GSM shields are important in most electronic projects to enable communication between devices or with your smartphone. However, they do have some downsides. Many are expensive, and the cheaper ones don't protect SIM cards. They use up some of the pins on your microcontroller, which can limit the scope of larger projects. They also have IMEI-related issues, and most of them end up as e-waste after a while. Additionally, their functionality is limited to just GSM calls and SMS.

Unlike GSM shields, VirtualGSMS isn’t a physical component. Instead, the device is connected to a smartphone via Bluetooth or OTG cables. This reduces e-waste and helps repurpose old smartphones. Additionally, using a smartphone is much safer, faster, and cheaper than using a GSM shield. Smartphones also come with a variety of sensors. VirtualGSMS not only allows you to use GSM modules, but also lets you access every sensor that the smartphone has, such as the LDR, gyro, speakers, microphone, and more.