3G vs Next G - is there a difference?

First of all.... NextG and 3G operate on two separate frequency bands 850 Mhz and 1800-1900Mhz respectively). No commonality at all, unless Telstra release a dual band phone. Telstra's official name for 1800-1900Mhz 3G is "I-Mode".

It is like the old analogue and GSM systems all over again.

Roaming from area to area (assuming there is coverage) is no different (ie seamless).

But do a string of Gs constitute a g-string, and will it weally work?

Jam tins are being phased out. You'll need Red Bull tins, sorry :)))))

I'm finally starting to understand the whole thing. Thanks guys.

3G and Next G are quite different frequencies so it isn't a spin off. 3G are restricted to the other networks, their coverage of Australia is much more limited too. Next G is Telstra's name for it's own third generation system hence the term 3G only Next G is more G3.5. It is said to very much extend the range..... Might even become a shareholder again, heaven forbid!

As far as I know, up till now, Telstra's 3G offering has been a tie-up with Hutchison's ("3" network). Telstra never bought any 3G spectrum with the auctions a few years back, sticking with the 850 MHz band they already owned. With the rollout of Next-G, I believe Telstra will be dropping the 3G offering. This appears to have been a clever move, as some telcos paid a fortune for their 3G spectrums and Telstra has had to spend little on 3G infrastructure. As stated on another post here, the Next-G is really "3.5G"; ie, better than 3G. The data rate exceeds by far the opposition's rate, and software is being tested to increase it further. I read somewhere that they are also testing software to extend the range (distance) even further, tho I feel that the radio technology is being pushed to its limits here.
Also, as I understand it, Telstra has already fitted out every CDMA site with Next-G, so the cutover is pretty seamless. Quite a massive undertaking, as it was only early this year it was announced.
BUT, if Next-G is too popular, Telstra may have to purchase more spectrum, most likely in the 2GHz band to augment the limited 850MHz band, just as GSM has flowed over into the 1800MHz band. But the 850MHz band has the inherent advantage of better range, which is most likely why Telstra chose to run with this band.
Probably the main disadvantage with Next-G at present is the limited product range of handsets.
Gerry

Heard a buzz 4G is on the way...

Grrr!!!

Oops, better put a theologival correction in there. It's not my church, but the one I attend. :o). And no, they are not expecting a better connection to heaven, no matter how well Telstra talk up Next G!!!

>>> NextG is 850mhz and will have the same coverage as the CDMA network it is designed to replace.

Ill believe it when i see it.

I think Telstras great hope is that GSM will also die, and all go to Next G.
Time will tell.

I'll bet they would too, but GSM is still the workhorse technology worldwide (almost - US and a few others excluded), it's relatively cheap, and it's great for international roaming, so I reckon it will be around for a while yet. There are a lot like me who just like to make phone calls and send the occasional SMS. I don't want to broadcast pics of my ugly mug around the world!
But then, if Telstra would drop the prices of their mobile data offerings, then I might be coerced into that technology....
Gerry

An unusually honest Telstra Customer Service person also advised me to hang on to my old CDMA phone as long as possible. Her reasons included the very limited availability of Next G phones at this time. Incidentally they will roam using GSM overseas. Another potential problem for many country usere is the complete non- availability of phones which can use an external antenna.
There will very probably good deals to change over when they really want to move everyone off CDMA in a year or so.

Phil I

As far as I know the systems are all incompatible - either frequency bands or system/data format. The idea of a "Universal Mobile Telephone System" UMTS has died many time over !! So don't get carried away thinking your CDMA (AUS) will work overseas with anyone else's or GSM or 3G. Some dual band or tri-band phones have it all....... but that's going to change too.
3G referred at one time to any phone faster than 160Kbits, but everyone is aiming higher now - DOCOMO in Japan had the first commercial 3G probably still a few million users there. See what China adopts - they are going to be BIG users.
Next G apears to be a "gadget phone" intended to generate meter clicks and income for Telstra who are hell bent on making you spend as much as possible on a call in as short a time as possible - probably to help pay for their executive salaries !
With video phone and web browsing the data download is going to generate them a huge revenue if mobile users are dumb enough to stay online for hours - it's cool man !!
CDMA and next G are reasonably suitable for long range/urban users as they do at least offer range. The current coverage maps from Telstra are probably vapourware, as Next G is using the same frequency bands and aerials/towers as CDMA - there's only so much to go round ! When CDMA slows, next G will speed up. CDMA was touted to be closing by end 2007, but this may stretch to 2009 as many users will probably not blindly migrate to new "whizzbang" Next G phones - of which there are few anyway.
It's a sorry thing that the old AMPS has died in the country as range and ease of use as well as a lack of bulls@#$ options made it quite practical. Range of 100Km was not impossible and even 150Km from mountaintops.

I've always figured it's the mug on the phone that makes the difference - NOT the handset or the system. That is NOT Telstra's interests however.

I'd wait for CDMA to be struggling before changing, new users usually subsidize any new technology and latecomers get cheaper access for nothing more.

Rick

Some of the NextG plans look attractive, such as untimed calls on a $55pm plan or 5c/min on a $40pm plan. Another reason to ditch the fixed line.

Stephen.