the US military is planning to give up the 2100 MHz frequency in 2007 for bidding, in which it may then be taken for use on wireless carriers for 3G or future technology.



UMTS devices cannot use EDGE technology, and vice versa. If you have a UMTS device and the carrier supports EDGE and GPRS, you will drop down to GPRS for data connections. If you have an EDGE device and the carrier supports UMTS and GPRS, you will also drop down to GPRS for data connections.



Remember, the above speeds are provided in kilobits per second (Kbps). Divide the number by 8 and you'll get the theoretical maximum speed in kilobytes per second (KBps, note the capital B), a number you'll be more familiar with in, i.e. download dialog box in your browser. EDGE 200 Kbps = 25 KBps, UMTS 384 Kbps = 48 KBps. It might not seem like a lot, but don't forget compression, the fact that you're on a mobile device. For example, a 4MB download (the average size of an MP3 file) can be downloaded in 1:30-2:00, given the maximum throughput of 48 KBps.


More information here:
http://www.3g-generation.com/gprs_and_edge.htm
http://www.cingular.com/midtolarge/umts
http://www.cingular.com/midtolarge/edge

[wardy]

No UK Mobile operators use EDGE , all on there 3G service use UMTS.

[dreadlord369]

I was wondering... Is EDGE free??? Or do you have to like buy a plan for it or something???

[fryman]

yes you have to be on a data plan such as Cingular’s PDA connect for $45 per month...T-mobile is similar but $50 per month. I have read that there are ways around using PDA connect and use MediaNet unlimited for only $20 per month.

[dreadlord369]

Thanks FRYMAN. I was thinking about getting a Blackberry 7105t. But is there anyway to somehow use the phone as a modem for my laptop for free? Like by somehow getting around it or some program?:confused:

[demontefixo]

Thanks FRYMAN. I was thinking about getting a Blackberry 7105t. But is there anyway to somehow use the phone as a modem for my laptop for free? Like by somehow getting around it or some program?:confused:Unfortunately nothing these days is really free.

--M

[fryman]

Thanks FRYMAN. I was thinking about getting a Blackberry 7105t. But is there anyway to somehow use the phone as a modem for my laptop for free? Like by somehow getting around it or some program?:confused:

looks like there is a way around it now...check out this thread for us t-mobile.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=288844

[WDS Josh]

yes you have to be on a data plan such as Cingular’s PDA connect for $45 per month...T-mobile is similar but $50 per month. I have read that there are ways around using PDA connect and use MediaNet unlimited for only $20 per month.

t-mobile's is not $50. It's only $30 for total internet plan. or the basic internet plan is only $5.99.

[tux_tux]

Edge is 4-5 times faster than GPRS...