Is analog cellular going away?

Factual Questions
1

Some salesman at Verizon Wireless tried to steer me away from an older tri-mode phone to a newer model that was digital only. He said tri-mode really doesn’t matter because AMPS is going away.

Is he full of shit or what?

Thanks.

2

Hopefully, analog communication is fading. It requires more bandwidth than digital modes, and there’s a finite amount of radio bandwidth available. In my experience, digital is also more robust (and not just CW!) than analog voice when you’re dealing with weak signals.

Vlad/Igor

3

In this thread, astro asked about using an old analog phone. In looking around for information about analog service, I came across this quote from a Verizon tech:

If Verizon’s phasing it out, it’s a good bet the other companies will be, too. This About.com Q&A seems to confirm that it’s on the way out.

4

Analog is being phased out by many cellular operators. However, there is a large installed base of analog-only equipment – the largest is probably OnStar. Automakers just started installing CDMA OnStar systems in their cars about two years ago. Everything made before than is analog only.

I find analog moderately useful. There are many remote areas which still have only analog service because the range of analog is much greater than any digital system. The top of Kearsarge Pass (elevation 11,760’) above the town of Independence, CA (3,925’) has analog coverage but no digital service. The closest tower has to be over 15 miles away. (I’m sure the elevation helps.) The range of CDMA is generally around 5 miles and GSM is even less. However, analog service will drain a typical phone battery in a few hours (at most!).

5

I spend a lot of time travelling in northern New England (NH, VT, ME) and pretty much the only coverage you can get up there in analog. I’m sure it’ll go away eventually, but not for a while yet. There’s not much incentive to get rid of the working towers in low population areas.

6

The FCC has said that the requirement for carriers to support analog cellular (AMPS) will be terminated in 2008.

7

IIRC, Australian analog networks closed in 2000. I didn’t know they were still going elsewhere. I think my old analog phone sounded clearer.