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Digital vs. Analog
Home » Handheld Electronics » Cell Phones » Digital vs. AnalogThe difference between analog and digital is in how the messages are transmitted and the quality of the transmissions. The system analogs use is called Advanced Mobile Phone Service (AMPS). This service uses analog radio frequency modulation for voice transmissions. Digital uses either CDMA, TDMA, of GSM.
The most common type of cell phone available to consumers is an analog service phone. Analog phones are much less expensive than digital phones and are often the type of phone that service companies offer to consumers as a incentive to sign up for their services. A digital phone will generally cost you about $130 for the phone when you sign up with a service provider.
Most nationwide service providers now have a digital network in place. They are converting to digital because it makes the network more efficient. The biggest advantage of digital is the quality of service. There is a better clarity of sound because digital signals are not subject to the interference of analog signals. Digital is said to be more secure than analog because digital data can be encrypted. This is to help in securing the phone account information from being copied. It is estimated that more than $650 million in wireless services has been coveted by people stealing phone account information. Some of the other advantages to digital include call waiting, messaging, and fewer busy signals.
The analog service, while on its way to becoming extent, still has a great many people using it because of the fact that it is less expensive than digital. This is a good cell phone for young people who are just starting out with a cell phone and do not necessarily need all the bells and whistles of the digital cell phone. It is said that roaming is less difficult with analog service. Analog phones operate in smaller cities and in the rural areas where digital service has not yet become available.
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