The Wireless Evolution is achieved through the GSM family of wireless technology platforms - today's GSM, GPRS, EDGE & 3GSM.
Welcome to the wireless evolution where you will find a wealth of information on the GSM family of wireless communications. GSM is a living, evolving standard - growing and adapting to meet changing customer needs.
It is the basis of a powerful family of platforms for the future - providing a direct link into next generation solutions including GPRS (General Packet Radio Services) EDGE (Enhanced Data for GSM Evolution) and 3GSM.
GSM's unrivalled success can be attributed to many factors, including the unparalleled co-operation and support between all those supplying, running and exploiting the platform. It is based upon a true end-to-end solution, from infrastructure and services to handsets and billing systems.
Use the links on the left to find more information about the entire GSM family of technologies (GSM, GPRS, EDGE, 3GSM) that make up the Wireless Evolution, as well as mobile services and applications such as SMS and WAP. Many sections also contain links to other websites on these topics.
GSM is also known as Global System for Mobile Communications, or simply Global System for Mobile. A technology started development in 1985 by a French company formerly known as Groupe Spécial Mobile. It's main competetor is CDMA, currently in use by Bell Mobility, Telus Mobility and Mobility Canada carriers.
Currently, only two main carriers in Canada are operating GSM networks. Microcell (Fido, Cityfone) and Rogers Wireless. Fido was the first carrier to start utilising this technology, followed by Rogers Wireless mainstream around 2001. Several companies in the United States have adopted GSM and it's spreading fast among AT&T Wireless, T-Mobile.
GSM operates on 4 different frequencies worldwide. However, only two are which are used in Canada, which are GSM-850 and GSM-1900.GSM-850 and GSM-1900 which operate at 1.9Ghz.
GSM calls are either based on data or voice. Voice calls use audio codecs called half-rate, full-rate and enhanced full-rate. Data calls can turn the cell phone into a modem operating at 9600 bps. An extended GSM feature is high speed circuit switched data, allowing the phone to transmit upto around 40 kbps.
