[Stu]

I've always had a problem with CDG's charts and claims. I just don't see the CDMA penetration where they claim it is. They seem to include a great deal of incompatible technologies under their umbrella which may share a theoretically common technology, but which are currently completely incompatible.

On occasion I've used a CDMA solution to a problem, but at present it is very difficult to acttivate a CDMA device from one carrier on the another. In some countries such as Indonesia, it can be done. In the US, Canada, and some other countries, the carriers will not activate under any situation. Any solution involves hacking, altering MSINs, exploiting weaknesses in detecting what is their own equipment, etc. In the US, Verizon, Sprint, US Cellular will have no part of activating third party equipment. MetroPCS will activate them which actually has created a reputation as a ghetto phone company because they will happily activate stolen phones from other networks.

If I could buy an unlocked CDMA phone with an RSIM that I could activate in CDMA countries, I'd certainly consider it. If I could activate them as easily as used to be able to activate TDMA phones, I'd certainly consider it. Right now I'll only consider them if the price of the hardware is so cheap that the hardware essentially disposable technology. Moreover, I have a preference for using my own phone which is equipped with software designed to enhance call throughs and callback.