An Overview of GSM Releases

last updated 14th January 2002

This (old) page provides a high level overview of the new functionality that was introduced into the previous GSM releases. The following releases are included:

• GSM Phase 2+ (Release 1998)
• GSM Phase 2+ (Release 1997)
• GSM Phase 2+ (Release 1996)
• GSM Phase 2
• GSM Phase 2

These Work Items were introduced in GSM Specifications V4.X.Y Series.

• BSS Repeaters (RPT)
• DCS1800 4 Watt mobile power class
• DECT access to GSM networks
• Development of the SIM test specification (GSM Phase 2)
• Display of Service Provider Name by the ME
• Enhanced Full Rate Speech codec
• Facsimile Enhancements
• GSM - DCS Roaming
• IMEI Check Digits (ICD)
• Operation of Multi-band GSM/DCS by a single Operator
• SIM - Three Volt Technology SIM
• SMS Cell Broadcast Discontinuous Reception (CB-DRX)
• SMS concatenation
• Software Version Number (SVN)
• Transparently supporting UPT phase 1

Release 96

• 14.4 kbit/s User Data Rate
• ASCI Phase 1 - Enhanced Multi-* Level Precedence and Pre-emption Service -* phase 1
• ASCI Phase 1 - Voice Broadcast Service (VBS) - phase 1
• ASCI Phase 1 - Voice Group Call Service (VGCS) - phase 1
• Barred Dialling Numbers
• CAMEL phase 1
• Compression of User Data
• Concurrent SMS/CB and data transfer in 07.05
• Explicit Call Transfer (ECT)
• Extensions to the SMS alphabet
• Fast Moving Mobile - Hierarchical Cell structure, GSM 05.22
• Handsfree MS
• High Speed Circuit Switched Data
• Improved Transcoder Handling (First Alternative)
• Inclusion of deferred tracing capabilities in GSM 12.08
• ME Personalisation
• Network Identity and Time Zone (NITZ)
• Packet Data on Signalling Channels
• Radio Local Loop (RLL) using GSM
• Second SMS broadcast channel
• Service Dialling Numbers
• SIM Application Toolkit
• SIM I/F data Transfer Speed Enhancement
• SMS - Special SMS Message indication
• SMS Interworking Extensions
• Support of additional call set-up MMI procedures
• Support of Optimal Routeing (SOR)
• Support of Restricted Digital Information and V.120 rate adaptation in GSM

Release 97

• A-bis Management of Alarms/faults on the BTS site
• A-bis Management of Measure on the BTS site
• A-bis Management of reconfiguration of BTS site
• ASCI Phase 2
• Calling Name Presentation - US (CNAP-US)
• CAMEL phase 2
• Characteristics and test methods for handsfree mobile station
• Completion of Calls to Busy Subscriber (CCBS)
• Enhancement of MAP Extensibility Mechanisms
• Enhancements of Fault Management Services
• General Packet Radio Service Phase 1 (GPRS) - network part
• General Packet Radio Service Phase 1 (GPRS) - radio part
• Mobile Assisted Frequency Allocation (MAFA)
• Modeling of Fault Management Services
• Network Indication of Alerting in the MS
• New Multiplexing Protocol on the ME-TE Interface
• North American Equal Access
• SIM - Security mechanisms for the SIM Application Toolkit
• SMS enhancements phase 1
• SMS Mobile Busy
• Support of Private Numbering Plan (SPNP)
• Support of Shared Interworking Function (SIWF)

Release 98

• BTS performance requirements for very small cell scenarios (Picocells)
• Access to auxiliary devices, integrated into the ME platform, through the use of the SIM
• Application Toolkit
• Access to ISPs and Intranets in GPRS Phase 2 – Separation of GPRS Bearer Establishment and ISP Service Environment Setup
• Adaptive Multi-Rate (AMR)
• Call Deflection
• Call Forwarding Enhancements (CFE)
• Calling line identification enhancements (CLIe)
• Connecting an octet stream to a port on an Internet host (R98)
• Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) - BSS Part
• Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) - NSS Part
• Enhanced QoS Support in GPRS
• Follow Me
• Fraud Information Gathering System(FIGS)
• General Packet Radio Service Phase 2 (GPRS) - network part1
• General Packet Radio Service Phase 2 (GPRS) - radio part1
• GPRS for PCS1900
• GPRS Mobile IP Interworking
• GSM - Cordless Telephony System (CTS)
• GSM Mobile Number Portability (EURO) MNP
• GSM-API for SIM-Toolkit
• Harmonization of the PCS1900 Standards with the GSM Base Specification
• Immediate Service Termination (IST)
• LAPDm performance enhancement
• Lawful Interception (LI)
• Location Services (LCS)
• Mobile Station Execution Environment (MExE)
• Modem and ISDN interworking for GPRS
• MS Antenna Test Method
• Multiple Subscriber Profile (MSP)
• Service Provider Number Portability (USA)
• Support of Localized Service Area (SoLSA)
• Tandem Free Operation of speech codecs in Mobile-to-Mobile Calls (MMCs)
• Unstructured octet stream GPRS PDP Type (R98)
• User-to-User Signalling (UUS)
• USSD Enhancements
• 1 Comprises sub-work items in the same table having "GPRS" in their title.

Release 99 and beyond

• Access to ISPs and Intranets in GPRS Phase 2 – Wireless/Remote Access to LANs (R99)
• Advanced Addressing
• Architecture of the GSM-UMTS Platform
• Architecture overview of the GSM-UMTS System
• Automatic Establishment of Roaming Relations
• CAMEL Phase 3
• Charging and Billing for GPRS – Advice of Charge
• Charging and Billing for GPRS – Hot Billing
• Charging and Billing for GPRS – Pre-Paid
• End to End UMTS QoS Management
• Fraud Information Gathering System applied to GPRS
• BSS co-ordination of Core Network Resource allocation for class A GPRS services - GSM - UMTS Core Network (R99)
• BSS co-ordination of Radio Resource allocation for class A GPRS services -* GSM Radio Access (R99)
• GPRS - Point-To-Multipoint Services
• IP-in-IP tunneling in GPRS backbone for UMTS, phase 1
• Low Voltage SIM/ME Specification
• MExE Release 99
• New Access Network to Core Network (BSS-NSS) interface
• Noise Suppression for AMR speech codec
• Provision of text telephony service in GSM and UMTS
• Service Continuity and Provision of VHE via GSM/UMTS
• Study on Combined GSM and Mobile IP Mobility Handling in UMTS IP CN
• UMTS Charging & Billing
• UMTS Core based on ATM Transport
• UMTS Numbering, Addressing and Identities
• UMTS Open Service Architecture
• Virtual Home Environment

Work items whose status is to be determined

• Calling Name Presentation - Euro (CNAP-EU)
• Efficient cellular support of new services in GSM network service areas
• Generic signalling mechanism for service support
• Idle mode classmark
• Impact of Telecommunications Data Protection Directive on GSM Standards
• Interworking with Mobile Satellite Systems
• Multimedia in UMTS
• Provision of text telephony service in GSM and UMTS
• Requirements for equipments/systems interfacing GSM
• Service to GSM Handportables in trains
• Study on provision of facsimile services in GSM and UMTS
• Support of non-realtime Multimedia Messaging Service
• Support of non-realtime Multimedia Messaging Service
• Support of Operator Specific Services (SOOS) when roaming (to be subsumed under VHE?)
• Technical Enhancements/improvements for phase 2