GSM

(communications) A digital cellular telephone technology that is based on time-division multiple access; it operates on the 900-megahertz and 1.8-gigahertz bands in Europe, where it is the predominant cellular system, and on the 1.9-gigahertz band in the United States. Derived from global system for mobile communications.

GSM

Global System for Mobile Communications

GSM

(Global System for Mobile Communications) A digital cellular phone technology that started in Europe. The GSM Association (GSMA) defines the entire cellular system for GSM as well as LTE phones. GSM uses the TDMA air interface, while LTE uses OFDM (see LTE).

In the early 1990s, GSM enabled roaming across European nations for the first time. Eventually more than three billion customers worldwide could phone each other via roaming agreements between the carriers. AT&T and T-Mobile offered GSM service in the U.S., while Rogers Wireless deployed GSM in Canada.

GSM operates in several frequency bands, including 900 MHz and 1.8 GHz in Europe and 850 MHz and 1.9 GHz in the U.S. and Canada. GSM's TDMA technology is based on a circuit-switched system that divides each 200 kHz channel into eight 25 kHz time slots.

The SIM Smart Card
GSM phones use a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card that contains user account information. Every GSM phone becomes immediately programmed after inserting the SIM card, thus allowing GSM phones to be easily rented or borrowed. See SIM card.

Text and Data
Text messaging (SMS) and data transfer were built into GSM, and data rates have continually increased over the years. See GPRS, WCDMA, EDGE, HSCSD, GSM Association, GSA, TDMA, CDMA and PCS.

Vive la Cellphone!

When GSM phones were introduced, they were reported to produce a deafening sound for hearing aid wearers and interfere with pacemakers. Swedish hospitals banned them. An Australian newspaper claimed a motorist set off his airbag with one, and most curious, in Paris, they were said to occasionally reset taxi meters to zero.

The SIM Card

The back of a GSM phone opens, and the tiny SIM card is inserted, as in this example from Europe's Amena cellphone service. The bottom view is the card outside the socket showing contact points.

Evolution of 3G Technologies

This chart shows the evolution of carrier technologies throughout the world as they move from standard cellphone services to high-speed data capabilities.

GSM

Acronym	Definition
GSM➣Global System for Mobile Communications (cellular phone technology)
GSM➣Graduate School of Management
GSM➣General Skilled Migration (Australia immigration)
GSM➣Grams per Square Meter (paper weight)
GSM➣Greater Swiss Mountain (dogs)
GSM➣General Service Medal (UK)
GSM➣Galvanized Sheet Metal
GSM➣GoSupermodel (website)
GSM➣Global Standard for Mobile
GSM➣Gender and Sexual Minorities
GSM➣General Shareholders Meeting (various locations)
GSM➣Global Sales Management (various organizations)
GSM➣Global Supply Management (various companies)
GSM➣General Sales Manager
GSM➣Guanghua School of Management (China)
GSM➣Group Special Mobile
GSM➣Grams per Square Meter
GSM➣Generative Shape Modeling
GSM➣Global System for Mobile Communication
GSM➣Global Subscriber Manager
GSM➣Groupe Spéciale Mobile (cellular system)
GSM➣Good Samaritan Ministries (various locations)
GSM➣Gaussian Scale Mixture
GSM➣Gold Standard Multimedia
GSM➣Garrison Sergeant Major (British army; UK)
GSM➣Grenache, Shiraz, Mourvedre (wine)
GSM➣Goal Scoring Machine
GSM➣Game, Set, Match (movie)
GSM➣Greenstar Social Marketing (Pakistan)
GSM➣Global Systems Mobile (telecommunication)
GSM➣Ghajnsielem (postal locality, Malta)
GSM➣Global Studies Minor (various schools)
GSM➣General Strategic Management (various schools)
GSM➣Global Shared Memory
GSM➣Ground Station Module
GSM➣Guitar Scales Method (software)
GSM➣General Support Maintenance
GSM➣Granite State Management (Concord, NH)
GSM➣Grace Student Ministries (various locations)
GSM➣Geological Society of Malaysia
GSM➣Generalized Scattering Matrix
GSM➣Gas Turbine System Technician (Mechanical) (USN Rating)
GSM➣Group Scout Master (Baden-Powell Scouts' Association)
GSM➣Gretai Securities Market (Taiwan)
GSM➣Ginebra San Miguel, Inc
GSM➣General System for Mobile Communications
GSM➣Galing Sa Magnanakaw (stolen cell phones)
GSM➣Geocentric Solar Magnetospheric Coordinate System (also seen as GSMCS)
GSM➣Global Service Manager (Sprint)
GSM➣Game Skill Measure
GSM➣Great Scots Magazine (bi-monthly magazine for Scottish terrier lovers)
GSM➣Global Society Makers (India)
GSM➣Generalized Sequential Machine
GSM➣Gigabit Ethernet Switching Module (Xylan)
GSM➣Gay Skinhead Movement
GSM➣Generadora San Mateo (Guatemalan power generating corporation)
GSM➣Global Social Movement
GSM➣Graphic Size Modification (ITU-T)
GSM➣Good Shepherds Movement (UK)
GSM➣Gimme Some Money (Spinal Tap song)
GSM➣Green Sheet Media (UK)
GSM➣Group Switch Module
GSM➣General Services Management
GSM➣Global System Manager
GSM➣Globecomm Services Maryland (Laurel, MD)
GSM➣Generalized Space-Mapping (device modeling approach)
GSM➣General Forward Set-Up Information Message (ITU-T)
GSM➣Ground Safety Manager
GSM➣Guntzelman-Sullivan-Marshall Productions
GSM➣General Surface Mount(ing)
GSM➣Global State Manager
GSM➣Government Supplied Material (Canada)
GSM➣German Seamen’s Mission
GSM➣General Stores Material
GSM➣Ground Support Module
GSM➣Global Support Message
GSM➣Geniospasm
GSM➣Graphic Screen Manager (Megasys)
GSM➣Gram per Squared Metre
GSM➣Great Scott Marty (Back to the Future movie)
GSM➣Ground Support Maintenance
GSM➣Generic Services Model (ANSI)
GSM➣Ground Safety Monitor
GSM➣General Sales Meeting
GSM➣Georgia Square Mall (Athens, GA)
GSM➣Global, Strategic, Major (market segments)
GSM➣General System Manual
GSM➣Generic Simulation Manager
GSM➣Generic Satellite Model
GSM➣Ground Signal Mixer
GSM➣Good, Sound and Merchantable
GSM➣Gross Square Metre (Canada)
GSM➣Green Smoking Monster
GSM➣GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) Session Management (telecommunications)
GSM➣Global Service for Mobiles

GSM

GSM

gsm

GSM

GSM

GSM

GSM

GSM

Vive la Cellphone!

GSH

GSH

GSH

GSH

GSM