How GSM Cell Phones Came To

GSM cell phones are the most widely used in the earth. Estimations suggest that the standard comprises some 80% of all cellular phones in use throughout the globe. And while GSM cell phones devices are a huge feature of 1st world countries, it is their existence in far less "civilized" areas that best demonstrates the reach and effect of modern day communications.

Picture Somalia: a huge, desert country on the eastern horn of Africa which for the past 20 years has been wracked by civil war as well as famine. Bombed out bullet riddled cities dot the barren landscape where for thousands of years, nomads have roamed the desert herding goats along with camels across hundreds of miles from pastures in the damp season to promote in the dry period. Even practical measures of distance here do not abide by the metric or imperial standards used by the rest of the world.

Nomad determine distance by units referred to as a Gedi: the distance a browsing herd animal may travel in a day, which changes every season depending on the physical strength of each herd. Even working automobiles are scarce here, let alone something sophisticated as a GSM mobile phone. However the simple application of GSM cell phones, which we in the western world have long taken for granted, has proven extremely practical to this nomadic way of life.

For years, Somali herdsmen have followed an annual pattern. Towards the end of the year when the dry season occurs, they migrate from the more fertile grounds elsewhere in the country, across the desert, to coastal cities where they can sell their stock in the markets to traders from the Middle East and in other places. Keeping their animals in pens within the cities while they arrange a sale is incredibly costly, as they will have to continue to feed and water their herd with stores provided for by local merchants at obscene prices. They have no choice. However, GSM cell phones have permitted them to forego this process.

A Somali nomad, a man dressed up in hand sewn clothes that he has likely worn for most of his life, carrying a staff in the traditional posture - horizontally over his shoulders, his arms resting atop - a guy who sleeps using a mat of thatched grass under the stars, beside a fire he created by his own, can now merely make a phone call and prepare the sale of his herd in advance. Instead of lingering in the city for several days, expending what meager wealth he has on preserving his herd there, hoping his sale can recover his losses and even turn a profit, he can now simply arrange to have a buyer prepared for him the minute he arrives. Such high technology might appear incredibly unnatural in Somalia, but it's application is perfectly suited to the needs of a nomad.


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Article by Paul Wise. When it comes to GSM
smart phones, Paul recommends Mobilecustomsusa.com for great advice on GSM cell phones devices for you.