TYPES OF MOBILE PHONE NETWORKS BASIC INFORMATION

Networks Available
Most of the phones available today are digital phones, but if they operate only on a single digital frequency and not on the more ubiquitous analog network, you may end up with a phone that works only in very limited areas.
Phones on the market today fall into three categories:

� Single Mode
� Dual Mode
� Tri-Mode

Single Mode
Some of the newest digital phones being introduced support only a single digital network because the manufacturer wanted to get it to market quickly to make sure they got the newest, coolest phone on the shelf first.

All manufacturers produce single mode phones. But the problem may be that it’s cool when it works downtown, but if you try to use it when driving to your house in the suburbs you may be out of luck.

Before purchasing a phone, remember to check the phone’s specifications, or ask a customer service representative to explain the phone’s mode to make sure it will work everywhere you need it to work.

Dual Mode
Many digital phones are dual mode; that is, they work on two networks— digital and analog. Some of the phones that are available as dual mode actually work on three networks—for example, the 800 MHz analog network, the 800 MHz digital network, and the 1900 MHz digital network.These phones will allow you the most use, because they are most likely to find an available network wherever you are.

Tri-Mode
A small number of phones available today are called tri-mode.This means that they work on three frequencies: 800 MHz analog, 1900 MHz U.S. digital, and another international digital frequency. Tri-mode phones are the ones that will work overseas in many countries around the world.