Confusing CDMA names
Cellular's original spread spectrum scheme was IS-95. That name comes from the standard (internal link) outlining its operation. It was also called CDMA but that is a generic term which is inherently confusing. IS-95 is CDMA, but not all code division multiple access plans are IS-95.
Capitalizing on CDMA's name recognition, however, the CDG Group now incorporates that acronym into titles for their future spread spectrum plans. These names incorporate revision numbers which make them difficult to relate to and remember. The goal though is straightforward: an always on connection, fast data rates, and an all IP network (internal link, discussion of circuit and packet switching.) .
Graphic from the CDG Group: http://cdg.org/ (external link)
Read how many poor names have been used along the development path. "[We'll introduce the] world's first third generation (3G) services later this year using IMT-2000 CDMA Multi-Carrier 1X technology (1X). This technology has been called many names in its development history - CDMA2000 phase 1, 1XRTT, 3G CDMA 1X - but regardless of the naming convention applied, it is the same set of advanced capabilities that promise to introduce the world to 3G in commercial form." Sheesh.
To back up a little, cdmaOne is the marketing term for IS-95 (A), the original CDMA scheme, and IS-(B). In America we still have IS-95 (A); (B) never got going. Now we come to other CDMA services, some of which we won't see for many years:
"CDMA2000 represents a family of technologies that includes
1) CDMA2000 1X and
2) CDMA2000 1xEV.
CDMA2000 1X can double the voice capacity of cdmaOne networks and delivers peak packet data speeds of 307 kbps in mobile environments.
CDMA2000 1xEV includes:
a) CDMA2000 1xEV-DO. [Data only or optimized] This delivers peak data speeds of 2.4Mbps and supports applications such as MP3 transfers and video conferencing.
b) CDMA2000 1xEV-DV. [Data and Voice] This provides integrated voice and simultaneous high-speed packet data multimedia services at speeds of up to 3.09 Mbps."
"1xEV-DO and 1xEV-DV are both backward compatible with CDMA2000 1X and cdmaOne."
The ski graphics below are my attempt at visualizing the differences between the services.
