GSM vs CDMA: Garmin Bluetooth not compatible with Verizon Wireless?

Wow, bought a Nuvi 760 and went to Verizon wireless today to buy a new
family share plan with Bluetooth phones. "Oh yeah, sure, this phone
has bluetooth," said the young saleman. "Can we look it uo on the
internet to make sure," said the older more-experienced-with-Garmin
guy (me). AND SURE ENOUGH! The SCH model Samsung phone is not on the
Garmin site...says I need an SGH phone. So...

Come to find out Garmin uses GSM and Verizon uses CDMA...and my 760
won't work with 99% of the Verizon phones.

Would someone please explain all of this? Thanks, George

GSM and CDMA shouldn't make any difference. That's just a protocol on how
the cell phone connects to the cell network. Bluetooth shouldn't make any
difference for a CDMA phone or a GSM phone. It just needs to support
Bluetooth.

Put it this way, VERISON would have a huge problem is all them Bluetooth
headsets out there didn't work with their phones. The Bluetooth in the
Garmin unit is the same thing. Instead of wearing the headset, it's part of
the GPS unit which works pretty good without having a fooling looking thing
attached to your ear. The list on Garmins Web page is not complete.

The SCH and SGH are the SAME PHONES other then the Transmitters for CDMA for
Verizon and GSM for AT&T. The Bluetooth is the SAME!!! Again Garmin uses
Bluetooh for the wireless connection NOT CDMA. CDMA has nothing at all to
do with wireless headsets!

Thanks, but the Garmin website does not list any Verizon SCH-model
Samsung phones. The only Samsung models Garmin identifies on their
website is the SGH model, the GSM system.

http://www8.garmin.com/bluetooth/phones.jsp

On Sat, 15 Mar 2008 16:30:14 -0700, "JBDragon" <JBDragon at someplace

JBDragon's description is accurate. Forget aobut the Garmin list.

My LG VX8300 isn't listed either, but it works fine with my Nuvi 760. Took
about two minutes to set up the two devices to communicate. Even the voice
dialing feature of the phone works through the 760. JB

I know it doesn't which is why I said the list is not complete! Verizon and
AT&T use different CELL networks. The phone can be almost identical expect
for the Radio and Protocol in the phone to make then work with the different
networks. AT&T using the worldwide common GSM standard, while Verizon is
using CDMA. But that is just for the phone it's self to communicate to the
Cell Towers which allow you to talk to others. That has NOTHING AT ALL to
do with a wireless Headset, or a GARMIN GPS unit. They use Bluetooth to
connect to the Phone it's self. The Bluetooth on the AT&T phone is
EXACTLY the same as on the Verison phone. I can't make this any simpler
then it is. Do you Realize how many Cell phones are out there? You can't
list them all. Besides the phone you want is already listed, it just
happens to be the GSM version!!!

Again, do NOT even pay attention to GSM or CDMA. No wireless Headset has
anything to do with either of those. That is just a Standard for the Cell
phone to connect to a CELL TOWER. Your Bluetooth Wireless headset, or
Garmin GPS unit is connecting to the Cell phone using BLUETOOTH!!!!!!!!!!
Bluetooth has NOTHING at all to do with GSM or CDMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Your Phone is listed, it just happens to be the GSM version. The GSM and
CDMA phone are almost exactly the SAME PHONE other then some minor changes
to work with the 2 different CELL Networks. The Cell Networks are
Completely different from Bluetooth. Your Cell phone is sending and
receiving 2 different wireless signals!!!!!

Verizon's CDMA Bluetooth Cell phone WILL WORK with the Garmin Bluetooth GPS
Unit!!! It's as simple as that.