Cellular Phones vs. PCs Phones

Most people are unaware of any discrepancywireless, portable, phone service. We started with
between the terms cellular and PCS. PCS servicesCellular, which was originally geared at being
have cropped up however, in order to offer aavailable for people on the go, in their cars, away
viable alternative to cellular phone plans. While bothfrom their homes and offices. Then slowly, as the
are providers of mobile communication, there arecoverage areas grew, cellular coverage became
some slight differences between the two. PCSalmost absolute. Cell phones have now replaced
stands for Personal Communications Services,the landline phone in many households. However,
which is essentially the trademark for thecell phones, on a cellular network, have just about
difference between the two. PCS boasts its abilityhit a brick wall... so in walks the PCS! PCS, Personal
to cater its services to meet the needs of theCommunications Services, is the new wave, the
client. PCS is defined as "...a combination ofupgrade, of Cellular phone service.
services like paging, caller ID and e-mail. PCS hasPCS is a complex mixture of digital, wireless
an emphasis on personal service and extendedtechnology linked with messaging and internet at
mobility, often used in place of "digital cellular".""its base, not as additions to the service like
A cell, used for communication between suchCellular. The whole process that PCS utilizes is
named cell phones, is described as such: "Cell: Theshown, at its best and simplest, basically, in the
basic geographic unit of a cellular system and thechildren's movie "Willie Wonka and the Chocolate
basis for the generic industry term "cellular". A cityFactory" when he is explaining "Wonka-vision" to
or county is divided into small "cells", each ofMike Teavee. Now, with that assisting in the
which is equipped with a low-powered radioexplanation, PCS utilizes digital technology, not
transmitter/receiver. The cells can vary in sizecellular. It takes small pieces of the conversation
depending on terrain and capacity demands. Byor message and then breaks them into smaller
controlling the transmission power and the radiopieces and sends those pieces out in random
frequencies assigned from one cell to another, aspurts of information that is collected by the PCS
computer at the Mobile Telephone Switchingand put back together. This process makes the
Office (MTSO) monitors the movement anddata more secure and harder to intercept than
transfers (or hands off) the phone call to anotherthe continuous flows of information sent as in
cell and another radio frequency as needed."Cellular service. Another plus to PCS service is the
While PCS boasts a more extended mobility thanspeed. It is over twice as fast as basic analog
that of cell phones, it essentially is a phone serviceCellular service, this increased speed means that
with additional features such as caller id anddata such as text messages, emails, downloads,
paging, with more comprehensive customer care.caller ID, and even voice calls will be faster.
Another central difference between the two isAll of this sounds great when comparing Cellular
the wavelengths on which they operate. Cellularand PCS services; However, one of the
wavelengths operate in the 824 MHz (megahertz)drawbacks is that there are three different types
to the 894 MHz ranges, while PCS runs on theof PCS services competing with one another.
1850 MHz to 1990 MHz ranges. In addition,Unlike Cellular service where you can link up to
because of the wavelengths on which PCS travelsany tower that is near you and have the airtime
it doesn't cover a network as extensive as thosesent back to your carrier, if you are registered
covered by cell phones. PCS phones also workwith one service, and you travel into another
under digital technology, whereas cellular phonesservice area, you will not have service. There
employ both digital and analog. Initially PCS phonesmay be partnerships and mergers of technologies
were typically more expensive to purchase, butand creating compatible systems in the future,
offered lower rates than competing cell phonebut as of now, this is a large concern when
plans. Currently, PCS phone plans are competitivethinking about PCS service. The three major
in price with standard cell phone plans. A typicalcompeting services now are Global System for
PCS cell phone plan starts at about $29.99/perMobile Communication, Time Division Multiple
month for 300 minutes ranging to upwards ofAccess, and Code Division Multiple Access.
$109.99 for a family plan with 2100 minutes.Another problem with PCS versus Cellular service
As with any mobile calling plan, cellular or PCS, it isis that the technology is still fairly new, making it
critical to determine your individual needs prior tonot was widespread, and thus, reliable as
deciding on a plan and purchasing a phone. Mobiletraditional cell phones.
phone plans are varied whether they are cellularEvery new technology has some hitches and
or PCS, and one may suit your needs better thanbumps in the beginning, but slowly they get ironed
the other.out and the product with the best coverage,
Everything evolves, becomes more complex andquality, and durability will surely win out. Some are
better quality (we hope). Look at the TV forplacing bets on traditional Cellular service, others
example, first there were radios (sound only),on PCS. But either way, the improvements to
then black and white, then color, then remoteboth will benefit us all.
controls, then cable, then digital, and now High* Not responsible for price quotes, as they may
Definition TV's. The same principal is true withchange over time.