Term of the Moment
App Economy
Definition: GSM
(Global System for Mobile Communications) A digital wireless technology that started in Europe. Today, GSM along with its LTE evolution is the most widely used cellphone technology worldwide. For a number of years, CDMA was its primary competitor (see CDMA). For GSM specifications, see GSMArena.
GSM Tied Europe Together
In the early 1990s, GSM enabled roaming across European nations for the first time. Eventually more than three billion customers worldwide could phone each other via roaming agreements between carriers. AT&T and T-Mobile offered GSM service in the U.S., while Rogers Wireless deployed GSM in Canada.
The SIM Smart Card
GSM phones use a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card that contains user account information. Every GSM phone becomes immediately programmed after inserting the SIM card, thus allowing GSM phones to be easily rented or borrowed. See SIM card.
Text and Data
Text messaging (SMS/MMS) and data transfer were built into GSM, and data rates have continually increased over the years. See GPRS, WCDMA, EDGE, HSCSD, GSM Association, GSA, TDMA, CDMA and PCS.
Vive la Cellphone!
When GSM phones were introduced, they were reported to produce a deafening sound for hearing aid wearers and interfere with pacemakers. Swedish hospitals banned them. An Australian newspaper claimed a motorist set off his airbag with one, and most curious, in Paris, they were said to occasionally reset taxi meters to zero.
The SIM Card
Evolution of 3G Technologies
GSM Tied Europe Together
In the early 1990s, GSM enabled roaming across European nations for the first time. Eventually more than three billion customers worldwide could phone each other via roaming agreements between carriers. AT&T and T-Mobile offered GSM service in the U.S., while Rogers Wireless deployed GSM in Canada.
The SIM Smart Card
GSM phones use a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card that contains user account information. Every GSM phone becomes immediately programmed after inserting the SIM card, thus allowing GSM phones to be easily rented or borrowed. See SIM card.
Text and Data
Text messaging (SMS/MMS) and data transfer were built into GSM, and data rates have continually increased over the years. See GPRS, WCDMA, EDGE, HSCSD, GSM Association, GSA, TDMA, CDMA and PCS.
When GSM phones were introduced, they were reported to produce a deafening sound for hearing aid wearers and interfere with pacemakers. Swedish hospitals banned them. An Australian newspaper claimed a motorist set off his airbag with one, and most curious, in Paris, they were said to occasionally reset taxi meters to zero.
The back of a GSM phone opens, and the tiny SIM card is inserted, as in this example from Europe's Amena cellphone service. The bottom view is the card outside the socket showing contact points.
This chart shows the evolution of carrier technologies throughout the world as they move from standard cellphone services to high-speed data capabilities.