What is DECT

What does DECT stand for?
DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications) is a digital wireless technology which originated in Europe, but is now being adopted increasingly worldwide, for cordless telephones, wireless offices and even wireless telephone lines to the home. The younger brother of GSM - Global System for Mobile - it is by contrast a radio access technology, rather than a comprehensive system architecture; DECT has been designed and specified to interwork with many other types of network, such as the PSTN (conventional telephone networks), ISDN (new digital and data phone networks), GSM (mobile phone networks) and more.

Origins of DECT
Back in the early 1980's, when analogue cordless phones began to reach European shores from the Far East, the techies quickly cottoned on to the fact that if you did it 'digitally' it could be better - less crackle and interference, more phones within a small space, security against eavesdroping, the ability to move throughout buildings by 'handing over' between 'base stations', and more.

By late 1987, two erstwhile technologies had emerged aspiring to this role - the UK CT2 standard and the Swedish CT3. In the true spirit of European compromise it was decided by ETSI - the European Telecommunications Standards Institute, to develop a new standard - DECT - which would take the best of CT2 and CT3 and go far beyond either. Thus, in January 1988, DECT was born.

What is GAP?
GAP Generic Access Profile; this is a common interface for phones to talk to base stations. In theory, any GAP-compatible phone can be used with any other GAP phone. Some features such as shared phonebooks, Intercom, Call transfer and Caller ID may not work, however you will be able to make and receive calls with out a problem. It is always wise to use the same manufacture when choosing a GAP phone to connect to your existing system but not necessary. Most DECT phones are GAP compatible but not all so when buying a DECT phone check the features for GAP Compatible if you are lloking to expand the number of handsets in the future.