- This article is about the DECT standard. For other uses see Gap (disambiguation).
The Generic Access Profile (GAP) (ETSI standard EN 300 444) describes a set of mandatory requirements to allow any conforming DECT Fixed Part (base) to inter operate with any conforming DECT Portable Part (handset) in order to provide basic telephony services when attached to a 3.1kHz telephone network (as defined by EN 300 176-2). The objective of GAP is to ensure interoperation at the air interface (i.e. the radio connection) and at the level of procedures to establish, maintain and release telephone calls (Call Control). GAP also mandates procedures for registering Portable Parts to a Fixed Part (Mobility Management). So if you buy a GAP compliant handset from one manufacturer it should work, at the basic level of making calls, with a GAP compliant base from another manufacturer. They will not necessarily be able to access advanced features of the base station, such as remote operation of an answering machine built into the base. Most consumer-level DECT phones and base stations support the GAP profile, even ones that do not publicize this feature, and thus can be used together. However some manufactures lock their systems so that they will not interoperate or provide bases that cannot register new handsets. The GAP does not describe how the Fixed Part is connected to the external telephone network.
