GSM Phones

Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) is a digital cellular telephone system that is widely used in Europe and other parts of the world. GSM uses a variation of Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) and is the most widely used of the three digital wireless telephone technologies (TDMA, GSM, and Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA). GSM digitizes and compresses data, then sends it down a channel with two other streams of user data, each in its own time slot. It operates at either the 900 MHz (megahertz) or 1800 MHz frequency band.

Today's GSM platform is a hugely successful wireless technology and an unprecedented story of global achievement. GSM is the de facto wireless telephone standard in Europe. In little more than ten years since the first GSM network was commercially launched, it became the world's leading and fastest growing mobile standard, spanning over 200 countries. Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) is a globally accepted standard system that is constantly evolving.

Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) is one of the few mobile phone standards with a self-explanatory name that is actually more or less accurate. It is the closest thing there is to an "international" standard. GSM systems are used worldwide, from Europe (where the standard originated) throughout Africa, Asia and Australia. Coverage in these areas is for the most part excellent.

A latecomer to North America, GSM is now making some substantial growth with a different flavor than used elsewhere. Originally utilizing the 900 MHz (megahertz) spectrum, GSM providers in parts of Europe, Africa, and Asia later added additional capacity at 1800 MHz. In North America, however, GSM service (until 2002) was only available at 1900 MHz. The good news for world travelers was that most mobile phone manufacturers offered dual-band (900 and 1900 MHz) or tri-band (900, 1800 and 1900 MHz) phones that will work in most places where GSM systems are found. A fourth GSM system-GSM 800, operating at 850 MHz is now available in the United States.

In the United States and Canada GSM service can be scarce outside of larger urban areas. In Latin America, coverage currently exists only in parts of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, El Salvador, Paraguay and Peru (all at GSM 1900) along with Venezuela (GSM 900) and Brazil (GSM 1800). Other notable non-GSM countries include South Korea and Japan.

GSM is a feature-rich technology that includes fax capability and Short Messaging Service (SMS). Most providers offer e-mail to SMS gateways, making it possible to receive flight updates and breaking news alerts over the phone. Many providers also offer quick connect data services through Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) lines, and the latest generation Global Packet Radio Service (GPRS) promises high-speed "always on" data connections much faster than the traditional 9600 bps (bits per second). Resources