Understanding the Differences Between Wireless Coverage - EDGE edge GSM GPRS UMA etc

KasiCatastrophe · Thread Author #1 06-26-2009, 08:35 AM

After seeing someone ask for an explanation on the differences between each wireless coverage indicator, and a search that came up with no results, I copied this guide straight from the Blackberry Reference Guide that comes in the box with a new phone. (I apologize if there was a thread on this already and I just wasn't finding it.) I never knew the difference either, just that when I was on edge, I couldn't browse the web or use BBM. Now after reading this over I understand why. Hopefully this will help someone else out as well.

3G + BlackBerry Symbol: You can send and receive email messages, PIN messages, text messages, and picture messages. You can use the phone and send and receive email messages or use the browser with a high-speed data connection simultaneously.

3G: You can use the phone and send and receive text messages.

3g: You can use the phone send and receive text messages.

EDGE: You can use the phone, send and receive email messages, PIN messages, SMS text messages, and MMS messages, and use the browser with a high-speed data connection.

GPRS: You can use the phone, send and receive email messages, PIN messages, SMS test messages and MMS messages, and use the browser.

edge, GSM, or gprs: You can use the phone and send and receive SMS text messages and MMS messages

SOS: You can only make emergency calls.

OFF: Your connection to the wireless network is turned off

X: You are not in a wireless coverage area

UMA: You can use the phone, send and receive email messages, PIN messages, SMS text messages, and MMS messages, and use the browser using UMA instead of a mobile network connection.

uma: You can use the phone and send and receive SMS text messages and MMS messages using UMA instead of a mobile network connection.

Wi-Fi Symbol + Wi-Fi network name: You can send and receive email messages and use the browser over a Wi-Fi connection.

Faded Wi-Fi Symbol + Wi-Fi network name: Your device is connected to a Wi-Fi network but is not using UMA or does not have access to Blackberry services over the Wi-Fi connection.

Faded Wi-Fi Symbol: Your connection to a Wi-Fi network is turned on, but you are not in a Wi-Fi coverage area.