Formed in 2000 as part of the Bell Atlantic and GTE merger; Bell Atlantic Mobile, GTE Wireless, and AirTouch Wireless merged to form the largest wireless provider in the US (33.3 million customers). Now owned by Verizon Communications (ticker symbol: VZ - 60% ownership) and Vodafone Group (ticker symbol: VOD - 40% ownership), the largest cellular operating company in the world, the US network is almost completely next-generation high-speed technology enabled (1xRTT).

1xRTT technology is based upon Qualcomm's CDMA technology. CDMA started in the 1940s as part of a military "spread-spectrum" radio communications experiment, to make it more difficult to intercept communications on the battlefield. In the 1980s, the US military declassified the technology, selling the rights to San Diego-based Qualcomm. Verizon Wireless's separate companies started to roll out this new CDMA-digital technology in the early 1990s. Recently, Verizon Wireless started to deploy out newer, high-speed technology to allow for higher speed wireless internet access and downloadable applications (such as games, ring tones, and other productivity features) under the brands Express Network and Get It Now.

They run on 800 MHz (also known as cellular spectrum) in most locations, except for the south (GA, AL, FL, MS, etc.) where they run 1900 MHz (also known as PCS spectrum). Verizon Wireless also maintains a first generation analog (AMPS) network with the largest national footprint (which OnStar uses).

Formed in 1995, Sprint PCS was launched by longtime landline services provider Sprint. In November 1998, Sprint PCS separated from Sprint common stock (ticker symbol: FON) into its own stock (ticker symbol: PCS). Sprint PCS is the fourth largest carrier in the US (16.7 million).

Sprint PCS uses the same technology as Verizon Wireless. Sprint PCS launched the largest, all PCS, all digital network in the history of wireless technology. In August 2002, Sprint PCS also launched their version of the 1xRTT technology, branding it PCS Vision.

Sprint PCS runs in the PCS frequencies (1900 MHz).