InterDigital Inc (IDCC)

[Hydro_gen]

Wireless service really depends on what you want out of your "cell phone" and where you live as not all carriers are in all places. The current landscape pits GSM (Cingular/AT&T and T-Mobile) vs. CDMA (Verizon, Sprint and Alltel). They all have their strengths/weaknesses. Domestically, Verizon currently has more "total" coverage than any other carrier. With the merger in the works the GSM side will catch up quickly. Cingular has rollover and true National plans with NO roaming. You give up a little coverage for a steady bill and wherever you have GSM you have access to GPRS/EDGE unlike the CDMA camp with a different data map.

CDMA is currently faster with DATA and has good coverage but internationally you run into a mess. The great irony is that ALL carriers will end up using W-CDMA eventually. The alphabet soup of wireless will finally loose a few acroynms like AMPS and TDMA and yes, even iDEN and the PTT from Motorola will ultimately become assimilated. BTW, I just left the business two weeks ago after 5 years with Cingular as a Key Account Manager. I had the title "Wireless Guru" till a new manager decided to show his authoriti! (south park poke)

Hope this helps.

Hydro_gen

HAve a great weekend ALL.