covert@covert.enet.dec.com (John R. Covert 15-Jun-1990 1626) (06/16/90)
The Pan-European digital cellular system being planned for implementation over the next five years has the acronym "GSM". In Digest V10#435, Kolkka Olavi claims this stands for Global System Mobile, which is also what I used to think it stood for, but only because it seemed logical, not because I had ever seen that in print. In an article I posted recently, I referred to it as Group Special Mobile, based on an article published in the Swiss PTT's technical journal which I recently read. Who's right? Kolkka or the Swiss PTT? BTW, both Kolkka and I are not happy with the fact that the U.S. will not be implementing a compatible digital cellular standard that would have allowed U.S. <--> Europe roaming. However, it may be that GSM doesn't have characteristics that the telcos here think are critical. Certainly it is not compatible with AMPS, which would mean that dual-mode phones would be much more difficult to implement. It would probably also mean that hybrid systems, part digital and part analog, could not be operated. As far as I know, the European PTTs are not planning any sort of easy phaseover from the existing networks to GSM. /john