Frequently Asked Questions

GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) is used by billions of people worldwide. GSM is an open, digital cellular technology used for transmitting mobile voice and data services.

GSM operates in four different frequency ranges, which are 850 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 1900 MHz. Typically, North America uses 850 MHz and 1900 MHz bands while Europe uses the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz bands. These bands may differ by country and individual provider. Most phones come in Tri-band which means that the phone has 3 out of 4 bands. Some phones are Quad band meaning it has all 4 bands so your phone will operate on any GSM network in the world. Check with your GSM provider for compatibility between their network and your phone.

The most appealing major benefit of GSM is its international roaming capability, allowing users to access the same services when travelling abroad as at home. This gives consumers seamless and same number connectivity in more than 210 countries.

A GSM subscriber can use their mobile phone by placing their SIM(Subscriber Identity Module) card into the phone. This SIM card is also referred to as a smart card. Examples of GSM providers are Rogers, Fido, AT&T and T-Mobile.

For more info about GSM check out www.gsmworld.com

Developed by the global GSM community as its chosen path for 3G evolution, UMTS is one of the International Telecommunications Union's (ITU's) family of third-generation mobile communications systems. UMTS uses a W-CDMA air interface, which lead some to refer to the technology as simply W-CDMA, creating confusion in the marketplace.

To alleviate this confusion and to highlight the backward compatibility of the system with second generation GSM, the GSM Association now refers to the range of high-speed multimedia services that can be delivered to users via mobile networks using UMTS/W-CDMA systems such as 3GSM, rather than simply the air interface technology.

The global 3G Partnership Project (3GPP), a collaboration of telecommunications standards bodies, is the organisation through which much of the technical specifications are devised. The GSM Association is a market representation Partner of the 3GPP, as such it provides the 3GPP with market advice and a consensus view of market requirements from the operator community.

In summary, the GSM Association's vision of 3GSM is based on today's GSM standard, but evolved, extended and enhanced to include an additional radio air interface, better suited for high speed and multimedia data services. This system will enable users of current second generation GSM wireless networks to migrate easily to the new third generation services, with minimal disruption.