Cingular GC83 Air card

Cingular Technology.
Cingular Wireless uses a variety of robust and advanced digital technologies to offer you the most choices to meet your individual needs. We use both TDMA and GSM networks in various parts of the country to deliver high quality digital voice, messaging and data products, and Cingular also operates a nationwide Mobitex network delivering packet switched data and messaging service to customers across the country.

GSM is the fastest growing wireless telecommunications technology in the world today, and is currently the world's dominant standard. TDMA is the time tested U.S. digital standard. In fact, Cingular's Atlanta TDMA network debuted in the 1996 Summer Olympic Games when it flawlessly handled more than 100 million additional minutes of wireless usage during peak calling periods.

GSM / GPRS Technology.
GSM's proven, feature-rich digital technology provides customers with integrated voice, high-speed data, paging and short message service capabilities, as well as excellent sound quality and call reliability. The well-developed network ensures that all calls and messages are processed quickly and reliably. The all digital network delivers better sound quality than other wireless services, including crisper, clearer voice quality and less static, fading and background noise. Independent laboratory and field test reports validate near parity with wire lines.

GPRS is a standardized packet-switched data service that is an extension of the GSM architecture. GPRS is what makes the Internet wireless.

The GPRS standard uses upgraded radio base stations linked to a new network based on 'packet' technology. With circuit switched networks, the user dials the required number and the network connects the call, allocating a circuit between the two parties until the call is ended. Packet technology allows the user to be connected to their home carrier data services via the subscriber's handset, PDA or laptop, and then send and receive data as required throughout the day. The 2.5G GPRS network is only used when data is being transmitted, but the user retains a virtual connection to the chosen computer network throughout the day.