CDMA stands for Code Division Multiple Access. For cellular phone users, it's a transparent interface for a wireless digital network. CDMA was original developed by the military in the early 1960's. CDMA uses sequential code frequencies to funnel traffic channels within the same radio channels. For a non-technical definition, CDMA channels the packets of voice and data over wireless radio frequencies so a cellular user can hear better, quicker and with more quality then ever before.

CDMA uses wide-band spread spectrum techniques for signal transmission, as opposed to narrow-band channel techniques used in conventional analog systems. A perfect analogy of CDMA wide-band technology and narrow-band analog would be the Internet. Picture CDMA technology as a Cable or DSL Line, and analog technology as a dial-up Internet connection. Since DSL or cable lines are thicker and wider than a thinner phone line, it's faster and quicker, in both directions. CDMA is faster in transmitting and receiving data over a cellular phone.

CDMA was originally developed and enhanced by a US company named Qualcomm. Because the Company led the development of CDMA technology, it owns a significant amount of intellectual property, including patents, patent applications and trade secrets. Qualcomm licenses these patents to customers and integrates them into its own products.

Over the last several years, there has been a new variation of CDMA call WCDMA. Produced by Interdigital Communications, IDCC has developed intellectual property for both hardware and software products for the wide-band code division multiple access WCDMA air-interface protocols of the third-generation (3G) standards. Quite simply, a more efficient multiple access network. InterDigital is currently developing both WCDMA frequency division duplex and WCDMA time division duplex technology platforms. Some manufactures, such as Ericsson, has already implemented this technology and pays IDCC royalties. Other companies, such as Nokia, has started to implement this technology but does not want to pay IDCC royalties. Whatever the case, look for possibly more variations of CDMA and a wider adaption of WCDMA soon.