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In cellular service there are two main competing network technologies: Global System for Mobile Communications
(GSM) and Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA). Cellular carriers including Sprint PCS, Cingular Wireless, Verizon
and T-Mobile use one or the other. Understanding the difference between GSM and CDMA will allow you to choose a
carrier that uses the preferable network technology for your needs.

The GSM Association is an international organization founded in 1987, dedicated to providing, developing, and
overseeing the worldwide wireless standard of GSM. CDMA, a proprietary standard designed by Qualcomm in the United
States, has been the dominant network standard for North America and parts of Asia. However, GSM networks continue to
make inroads in the United States, as CDMA networks make progress in other parts of the world. There are camps on both
sides that firmly believe either GSM or CDMA architecture is superior to the other. That said, to the non-invested
consumer who simply wants bottom line information to make a choice, the following considerations may be helpful.

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Read more:
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_difference_between_2g_and_3g_technology#ixzz1GO2
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First, about cellular generations. Having worked in the industry for a while, I have a narrower
view what 1G, 2G, 3G, 4G, etc. mean. First 1G service was based on a TDM voice infrastructure
-- built around class x switches and 64 kbps slots. It had data, but circuit switched over a 64Kpbs
voice bearer.

Second, 2G service had the same switched TDM backbone, but added a true Data Bearer and a
digital voice bearer. Data rates were still limited to the max 64kbps of a single time slot.

2.5G added a packet bearer to the mix, still limited to 64kbps slots.

Third generation (3G) changed the backbone slightly to allow a full T1 or E1 or J1 to be

consumed by a data sub-scriber, but is still based on an ISDN style backbone. Sure you have
packet switched data, but its carried over a traditional TDM backbone. There still a circuit voice
backbone and while the data rates are high enough for VoIP, the latency of the data service is to
great to base all of the "bearer services" on it, so you still have circuit voice, circuit data and
packet data bearers.

Finally, 4G systems will utilize a packet infrastructure rather than a traditional telephone
architecture. Services will be horizontally layered on top of a proper low latency, QoS enabled
packet switch (read IP) infrastructure. Gone will be the circuit voice and circuit data bearers.

So "G" has more to do with the infra-structure and less to do with the data rates. The data rates
over the air are driven by the organization of the infrastructure and other than that have little to
do with what generation they are.