| GSM stands for Global System for Mobile | | | | a SIM card. In fact, your phone number depends on |
| communication. GSM cell phones come with integrated | | | | your SIM. Voicemail, a regular feature of all GSM |
| voice mail, high-speed data, fax, paging and Short | | | | enabled mobiles, too, is dependent on the SIM, as it is a |
| Messaging Services. Excellent sound quality, | | | | network operator based service. To make an |
| International Roaming facility with state of the art call | | | | overseas call from a GSM phone you must first check |
| privacy and fraud prevention features, and batteries | | | | on the frequencies available and make the necessary |
| with increased shelf life have made GSM the fastest | | | | adjustments. This may sound inane but actually is a |
| growing and most affordable wireless voice | | | | common mistake occurring all the time.An overseas |
| technology in the world.You can use your GSM | | | | call from a GSM cell phone is a simple operation |
| enabled mobile anywhere. Well, almost anywhere in | | | | provided the correct protocol is maintained. The |
| the world. GSM technology ensures that you can hear | | | | international access code (+) has to be dialed first, |
| your boss screaming as clearly as the living daylights | | | | followed by the country code and the ten-digit phone |
| even when he is on the other side of Atlantic. | | | | number. The (+) sign takes care of your call without |
| However, to be able to listen to that honeyed cheer | | | | bothering you about the access code of the country |
| upper you need to change your frequency band. GSM | | | | you are calling from. If your handset is a Nokia then |
| cell phones use the multiple spectrum frequency bands | | | | you have to press the (*) key twice in rapid |
| under which 1900 MHz caters to North America while | | | | succession to access the international access code |
| 900 MHz and 1800 MHz are used for other locations. | | | | (+). If it is an Ericsson, then you have to press and hold |
| A GSM mobile may have a dual band, a tri band or | | | | the 0 key until the (+) sign appears. Like wise for |
| even a quad band.A dual band GSM functions at both | | | | Motorola and Samsung. If it is a Bosch then you have |
| the 900 MHz and the 1800 MHz level and works in | | | | to press and hold the (*) key until the (+) sign |
| Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and a | | | | appears.GSM cell phones have managed to reduce |
| small portion of South America. A tri band GSM cell | | | | background noises, disturbances and statics to a |
| phone catches the 1900 MHz in addition to the other | | | | minimum level. Cross-connections, too, almost never |
| two wavelengths and covers North America instead | | | | happens. The facility to handle many calls at the same |
| of South. Similarly, a quad mobile covers the 850 MHz | | | | time translates to a congestion free network in areas |
| as well as the other 3 and allows you to go global.A | | | | of heavy density and high usage. All these at minimum |
| GSM cell phone however is not going to work without | | | | cost. GSM is affordable. |