# PCS vs cellular

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pcs-vs-cellular/487454>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 26, 2009, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pcs-vs-cellular/487454 "2009-02-26T01:28:48Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\
**Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pcs-vs-cellular/487454/1 "2009-02-26T01:28:48Z")

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What is the difference between PCS and cellular?  
Peace,  
mangeorge

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**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\
**Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pcs-vs-cellular/487454/2 "2009-02-26T02:45:09Z")

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PCS _is_ cellular. In the US, PCS was the term first used to distinguish cellphone service on the higher-frequency 1900-MHz band, which started off with fancy digital features at a time when the original cellphone service (on the 850-MHz band) was mostly analogue, supported voice calls only, and barely had caller-ID. These days, analogue cellphone service has been shut off, and all the fancy digital services and features work on both bands. Thus, there is no difference in features anymore and the term ‘PCS’ is fading from use.

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**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\
**Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pcs-vs-cellular/487454/3 "2009-02-26T02:58:40Z")

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Thanks. Back in the day PCS used to appear to compete with cellular. We still have MetroPCS around here, but from what you tell me it’s just a name. Probably a holdover.  
Thanks again,  
mangeorge

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**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\
**Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pcs-vs-cellular/487454/4 "2009-02-26T14:44:28Z")

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I would agree with **Sunspace**. PCS was a marketing term used by early digital companies to distinguish their suite of services from what was available from analog cellular companies. Then you got 3G, etc., etc.

The word “cellular” just means that the network comprises a grid of cells, with a tower for each one, and a session can be handed off from cell to cell as the caller moves around. That was true of the old analog networks and it’s true of today’s digital networks, whether they use CDMS, GMS or other protocol.

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**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\
**Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pcs-vs-cellular/487454/5 "2009-02-26T15:13:33Z")

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I’ve got to admit that as much as I grumble about the whole system (buncha crooks), I sure do use it a lot. My home phone is essentially a message taker.