The GSM standard uses TDMA digital technology, which allows for three different voice calls to be placed in the same time slot, rather than one call using the old analog cellular phones. This is possible through digital compression, which GSM then builds upon with the addition of encryption. A GSM cellular phone takes up the same amount of transmission space as the old technology, but has the additional benefit of added security.
One of the great benefits of a GSM cellular phone is the addition of a SIM card, or "Subscriber Identification Module." This little chip slips into the back of a GSM cellular phone and provides all of the users' personal information. This includes contacts and calendar information in most cases, and more importantly the subscriber's personal identification information. Having this information on a removable chip enables a GSM cellular phone user to move a SIM card between cellular phones and still receive voice calls to the same number. It also prevents user from having to re-input personal information each time a new phone is purchased.
GSM Cellular Phone Advantages
A GSM cellular phone offers superior sound quality. Background sounds, disturbances, and static sounds are vastly reduced; and crossed-line conversations are also almost eliminated in a GSM cellular phone. GSM cellular phone sound quality is more like that of a fixed telephone. The main advantages of a GSM cellular phone are International Roaming ability, good sound quality, small affordable handsets and ability to handle a high volume of users. Unlike analog phones, your conversation using a GSM cellular phone within the digital network is safe and secure.
With superior battery life & digital technology of a GSM cellular phone, you get twice as much talk time from each battery charge, compared with analog phones. In addition, the digital service offered by the GSM cellular phone network, allows more calls to be handled at any one time, therefore reducing congestion in areas of dense population and high usage.
A GSM cellular phone offers roaming facility, which means, you can use your GSM cellular phone, with the same phone number in other countries around the world that operate through the GSM cellular phone network or you can just move your SIM card to another GSM cellular phone.
In Europe and most of Asia, GSM is the standard used by everyone. Having one technology is great, because users can simply move their chips to a different GSM cellular phone if they travel to different countries or in most cases use the same phone. This is in contrast to the US, with so many competing standards and difficulty transferring between carriers.
The adoption of GSM technology and GSM cellular phones as a standard also paved the way for the rise of text messaging in many countries. While text messaging is starting to become popular in North America, it is nowhere near as popular as it is in Europe and Asia. Carriers in the US in particular use various technologies in addition to GSM and must then route text messages through third party gateways. This is how a Sprint user can send a text message to a Verizon customer. Until a few years ago this wasn't possible and served to prevent text messaging from truly catching on.
GSM and GSM cellular phones have found a significant boost due to Cingular Wireless becoming America's largest mobile provider. They have adopted GSM technology and promote the GSM cellular phone's ease of use due to a swappable SIM card. Though the US still has many competing technologies, a GSM cellular phone is the international choice. If you plan to travel frequently overseas, a GSM cellular phone might be a wise decision.
The GSM standard has been around for a relatively long time. Its popularity continues to grow because of the addition of GPRS and integration of cameras, MP3 players and other gadgets into a GSM cellular phone. Modern GSM cellular phones support the creation of text and picture messages. Because of these additions, this relatively old standard is actually being phased in within the US.
Mobile Phone repairs
Cell phones have become a necessity for many people throughout the world. In such a scenario, life seems to come at a halt if there is a fault in your cellular phone and you need a repair.
Until recently, only the manufacturers undertook the cellular phone repair job. Opportunities now exist for entrepreneurial individuals to start their own lucrative business, either as an employee of a cellular phone repair shop, or having their own stand-alone cellular phone repair operation.
Some basic steps may be followed if your cell phone is not working properly. First, determine if the problem is with the phone or the battery by replacing the battery. If you can't hear callers, make sure the volume is turned up, the ringer turned on, or the battery is charged. If these strategies don't work, take your cell phone to a cellular phone repair center.
Nowadays, customers may bring in a faulty phone to any of the cellular phone repair centers. A Work Order Form will be issued, and a deposit towards the cellular phone repair service must be made. An agreement is then signed for receiving a courtesy phone. All cellular phones have a one-year manufacturer's warranty. The cellular phone repair centers will repair or replace phones under warranty as long as the user did not cause any physical damage to the phone. If the warranty has expired, the cellular phone repair center might charge for repairs. Once the cellular phone repair job is over and the phone is returned by the relevant cellular phone repair center, the customer returns the courtesy phone, makes the final payment and receives the repaired unit. Sometimes it's best to just purchase a new phone, because cellular phone repair costs can be as high as the cost of a new phone.
A cellular phone repair technician has several sophisticated tools and techniques available for the repair job, such as:
Cleaners - They are used in cellular phone repair since they are oxide dissolving contact cleaners. These equipments are used to clean dirty pins in the phone and thus aid in cellular phone repair.
Lamps - They are used while doing a cellular phone repair job to protect your eyes when you work. Table lamps come with high-frequency 4200Hz lamp without frequent sparking to avoid harmful effect to eyes, since a lot of work under deficient light at normal 50Hz/60Hz can cause short eyesight and many eye diseases. It is a very useful tool for people who are doing the cellular phone repair business.
Phone Open Tools - A cellular phone repair job requires opening up of cellular phones. Several tools such as screwdrivers made of magnetic alloy steel can be used for this part of the job.
Programmers - Cellular phone repair requires the cellular phone to be unlocked. Not all mobile phones can be unlocked with simple cable. Programming tools can be the only way to repair "death phones", those that have stopped working. A 24xxx chip reader can read and write EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) in a phone without any problem. Power obtained from USB connection to computer port, serial port is used for reading/writing data during a cellular phone repair job. Programming tools are used in almost every cellular phone repair center.
Ultrasonic Cleaner - It is a device that transfers ultrasonic sound waves to a cleaning liquid or solvent that dislodges embedded dirt on objects immersed in it. The ultrasonic cleaner is used during cellular phone repair to clear the PCB board of cellular phones.
If your phone becomes faulty, don't panic. Just take the basic steps that have been highlighted above. If this does not work out, you can still take your phone to a cellular phone repair center where a cellular phone repair technician can solve your problem.