Integrated solutions for GSM terminals

GSM is the most successful operating digital cellular communications system. Over the past few years the cost of handsets has plummeted while performance and attractiveness have improved significantly. This is due to the advances in IC technology, integration and new architectural approaches. This paper reviews the GSM standard and considers those aspects most significant for terminal design. It describes the different approaches and trade-offs involved in the development of a modern handset implementation and their realization as a commercial chipset. The different functional blocks of a terminal are reviewed, and the design choices, process technologies and partitioning strategies most applicable for each stage are compared. Finally, a brief discussion of some future possibilities and opportunities for further development is presented.