Quad Band Mobile and Smartphones
Today's smartphones are packed with standout features and technologies. Purchasing one entails the comparison of various features and technologies against any given budget.
However, if a phone is to be purchased from, or used abroad, all of these features come second to a mobile technology standard that is often overlooked, but which is critical to the functioning of a mobile phone. It's called GSM and a quad band mobile smartphone supports it.
What is GSM?
GSM is the Global System for Mobile communications, the standard that governs mobile service provider networks throughout the world. There are four GSM bands , 850, 900, 1800 and 1900 megahertz (MHz) and which bands are used varies by country and continent. For example, 850 MHz and 900 MHz bands are commonly used in the US whilst 900 MHz and 1800 MHz bands are mostly used in the rest of the world.
Why is GSM so important?
For a smartphone to work in any particular country or continent it has to be compatible with that country's or continent's GSM bands. This compatibility will come as standard for phones used in their country or continent of purchase but if a mobile phone is to be used abroad, or is being bought from abroad, then that's where quad band mobile phones come in their own.
What is a quad band mobile phone?
A quad band mobile phone supports all four major GSM frequency bands and can therefore be used anywhere in the world. With a quad band phone there will be no need to change phones for different countries. Instead, the quad band phone will seamlessly connect to the GSM frequency band used by any given local network service provider.
Aren't all mobile phones quad band?
Not all smartphones are equal which is why, if purchasing from or using a mobile phone abroad, it is imperative to check the phone's GSM specification before buying. Whilst many of the latest smartphones are quad band enabled, there are many phones that only support two or three of the GSM frequency bands. In short, for worldwide compatibility and roaming abroad, quad band smartphones are the way to go.
Brands to consider include Nokia quad band phones, Samsung quad band phones and iPhone quad band phones .