GSM Overview - Layman Term Answers Of Some Oft Heard GSM Questions

Though this term has has been around for some time, not everyone knows what GSM in reality means, and the important role in plays. Let's see if we can get an answer of this in layman terms is understandable by most.









First: What does the acronym GSM stand for?





When first created, GSM stood for Groupe Special Mobile, however the meaning was decided to be changed to stand for Global System for Mobile communications. The company who came to the choice to do so, and who also promotes this cellular standard, is interestingly enough called the GSM Association.







Second: Why is GSM required?





It permits mobile phones to make connections with the varied services we need (phone calls, messaging, internet, ect.).







Third: And GSM does that how?





GSM is a cellular network, meaning people's phones will attempt to connect to it by finding cells within range. The signaling and speech channels that are in use were upgraded to use digital instead of the older analog, which helps explain the tech term 2G, since it was a 2nd generation version.







Fourth: What band does GSM use?





The GSM network exclusively uses four different bands. These are 850MHz, 900MHz, 1800MHz, and 1900MHz. Both the 900 and the 1800MHz frequencies are used in many regions all over the world, however the 850MHz as well as the 1900MHz bands are primarily in use within North America, and some countries located in South America.







Fifth: What do the acronyms EDGE or GPRS have to do with GSM?





Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution (aka EDGE) and General Packet Radio Service (aka GPRS) were both primarily intended to beef up GSM services, and in particular its accessing the internet capabilities. When GPRS is put together with the GSM 2G cellular system, this is commonly given the description of 2.5G (a half step up over 2G), whereas EDGE is an add on to GSM that is considered to be 3G communication technology (and is often referred to as 2.75G since it mixes the older generation GSM 2G and the more current 3G technology).







Sixth: Does 3G operate on the GSM network?





Mostly due to to its wide spread use, it was decided that the 3G network would have to include GSM (850MHz / 900MHz / 1800MHz/ 1900MHz) combined with 2100MHz UMTS. 3G devices being given the capability to run on those GSM frequencies is likely to be really smart as it since it reduces the fees to the network due to the use of lower frequency bands.







Seventh: What is the current condition for the GSM network?





At present, users of mobile phones worldwide are most likely using GSM (with 2 billion people in more than 212 countries daily using it).







Eighth: What is the reasoning behind the popularity of GSM worldwide?





At the time it originally was introduced, users chose the GSM frequency due to the higher digital voice quality that it was able to offer

in addition to it being capable of giving low cost alternatives to making calls with your phone phone (most famously SMS (Short Message Service)). The network suppliers chose to use GSM because of equipment being easy to install.







Ninth: Why does GSM continue to be the world's 1st choice?





Use worldwide for GSM has made it so network carriers can give users the capability of roaming, basically meaning that a network subscriber will be capable of using their phones from GSM providers all over the world. No other band is even near to having the ability to match this area of coverage.



Gregory Mulford is the marketing director of Quad-Band-Phones, the online portal for Shenzhen CE IT Ltd.

Please follow this link to see some quad band phones with dual SIM that are sure to work anywhere GSM is used.

QBP.