GSM Glossary

 

 

 

 

 

 

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    1G.  See First Generation Cellular.

    2.5G.  2.5G cellular systems allow a mobile station to be "always-online" for sending and receiving packet data.

    2G.  See Second Generation Cellular.

    3G.  See Third Generation Cellular.

    Batteries.  Most GSM mobile stations are powered by an internal battery.

    Battery Life.  The time between charges for a battery in a GSM mobile phone depends on the quality of the power management and power control.

    Battery Type.  The rechargeable internal battery in a GSM mobile phone is usually one of three types: Nickel-cadmium, Nickel-metal hydride, or Lithium.

    BSS.  See GSM Base Station System.

    Car Kit.  See GSM Car Installation.

    CCSS7.  See Common Channel Signalling System Number 7.

    Cell.  In personal communications systems (cellular mobile phone systems) a cell is the geographic area served by a single base station. Cells are arranged so that base-station frequencies can be reused between cells.

    Cell Phone (Cellphone).  Cell phone is a generic term used in some countries to describe a GSM mobile station or GSM mobile phone

    Cell Phone Jammer.  A cell phone jammer (or cellular jammer) is a transmitting device designed to interfere with the operation of cell phones.

    Cellphone.  See Cell Phone.

    Channel Coding.  Channel coding is the technique of protecting message signals from signal impairments by adding redundancy to the message signal.

    Common Channel Signalling System Number 7 (CCSS7).  Common Channel Signalling System Number 7 is the full name of the ITU SS7 signalling system.

    Deutschland.  See GSM in Germany.

    Dual Band (dual mode).  A GSM dual band mobile phone is able to operate in the GSM 900 and GSM 1800 bands.

    dual mode.  See Dual Band.

    EDGE.  See Enhanced Data Rates for Global Evolution.

    Enhanced Data Rates for Global Evolution (EDGE).  Like the general packet radio services (GPRS), Enhanced Data Rates for Global Evoluation (EDGE) is designed to work side-by-side with existing GSM implementations.

    Equalisation.  A GSM receiver employs an adaptive equalizer to overcome the impact of non-ideal channel characteristics caused by multipath propagation.

    ETSI.  See European Telecommunications Standards Institute.

    European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI).  The European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) develops telecommunications standards in many areas, including mobile telephones (GSM), trunked radio (TETRA) and digital television (DVB).

    Fade.  A fade is a slow change in signal strength.

    First Generation Cellular (1G).  First generation cellular systems were based on analogue communication technology.

    Free MMS.  Free MMS trials are being offered by many network operators to increase the usage of their MMS systems.

    Free Ringtones.  Free ringtones are often offered to attract mobile phone customers for other, more valuable services.

    Free SMS.  Free SMS is a term used in advertising GSM mobile text message services, allowing a web user to send a free text message to a GSM mobile subscriber.

    Free Text.  Free text is a term used in advertising GSM mobile SMS services, allowing a web user to send a free SMS message to a GSM mobile subscriber.

    General Packet Radio Service.  See GPRS.

    GIWU.  See GSM Interworking Unit.

    Global Roaming.  A subscriber to one GSM network operator can use their GSM mobile phone to communicate through the network of a different network operator. This feaure of GSM is known as global roaming.

    GPRS (General Packet Radio Service).  The GPRS (general packet radio service)is a 2.5G add-on to GSM and other second generation cellular communications systems that provides an always-on packet data capability.

    GSM 1800.  The GSM 1800 band provides for a GSM uplink in the range 1710-1785 MHz, a a GSM downlink in the range 1805-1880 MHz.

    GSM 1900.  The GSM 1800 band provides for a GSM uplink in the range 1850-1910 MHz, a a GSM downlink in the range 1930-1990 MHz.

    GSM 900.  The GSM 900 band provides for a GSM uplink in the range 890-915 MHz, a a GSM downlink in the range 935-960 MHz.

    GSM Affiliation.  Affiliation is the process by which a GSM mobile station joins a network when it is switched on.

    GSM Air Interface.  The GSM air interface operates in the UHF frequency band.

    GSM Architecture.  A GSM network consists of the mobile station, the base station system, the switching system, and the operation and support system.

    GSM Base Station System (BSS).  The GSM base station system (BSS) provides the interface between the GSM mobile phone and other parts of the GSM network.

    GSM Car Alarm.  A GSM car alarm is a burglar alarm for a car that uses a GSM network to inform the owner of the car when it is stolen.

    GSM Car Antenna.  A GSM car antenna is an antenna for a GSM mobile phone designed to be mounted on a car.

    GSM Car Charger.  A GSM car charger is a battery charger for a GSM mobile phone that is part of a car installation.

    GSM Car Installation (Car Kit).  A vehicle installation kit for a GSM mobile phone allows the phone to be installed in a car.

    GSM Car Mute.  GSM car mute is a system that reduces the volume on car radios, CD players etc when a GSM mobile phone call is in progress.

    GSM Car Phone.  A GSM phone is a GSM mobile phone that is designed to be mounted in a car, rather than carried by hand.

    GSM Channels.  GSM provides two types of channel: traffic channels and signalling channels.

    GSM Handover.  Handover refers to the process by which a GSM mobile phone's affiliation is transferred from one base station to another.

    GSM Hands Free.  A hands free kit allows a mobile phone user to use their phone without holding the phone's antenna next to their ear.

    GSM in Australia.  GSM mobile network operators in Australia include Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone.

    GSM in Canada.  GSM mobile network operators in Canada include Rogers AT&T Wireless, Microcell, and Pacific Bell Mobile Services.

    GSM in Germany (Deutschland).  GSM mobile network operators in Germany (Deutschland) include D2 Mannesman, D1 Telekom, E plus, T-mobil, and Viag Interkom.

    GSM in India.  GSM mobile network operators in India include JT Mobile, AT&T-Birla, Hexacom India, and Hutchison Max.

    GSM in New Zealand.  GSM mobile network operators in New Zealand include Bell South New Zealand, Telstra, and Vodafone.

    GSM in North America.  In North America, GSM networks operate in Canada and the United States. GSM network operators in North America include American Personal Communications, BellSouth Mobility DCS, DigiPH PCS, Microcell, NPI Wireless, Omnipoint, Pacific Bell Mobile Services, Powertel, Rogers AT&T Wireless, Voice Stream, and Western Wireless.

    GSM in Pakistan.  GSM mobile network operators in Pakistan include Pakistan Mobile Communications.

    GSM in South Africa.  GSM mobile network operators in South Africa include Vodacom, Mobile Telephone Networks, and Cell-C

    GSM in Sweden.  GSM mobile network operators in Sweden include NordicTel Holdings, Comvik GSM, and Telia Mobitel AB.

    GSM in the United Kindgom (UK).  GSM mobile network operators in the United Kingdom (UK) include Cellnet, Manx Telecom, Jersey Telecoms, Guernsey Telecoms, Orange and Vodafone.

    GSM in the United States (US).  GSM mobile network operators in the United States (US) include American Personal Communications, BellSouth Mobility DCS, Western Wireless, and Powertel.

    GSM Interference.  Any radio transmitter has the potential to cause interference with other electronic equipment. GSM mobile phones, because they transmit data in short time division multiple access (TDMA) bursts, are often believed to cause worse interference than other types of mobile telephone.

    GSM Interworking Unit (GIWU).  The GSM Interworking Unit (GIWU) consists of both hardware and software that provides an interface to various networks for data communications.

    GSM Mobile Phone.  Mobile phone is a generic term for a GSM mobile station.

    GSM Mobile Station (Mobile Handset).  The GSM mobile station (mobile handset) communicates with other parts of the system through the base-station system.

    GSM Operation and Support System (OSS).  The GSM operation and support system (OSS) is the functional entity from which the network operator monitors and controls the system.

    GSM Power Control.  To minimize co-channel interference and to conserve power, both the mobiles and the base transceiver station (BTS) operate at the lowest power level at which an acceptable signal quality can be maintained.

    GSM Power Management.  Power management is required in a GSM mobile phone to maximise the battery life.

    GSM Radio Interface.  The GSM radio interface operates in the UHF frequency band.

    GSM Ringtones (Tones).  Many GSM mobile phones allow the user to not only choose a ring tone from a set pre-loaded in the mobile phone, but to download new ring tones over the air.

    GSM Security.  GSM provides a number of security services, including authentication, key generation, encryption and limited privacy.

    GSM Services.  A GSM network provides a large variety of services, including the voice service, facsimile service, data service, dual tone multifrequency service, SMS, MMS and cell broadcast service.

    GSM Simlock.  SIMlock is used by GSM network operators to restrict the operation of a mobile phone.

    Handy.  Handy is a generic term used in some countries to describe a mobile phone

    HTML (Hypertext Markup Language).  HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) is the format used by many web pages in the Internet.

    Hypertext Markup Language.  See HTML.

    IMEI.  See Internation Mobile Equipment Identity.

    IMSI.  See International Mobile Subscriber Identity.

    Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN).  The Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) provides for the integration of voice and data (as well as other formats such as video and graphics images) over a digital transmission network.

    Internation Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI).  Each GSM mobile phone has a unique International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI), which is used to identify the mobile phone but not the network subscriber using the phone.

    International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI).  The International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) is a number uniquely identifying a GSM subscriber.

    ISDN.  See Integrated Services Digital Network.

    Kostenlos MMS.  Kostenlos SMS is German for Free SMS.

    Kostenlos SMS.  Kostenlos SMS is German for Free SMS.

    MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service).  The GSM MMS (multimedia messaging service) allows users to send and receive messages containing multimedia content (including images, video, audio and text).

    MMS Gratis.  MMS gratis is Italian for Free MMS.

    MMS Gratuit.  MMS gratuit is French for Free MMS.

    Mobile Handset.  See GSM Mobile Station.

    Modulation.  The shifting or translation of a signal from one frequency band to another is accomplished by the process of modulation.

    Multimedia Messaging Service.  See MMS.

    Multiple Access.  Multiple-access techniques aim to share a channel between two or more signals in such a way that each signal can be received without interference from another.

    Omni Antenna.  A GSM omni antenna is an omnidirectional base station antenna.

    OSS.  See GSM Operation and Support System.

    Personal Hands Free.  Personal hands free is another term used to describe a hands free kit for a mobile phone.

    Picture Message.  Picture message is a term sometimes used to describe an MMS message.

    Polyphonic Ringtones (Polyphonic Tones).  A polyphonic tone contains two or more notes that are played simultaneously.

    Polyphonic Tones.  See Polyphonic Ringtones.

    Range.  The range of a GSM system is affected by many factors.

    Removing Simlock.  SIMlock is used by GSM network operators to restrict the operation of a mobile phone. SIMlock can be removed by entering a special code.

    Second Generation Cellular (2G).  Second-generation cellular systems are based on digital communications technology. GSM is a second-generation cellular system.

    Sector.  In GSM, a sector is a cell that covers only part of the area around a base station.

    Sectoring Antenna.  A GSM omni antenna is a directional base station antenna. A sectoring antenna is used in GSM cells that cover only part of the area around a base station.

    Short Message Service.  See SMS.

    Signalling System Number 7.  See SS7.

    SIM.  See Subscriber Identity Module.

    SMS (Short Message Service).  The SMS (short message service) provides a mechanism for transmitting short messages to and from mobile phones. The service makes use of a short message service center (SMSC), which acts as a store-and-forward system for short messages.

    SMS Gratis.  SMS Gratis is Italian for Free SMS.

    SMS Gratuit.  SMS Gratuit is French for Free SMS.

    SS7 (Signalling System Number 7).  The SS7 (Signalling System Number 7) is an ITU standard for signalling in telephone networks.

    Subscriber Identity Module (SIM).  GSM mobile phones acquire their personality from a smart card known as the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM). All the access rights (including identification for billing) are based on the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM), rather than the mobile phone itself.

    Switching System.  The GSM switching system is the core of the GSM network.

    Text Message.  Text message is another term for an SMS message.

    Third Generation Cellular (3G).  Third-generation cellular systems will provide data rates up to 2 Mbps in areas of high population density, with rates reducing as a mobile station moves further from a base station.

    Tones.  See GSM Ringtones.

    Tri Band (tri mode).  A GSM tri band (tri mode) mobile phone is able to operate in the GSM 900, GSM 1800 and GSM 1900 bands.

    tri mode.  See Tri Band.

    UK.  See GSM in the United Kindgom.

    US.  See GSM in the United States.

    Wireless Markup Language.  See WML.

    WML (Wireless Markup Language).  WML (Wireless Markup Language) is a modified version of HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) used in WAP.

    Book Lists

    SIM Locking.  See GSM SIMlock.

     

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    Our other resources include Antennas, Appliances, Broadband Internet, CDMA, Communications Systems, GSM, Modems, Project Management, Radar, Risk Management and Decision Making, Satellite Communications, SMS, Speakers, Systems Engineering, Team Building, Time Management, Transmitters and Receivers, and XML.