GAIT (an acronym for the GSM-ANSI-136 Interoperability Team) is a wireless standard developed in 1999 that allows cross-operation of mobile telephone technologies. Phones compliant with the GAIT standard can operate on either contemporary GSM networks, or the legacy TDMA and AMPS networks found extensively throughout North America.

Since GAIT phones are interoperable over several types of networks, users can operate their phone in a much larger area compared to phones that use only the GSM standard.

Implementation

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A GAIT-compliant mobile phone typically accepts a SIM card, similar to a standard GSM phone; however, depending on the wireless provider, the SIM card enables access not only to that wireless provider's GSM network, but also enables use of the telephone on any TDMA or AMPS networks run by the wireless provider. In addition to the usual IMEI found on standard GSM mobile phones, a GAIT-compliant mobile phone also includes an AMPS-style ESN unique to the mobile phone.

In the United States, Cingular Wireless offered the Nokia 6340 and Sony Ericsson T62u to customers who wished to have a GAIT mobile phone (although these phones are no longer marketed through Cingular). Although Cingular is phasing out its legacy TDMA and AMPS networks in favor of GSM, nonetheless as of 2005 Cingular's roaming partner networks still have broader geographical coverage than its GSM network, making a GAIT phone attractive to customers who require the broadest coverage availability.

Notes

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