Below is a guide for FLA's (four-letter-acronyms) in the 3G arena that we've just prepared for our intranet....

A breakdown of the technologies, and my take on each.

ACRONYM: CDMA
WHAT IT STANDS FOR: Code division multiple access
WHAT IT DOES: Sends multiple signals, each containing a unique code, and each spanning the same 1.25 Mhz frequency band. Receivers ignore all signals except those that contain the code they are looking for. The system significantly increases the amount of data that can be sent in a given frequency range.
WHERE IT'S USED: As a second-generation system, currently used by operators in the U.S. (including Sprint and Verizon), Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, and other Asian markets.
WHO MANUFACTURES IT: Technology commercialized by Qualcomm; manufactured by many companies, including Samsung, Ericsson, and Nokia.
PROGNOSIS: As a 2G technology (called IS-95 or cdmaOne), offers better performance than other 2G systems. With a late start behind GSM and TDMA, though, users are far outnumbered by those of GSM globally, and of TDMA in U.S. But two of the three major 3G systems are based on CDMA, so it will dominate in the future

ACRONYM: TDMA
WHAT IT STANDS FOR: Time division multiple access
WHAT IT DOES: Divides available spectrum into narrow frequency bands, and each second into individual time slots. An individual transmission uses one of the time slots for each second in one of the frequency bands. Offers significantly more transmission capacity for a given frequency than analog cellular.
WHERE IT'S USED: Used mostly in the United States by operators such as AT&T, BellSouth, and Southwestern Bell
WHO MANUFACTURES IT: Most major manufacturers
PROGNOSIS: An outdated technology being kept alive indefinitely through prodigious engineering and marketing efforts by AT&T and supporting manufacturers

ACRONYM: GSM
WHAT IT STANDS FOR: Global system for mobile communications
WHAT IT DOES: A standard based on TDMA technology, GSM was established by Europe-wide agreement among manufacturers, operators and governments. Became phenomenally successful because of the roaming and manufacturing economies of scale it offered.
WHERE IT'S USED: Almost exclusively by operators in Europe, at least one operator in most Asian markets, and several substantial operators in the United States
WHO MANUFACTURES IT: Most major manufacturers, but especially in Europe
PROGNOSIS: Along with its 3G evolution, likely to predominate everywhere except in the U.S., where it will continue to play a modest role in the face of fierce competition by technically superior CDMA

ACRONYM: GPRS
WHAT IT STANDS FOR: General packet radio service
WHAT IT DOES: Provides higher-speed data transmission for GSM networks
WHERE IT'S USED: Commercial operation to begin early next year
WHO MANUFACTURES IT: Same as GSM operators
PROGNOSIS: Probably will be adopted by most GSM operators

ACRONYM: EDGE
WHAT IT STANDS FOR: Enhanced data rate for global (or GSM) evolution
WHAT IT DOES: Uses enhanced TDMA technology to achieve 3G data transmission speeds; compatible with both GSM and U.S. TDMA networks
WHERE IT'S USED: Commercial introduction slated for 2002. Likely to be widely used in the U.S., where it's the only high-speed data option for TDMA operators. GSM operators in Europe and Asia may also adopt it, but spending on GPRS and 3G equipment will be their first priority
WHO MANUFACTURES IT: Manufacturers of TDMA and GSM equipment
PROGNOSIS: Good in United States, iffy in Europe and Asia

ACRONYM: W-CDMA
WHAT IT STANDS FOR: Wideband CDMA
WHAT IT DOES: A high-speed version of CDMA, which is based on Qualcomm technology, but significantly modified by Japanese and European manufacturers
WHERE IT'S USED: The GSM world's chosen 3G technology
WHO MANUFACTURES IT: GSM manufacturers
PROGNOSIS: Will be the dominant 3G technology outside the U.S., less so in the U.S.

ACRONYM: cdma2000
WHAT IT STANDS FOR: Commercial name for the version of 3G CDMA based on 2G CDMA (IS-95/cdmaOne)
WHAT IT DOES: A high-speed version of CDMA compatible with existing 2G CDMA networks
WHERE IT'S USED: First commercial operation scheduled for later this year in Korea; will be 3G technology for all 2G CDMA operators in the U.S. (including Sprint and Verizon), Japan, Korea, and several other Asian countries
WHO MANUFACTURES IT: Further development of earlier CDMA technology by Qualcomm and its partners, manufactured by most major manufacturers
PROGNOSIS: Besides being a lock with 2G CDMA operators, may entice new operators, particularly in Asia, away from GSM because of its superior efficiency and call quality

ACRONYM: UMTS
WHAT IT STANDS FOR: Universal mobile telecommunications system
WHAT IT DOES: An overarching standard mainly based on W-CDMA technology but also includes technologies for particular uses
WHERE IT'S USED: Same as W-CDMA
WHO MANUFACTURES IT: Same as W-CDMA
PROGNOSIS: Same as W-CDMA