Combined GSM/CDMA handset by Xmas

The first phone capable of being used globally on both GSM and CDMA networks will be released by the end of the year.

The MSM6300 chipset has been developed by Qualcomm from a CDMA base and uses the same microprocessor as the CDMA chipset to keep costs and space requirements low.

Samsung is expected to be the first to market with a GSM 1X handset aimed at the high-end business user.

"GSM 1X phones will be entering the US market this quarter," said Tony Thornley, chief operating officer at Qualcomm.

"We think GSM will be incorporated into most phones eventually, since the costs of adding GSM to CDMA phones are very low. Initially phones will be very high end with a very small market."

Over 80 per cent of the world uses the GSM standard, with the remaining CDMA users concentrated in the US and some areas of the Far East.

The technology was developed by the Allies during the Second World War as a secure form of voice communication. This is because it transmits over several frequencies rather than just one.

"This is big news for companies like Vodafone to offer world phones and global roaming phones. The mixed networks in China will like it as well," said Andy Buss, an analyst at Canalys.

"But it would be far better to have one standard rather than this costly duplication. Sadly we'll have to wait for 4G before we even get close to that."