What does the cell phone term, "GSM", mean?

guyver01

Lifer
Sep 25, 2000
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Short for Global System for Mobile Communications, one of the leading digital cellular systems. GSM uses narrowband TDMA, which allows eight simultaneous calls on the same radio frequency.

GSM was first introduced in 1991. As of the end of 1997, GSM service was available in more than 100 countries and has become the de facto standard in Europe and Asia.

 

guyver01

Lifer
Sep 25, 2000
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in case your next question is what is TDMA..


Short for Time Division Multiple Access, a technology for delivering digital wireless service using time-division multiplexing (TDM). TDMA works by dividing a radio frequency into time slots and then allocating slots to multiple calls. In this way, a single frequency can support multiple, simultaneous data channels. TDMA is used by the GSM digital cellular system.
 

Shantanu

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Feb 6, 2001
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GSM is useful if you travel to Europe or Asia a lot. CDMA is superior technology, and has a better network in the U.S.
 

guyver01

Lifer
Sep 25, 2000
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Originally posted by: xEDIT409
So it's the besT in whatever it is?


it's like betamax vs VHS..


VHS became the defacto standard and won...


same thing GSM is the defacto standard.

i'm sure there are others.. but noone really uses them.

 

Legendary

Diamond Member
Jan 22, 2002
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Verizon's CDMA network is unsurpassed in NYC. A lot of people around here use Verizon because of that.
 

Shantanu

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Originally posted by: guyver01
Originally posted by: xEDIT409
So it's the besT in whatever it is?


it's like betamax vs VHS..


VHS became the defacto standard and won...


same thing GSM is the defacto standard.

i'm sure there are others.. but noone really uses them.

Yeah, that's right. I guess the 150 million CDMA users are no one then.
 

dym

Senior member
Jun 11, 2003
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Originally posted by: guyver01
Short for Global System for Mobile Communications, one of the leading digital cellular systems. GSM uses narrowband TDMA, which allows eight simultaneous calls on the same radio frequency.

GSM was first introduced in 1991. As of the end of 1997, GSM service was available in more than 100 countries and has become the de facto standard in Europe and Asia.

You have a lame knowledge about GSM...(hehehe)
GSM is not merely TDMA but both FDMA and TDMA (hehehe)
There's a complicated frequency modulation in GSM...
The history is right, though...
 

dym

Senior member
Jun 11, 2003
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Originally posted by: Legendary
Verizon's CDMA network is unsurpassed in NYC. A lot of people around here use Verizon because of that.

Actually, in the present, just korea and japan have the real CDMA technology. The one Verizone now all is just GSM 3th generation (or GPRS).
 

Shantanu

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Feb 6, 2001
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Originally posted by: dym
Originally posted by: Legendary
Verizon's CDMA network is unsurpassed in NYC. A lot of people around here use Verizon because of that.

Actually, in the present, just korea and japan have the real CDMA technology. The one Verizone now all is just GSM 3th generation (or GPRS).

It amuses me that you speak with such authority and confidence, yet you don't know jack sh|t.
 

TuffGirl

Platinum Member
Jan 20, 2001
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Actually the cool and unique thing about GSM is the Subscriber Identity Module, or SIM card. It's the tiny rectangular yellow chip you find inside your phone when you open up the battery. I had a GSM years ago with my first cellphone, an Ericcson with Omnipoint service back before it was bought out by SprintPCS, IIRC. Anyway, the SIM card is cool because it records and stores information, like your user ID, phone address book and phone charges, etc. The information on the SIM card does not change even when the same card is used in different cellphones. There is no need to transfer the memory or change the phone number. One SIM card can be used with other GSM cellphones regardless of the manufacturers, models, or countries that you are in. It can prove useful if you say travel to Europe where GSM is the prevalent cell technology and you can just bring your SIM card with you, rent a mobile phone there, and use it just like your own phone with all the info intact.


Originally posted by: Legendary
Verizon's CDMA network is unsurpassed in NYC. A lot of people around here use Verizon because of that.
Yep, I'm in the NY/NJ area and I use Verizon too. I have found them to be superior to any other cell network, going by feedback I've gotten over the years from friends and acquaintances who subscribe to other cell service providers.
 

DanFungus

Diamond Member
Jul 27, 2001
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Originally posted by: Shantanu
Originally posted by: dym
Originally posted by: Legendary
Verizon's CDMA network is unsurpassed in NYC. A lot of people around here use Verizon because of that.

Actually, in the present, just korea and japan have the real CDMA technology. The one Verizone now all is just GSM 3th generation (or GPRS).

It amuses me that you speak with such authority and confidence, yet you don't know jack sh|t.

/me grabs a drink and sits back to watch

 

xirtam

Diamond Member
Aug 25, 2001
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Originally posted by: Shantanu
Originally posted by: dym
Originally posted by: Legendary
Verizon's CDMA network is unsurpassed in NYC. A lot of people around here use Verizon because of that.

Actually, in the present, just korea and japan have the real CDMA technology. The one Verizone now all is just GSM 3th generation (or GPRS).

It amuses me that you speak with such authority and confidence, yet you don't know jack sh|t.

Shantanu, meet Corporate America.
 

dym

Senior member
Jun 11, 2003
578
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Originally posted by: Shantanu
Originally posted by: dym
Originally posted by: Legendary
Verizon's CDMA network is unsurpassed in NYC. A lot of people around here use Verizon because of that.

Actually, in the present, just korea and japan have the real CDMA technology. The one Verizone now all is just GSM 3th generation (or GPRS).

It amuses me that you speak with such authority and confidence, yet you don't know jack sh|t.

I dun wanna say, but I used to work for Vietnamese Telecommunications Enterprise (research department) for almost 3 years.
Verizon uses part of the CDMA technology (for meeting the demand of numerous subscribers), it is not the pure CDMA method.

CDMA is the most sercurity technology, though.
 

KingNothing

Diamond Member
Apr 6, 2002
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Originally posted by: Shantanu
Originally posted by: dym
Originally posted by: Legendary
Verizon's CDMA network is unsurpassed in NYC. A lot of people around here use Verizon because of that.

Actually, in the present, just korea and japan have the real CDMA technology. The one Verizone now all is just GSM 3th generation (or GPRS).

It amuses me that you speak with such authority and confidence, yet you don't know jack sh|t.

You should see the crystal speaker thread.