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DifferenceBetweenGSMandUMTS
CategorizedunderCommunication,Technology|DifferenceBetweenGSMandUMTS

GSMvsUMTS

GSM is an abbreviation of Global System for Mobile communication, originally it is

knownasGroupSpecialMobile.Itismobiletelephonysystemthatsetsthestandards
on how mobile telecommunications work. It encompasses everything in reference to
mobilecommunications.

However, in this context of comparing GSM and UMTS, we will refer to GSM as a
service or technology. GSM is a second generation (2G) telecommunications technology which is
launchedearlyinthe90s.Eventually,itincreaseditsspeedandaddedmorefunctionalitylikeGeneral
PacketRadioSystem(GPRS)tothesystemwhichenhanceditto2.5Gstatus.2.5Ghasdataratesup
toabout144kbit/s.IttypicallyusesavariationofTimeDivisionMultipleAccess(TDMA).

Today,inaglobalscale,GSMisstillwidelyusedmobileservice.Thereareabout700mobilenetworks
that provide GSM services across more than 200 countries. Statistically, more than 80 percent of all

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2/6/2017 DifferenceBetweenGSMandUMTS|DifferenceBetween

global mobile connections are GSM. With GSM, subscribers can still continue using their mobile
phones when traveling to other countries because GSM network operators have expansive roaming
agreementswithforeignoperators.

UMTS is the third generation (3G) of mobile telecommunications technology. It is the latest
commercially available technology that mobile phones, PDAs, and smart phones are using today.
Withthisdevelopment,internetaccess(emailandwebbrowsing),videocallingandmessaging,and
textmessaging(SMS)arenowpossiblealongwithtraditionalphonetasks.

Peoplecannowdotheactivitiestheynormallydowithaninternetconnectedhomecomputerwhileon
the trot. Imagine yourself traveling the world and still able to email, video conference, and watch
streamingvideosusingyoursmartphone.Currently,itcanoffertransferspeedsofabout3.6Mbitsper
secondandevenmore,whichcanmakedatatransferseamlessanddownloadsrelativelyfast.

Sprint Unlike GSM, UMTS is mainly based on CDMA (Code

DivisionMultipleAccess)schemeandnowcombinesitwith
TDMA.However,UMTSisstillnewasthereareonlyafew
areasandnetworksthatsupportthetechnology.Evenwith
countries that support it may have set different spectrum,
thusinteroperabilitydoesnotworkfullywhenmovingfrom
one nation to another nation with drastically different
spectrum.
DearVerizonCustomers
Don'tlimityourselfto5GBsGetUnlimitedfrom
Sprint There are also problems regarding the compatibility
between UMTS and GSM, which frequently led to
connections being dropped. But this is being remedied by UMTS/GSM dualmode devices. With that
feature,UMTSphonesthatgooutofUMTSnetworkboundarieswillbetransferredtoGSMcoverage.
Transferofnetworkcanhappenmidcall.

Summary:

1.UMTShasfasterdatatransferratesthanGSM.
2.GSMis2Gand2.5GwhileUMTSisalready3G.
3.GSMisaratheroldtechnologywhileUMTSisnewer.
4.GSMistypicallybasedonTDMAwhileUMTSismainlyCDMAbased.
5.Currently,GSMisstillthemostwidelyusedtechnologytodaywhileUMTSisstillinitsinfancy,slowly
creepingforward.

Sharethis:

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Related

DifferenceBetweenCDMAand DifferenceBetweenUMTSandW DifferenceBetweenUMTSand

GSM CDMA HSDPA
August15,2009 April8,2010 April5,2010
In"Communication" In"Communication" In"Communication"

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Cite
Ian."DifferenceBetweenGSMandUMTS."DifferenceBetween.net.July27,2011<
http://www.differencebetween.net/technology/differencebetweengsmandumts/>.

17Comments
1.jeffdenosta
June22,20101:26am

Thatsreallyinformative!!!!!!thanks.

Reply
2.Teletaz25
July31,20106:06am

Hi,

Thanksfortheinformation.

Reply
3.L.H.Meiteianiltues
April8,20119:35pm

Thanksfortheinformation
ItwillhelpmealotinmyfieldiminthefieldoftelecomwiththeBSNLNEIICirlce,Manipur.

Reply
4.Serg
May17,201110:32pm

GSMisstillthemostwidelyusedtechnologytodaywhileUMTSisstillinitsinfancy,slowly
creepingforwardThatsonlythingIneededtoknowcause3Gpissedmeoffcompletely!Its
unstableinreceivingandregistrationsofprovider(AT&T).MyPhonedoesnotswitch
automaticallytoGSMmode(Nokia5800)when3Gbecomesunavailable.SoIswitchedmycell
toGSMmanually.AndfinallyIhaveaconnection.Idonotreallycareabout3Gfeatures.For
InternetIpreferusealaptop,videocallswereawfulonmyphoneanyway.Idontdotexting,
besidesIhadalotincomingadvertisementSMS(andIhadtopayforit).So3Giswasteof
money.Itslikeanappendix.Thanksforconfirmingitwiththisarticle!

Reply
FaarisBaloch
January29,20136:24am

http://www.differencebetween.net/technology/differencebetweengsmandumts/ 5/8
2/6/2017 DifferenceBetweenGSMandUMTS|DifferenceBetween

yestodayGSMiswidelyuseinworldbut3Gisnotlikeanappendix.Ipersnolylike3G
bcoztomostowesomethinkisin3Gisthatthedataratepersecond.Youcanvediocall
whichisowesomefeatureof3G.IreallyenjoyedwhenIused3GnetworkinDohaQatar.

Reply
5.marius
July23,20117:27pm

AgreewithSerg.Andbtwwithgsmsetonmanuallyyouextendthebatterylife.

Reply
vanbret
November27,201211:54pm

yamabatlifewasbeingconsumetoextendofiwantedtopismyfonoff

Reply
6.JOHNREY
April15,20121:13am

thisinfoissohelpfull

thanksalot

Reply
7.MukeshDodiya
July14,20125:02am

Thtsnic,,thisisreallyinformative
iliktat

thaxfofsharethisinformation

Reply
rajendrakumarjaga
May26,201512:16am

AreyouJAGA

Reply
8.BHaveshPanchal
December18,20122:23am

THanksalotforsharingthisINformation..

Reply

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2/6/2017 DifferenceBetweenGSMandUMTS|DifferenceBetween

9.herveshimwa
April13,20138:58am

thatwazsohelpfullbutineedtoknowifaphoneisanandroidV4butstillworkon2Gmean
GSMisthathaveasense.okanswerme

Reply
10.palani
November10,201412:51pm

Thanksalot

Reply
11.palani
November10,201412:54pm

Thanksfortheinformation.NowiknowthedifferentforGSMUMTS

Reply
12.Yagnik
July28,201512:57pm

CanweuseCdmasiminumtsslot??

Reply
13.Manjunatha.BL
May15,20165:46am

iwantknowtheUMTSsupporttoCDMAMTS

Reply
14.Manjunatha.BL
May15,20165:48am

iwanttoknowtheUMTSmobilesupporttoCDMAMTSnetwork

Reply

LeaveaResponse
Writtenby:Ian.andupdatedonJuly27,2011

ArticlesonDifferenceBetween.netaregeneralinformation,andarenotintendedtosubstitutefor
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