Global System for Mobile communications (GSM: originally from Groupe Spécial Mobile) is the most popular standard for cellular networks for mobile phones in the world.

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GSM for more information.

More details about GSM:

http://students.ee.sun.ac.za/~gshmaritz/gsmfordummies/intro.shtml

http://www.informatik.hu-berlin.de/~goeller/isdn/GSMDmChannels.pdf

The standards:
http://openbsc.osmocom.org/trac/wiki/GSMStandards

Books:

"GSM Networks: Protocols, Terminology, and Implementation" by Gunnar Heine is particularly useful for starting out.

Further Pages¶

• A-Interface
  • Local Call Local Switch
• Abis Interface
  • RSL
• AMR
• ASCI
  • Voice Broadcast Call
  • Voice Group Call
• BSC
• BTS
  • TRX
• Cell Broadcast
• CSD
• E1
• GsmPowerControl
• GSMStandards
• GSUP
• HLR
• IMEI
• MSC
• OML
• Point Codes
• Service Area Broadcast
• SMS
• VAMOS