2G

2G means second-generation mobile technology.

Commercial launch of 2G cellular telecommunications networks happened in Finland during the year 1991. The technology is based on the GSM standard. The creation of 2G networks improved on the telecommunication industry in 3 ways. The first improvement is that the conversations were digitally encrypted. The second improvement is characterized by the increased network spectrum. The third improvement was the introduction of text messaging.

All technologies that appeared before the 2G technology are considered 1^st generation or 1G technology. Radio signals used in 1G telephone networks were analog. This improved with the digital radio signals used in 2G. The similarity between the two telephony technologies is the use of digital signaling to facilitate communication of the telephone system with the radio towers.

The 2G technology has better privacy as compared to those under 1G. Mobile calls made under the 2^nd generation are more difficult to eavesdrop with radio scanners making 2G mobile phones immensely more private than its predecessors. The calls made during the 1^st generation have very limited protection against eavesdropping.

2G technologies are divided among TDMA-based and CDMA-based that relies on the standards being used. The standards are IS-95 aka cdmaOne, PDC, IS-136 aka D-AMPS, and GSM.

Personal Communication Services or PCS are the US-given definition to the services that the 2G technology provides.

Mobile handsets in 2G use digital signals to communicate with towers which lead to 2 results. One result is the transmission of digital voice with greater success as compared to transmissions in 1G technology. The second result is the decrease in power usage because of the digital systems which makes the cells of 2G technologies smaller which directly results to a decline in expenses for cell tower equipment and infrastructure.

2.5G services are even more able to provide transfers with greater speeds. 3G technologies have already evolved and continuous efforts are done to get into 4G.