GSM: Intro

GSM (Global System for Mobile) is a second generation cellular standard developed to cater voice services and data delivery using digital modulation. The prime influence of GSM is to achieve unbounded communication through the means of wireless technology. If there is a gap in terms of capabilities of wired vs. wireless, it would be the difference between data rates. There are two ways of achieving unbounded communication via GSM technology, viz. terminal mobility and personal mobility.

Terminal mobility is the mobility achieved through mobile handsets in laymen terms.Personal mobility is where the user is enabled to move across the network boundaries wearing a chip (or some embedded equipment) to identify them selves, thus enjoying all the local services independent of current location.

At present GSM family includes GSM, GPRS (General Packet radio Service) and EDGE (Enhanced Data Rates for Global Evolution). When it comes to the evolution of usage of GSM, the starting point is the speech/voice communication. SMS is the 2nd means of usage that GSM went in to users hands followed by HSCSD (High Speed Circuit Switched Data) & GPRS (Geberal Packet radio Service). The latest version is 3G (though we see a newer version which is 3.5G) but it still covers only hot spot areas. So GPRS is still prety much popular in mobile community.

Classification of wireless communication:

1. DECT (Digital Enhanced Codeless Telecommunication) & PBX (Private Branch Exchange)
2. LAN - Wireless LAN (IP based, adheres IEEE 802.11 standards)
3. Blue-tooth (calls Body Area Network, Personal Area Network) - Direct wireless information exchange between electronic devices
4. Public Mass Communication
5. Satellite-based - LEO (Low Earth Orbiting) & MEO (Medium Earth Orbiting)
6. Unidirectional - E.g. Paging