Today, many nationwide wireless service providers already have a digital cellular network. The others, at least, try to convent their cellular network to a digital cellular network. The reason is simple: the digital technology offers a number of advantages over the cellular one, which include a better quality of the service, more security for a customer and an ability to support next-generation services. The digital technology also enables the excellent services of tomorrow, for instance, wireless Internet applications.

The digital technology extends the efficiency in the network. It means that an operator can put more information into each transmission. For wireless operators it denotes that they can have more profit from their network as well as to supply their customers with the best new services, including features like wireless call waiting, better messaging services, etc.

The Digital cellular network offers a higher quality of sound. The digital proponents claim that this network is more secure than the analogue one and helps to avoid "cloning" (the process of getting a phone account over the air with the aim to copy and resell that information for piracy purposes). According to some industry estimates, about six hundred and fifty million dollars have been stolen in such way.

However, the digital cellular network has its disadvantages as well. There is an opinion that roaming - or using other wireless operator's network while travelling - may be more difficult with the digital based phone than with the analog, since there is no single accepted industry standard in the digital technology and the technologies are disparate.

Supporters of the analog network say that it has better service availability and coverage, as well as cheaper initial cost than the digital one. However, the digital phone itself may cost more (about one hundred and fifty US dollars). The digital service initial fees may be more than the analog as well. One more point that should be mentioned is the length of the contract that must be signed upon the service activation (as a rule, analog demands a longer term).

In any case, it is up to the customer to choose what will best fit his needs. However, before choosing between the analog or digital cellular networks, it is necessary to consider what future plans for the wireless communication the customer has. If the voice quality and security is a top priority for a customer and he will require data services, it is better to invest in a digital phone service plan. In case the roaming accommodations are of great importance, then, a customer should better sign up with a cellular provider. If a customer needs both, he or she should think about a dual-mode phone that does not only "talk" digital but offers a service via roaming, when out of the digital territory as well. The work of those, which have reckoned up the two services, is next to perfect in pockets and within a built-up metropolitan area across the United States.