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Why Select GSM?

By Daniel Stouffer

Republish: EasyPublish™ Published: 25Oct2009 Word count: 437 Viewed: 385 time(s) Get Free Content For Your Site

GSM is the most widely used communications network in the cellular industry. It was invented during the mid-80s in Europe with the intention of providing the continent with a common standard for cellular communication. Following its introduction in Finland in 1991, the standard enjoyed a meteoric rise and it's adoption spread around the world. Nowadays the clear majority of subscribers (over 3 billion) select GSM for their needs.

When you are considering cellular service, you should select GSM for your network as this is by far the most popular category. You need to be aware that not all service carriers in the United States operate through the GSM network. As GSM is the more common standard worldwide if you intend to travel abroad you may be better off if you select GSM as opposed to the others.

When GSM technology was first introduced two frequencies were allocated for the transmission of signals - 900 MHz and 1800 MHz. These frequencies are used by the majority of the world, except North America. Within the United States and Canada, 850 MHz and 1900 MHz are used. This is somewhat of an annoying anomaly but is due to the fact that the other frequencies were simply not available upon adoption.

With advances in world trade and international travel and the reduction in international airline fares the world has become a much smaller place. As much as we crave our cell phone in our home and work environments, we should be able to use it with relative ease when we travel.

Historically, this has not been the case and it has been somewhat difficult to use a European phone in the United States and vice versa. Today, however, phone handsets are emerging on a more frequent basis with tri-band and quad band functionality.

This means that they are designed to work on the frequencies found in the vast majority of the world countries and you only need to switch the subscriber identity, or SIM card according to the country that you're visiting.

Whether you intend to travel internationally or not, you should always select GSM phones and carriers due to the flexibility offered. You can change your model of phone and simply swap over your same identity card, although some carriers do "lock" their phones to make it more difficult for you to do so. Unlocking, in most cases, is relatively easy though.

With some hybrid networks emerging that will route all calls through a voice over Internet protocol using 3G or third-generation, additional speed and flexibility and even more competitive rates are on the horizon. It makes even more sense to select 3G for the future.

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