• GSM is the digital technology many cell phones rely on today.cell phone image by Mat Hayward from Fotolia.com
  
  Global System for Mobile (GSM) communications is a second-generation digital mobile telephone standard. Speech is inherently analog, so a GSM system digitizes and compresses voice data and then sends it down a channel with two other streams of user data. Digital systems can do a number of things that analog systems cannot such as send and receive faxes, data calls, and messaging. However, GSM systems have some drawbacks.
  
  

Quality

• Although digital systems are taking over the world, analog systems still have the advantage in some instances. A GSM digital system may have more functions, but analog systems usually have better sound quality. According to The Electronics Club, digital systems can take in and process only a limited number of values at one time, where as an analog system can take in more. This results in a better quality of sound. For this reason, many recording artist still use analog rather than digital systems for the richer sound quality it produces.
  
  

Cost

• GSM digital systems cost more than an analog system in general. However, because GSM is becoming so common, the cost of the technology is going down. But, just because a digital device is becoming less expensive to purchase doesn't mean it's the cheaper choice over all. Repairs can become very costly on digital devices. A problem with an analog device is usually a simpler mechanical fix, while a problem with digital technology usually means a computer problem, which can be more complicated and time consuming.
  
  

Availability

• Just because a cell phone with digital technology is the more prevalent technology doesn't mean it's an option available to everyone. People who live in extremely rural areas may not have a provider in their areas. Those areas are becoming smaller, but there are some remote parts of the country that do not have a digital option.
  
  

Dependency

• Because of all the capabilities GSM technology provides us with, society has become dependent on fast and accurate communication. GSM technology offers the opportunity to communicate quicker and more accurately than ever; however, when the technology has problems it can hinder communication. If for some reason technology is down, we become frustrated. Progress is always a good thing, but when digital systems are not available, it can be difficult to revert back to old systems which causes frustration and loss of productivity.