diff --git a/cellular_capability_cdma.h b/cellular_capability_cdma.h
index 3fb6edf..1b022b6 100644
--- a/cellular_capability_cdma.h
+++ b/cellular_capability_cdma.h
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 
 #include <base/memory/scoped_ptr.h>
 #include <base/memory/weak_ptr.h>
+#include <chromeos/dbus/service_constants.h>
 #include <gtest/gtest_prod.h>  // for FRIEND_TEST
 
 #include <string>
@@ -35,7 +36,9 @@
   virtual std::string GetNetworkTechnologyString() const;
   virtual std::string GetRoamingStateString() const;
   virtual void GetSignalQuality();
-  virtual std::string GetTypeString() const { return "CDMA"; }
+  virtual std::string GetTypeString() const {
+    return flimflam::kTechnologyFamilyCdma;
+  }
   virtual bool AllowRoaming();
   virtual void GetRegistrationState();
   virtual void GetProperties(const ResultCallback &callback);
diff --git a/cellular_capability_gsm.h b/cellular_capability_gsm.h
index bacc874..4e1a103 100644
--- a/cellular_capability_gsm.h
+++ b/cellular_capability_gsm.h
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 
 #include <base/memory/scoped_ptr.h>
 #include <base/memory/weak_ptr.h>
+#include <chromeos/dbus/service_constants.h>
 #include <gtest/gtest_prod.h>  // for FRIEND_TEST
 
 #include "shill/accessor_interface.h"
@@ -68,7 +69,9 @@
   virtual void Scan(Error *error, const ResultCallback &callback);
   virtual std::string GetNetworkTechnologyString() const;
   virtual std::string GetRoamingStateString() const;
-  virtual std::string GetTypeString() const { return "GSM"; }
+  virtual std::string GetTypeString() const {
+    return flimflam::kTechnologyFamilyGsm;
+  }
   virtual void OnDBusPropertiesChanged(
       const std::string &interface,
       const DBusPropertiesMap &properties,
diff --git a/cellular_capability_universal.cc b/cellular_capability_universal.cc
index 39d86ca..ee557ea 100644
--- a/cellular_capability_universal.cc
+++ b/cellular_capability_universal.cc
@@ -92,6 +92,26 @@
   return "";
 }
 
+static string AccessTechnologyToTechnologyFamily(uint32 access_technologies) {
+  if (access_technologies & (MM_MODEM_ACCESS_TECHNOLOGY_LTE |
+                             MM_MODEM_ACCESS_TECHNOLOGY_HSPA_PLUS |
+                             MM_MODEM_ACCESS_TECHNOLOGY_HSPA |
+                             MM_MODEM_ACCESS_TECHNOLOGY_HSUPA |
+                             MM_MODEM_ACCESS_TECHNOLOGY_HSDPA |
+                             MM_MODEM_ACCESS_TECHNOLOGY_UMTS |
+                             MM_MODEM_ACCESS_TECHNOLOGY_EDGE |
+                             MM_MODEM_ACCESS_TECHNOLOGY_GPRS |
+                             MM_MODEM_ACCESS_TECHNOLOGY_GSM_COMPACT |
+                             MM_MODEM_ACCESS_TECHNOLOGY_GSM))
+    return flimflam::kTechnologyFamilyGsm;
+  if (access_technologies & (MM_MODEM_ACCESS_TECHNOLOGY_EVDO0 |
+                              MM_MODEM_ACCESS_TECHNOLOGY_EVDOA |
+                              MM_MODEM_ACCESS_TECHNOLOGY_EVDOB |
+                             MM_MODEM_ACCESS_TECHNOLOGY_1XRTT))
+    return flimflam::kTechnologyFamilyCdma;
+  return "";
+}
+
 CellularCapabilityUniversal::CellularCapabilityUniversal(
     Cellular *cellular,
     ProxyFactory *proxy_factory)
@@ -774,7 +794,7 @@
 }
 
 string CellularCapabilityUniversal::GetNetworkTechnologyString() const {
-  // Order is imnportant.  Return the highest speed technology
+  // Order is important.  Return the highest speed technology
   // TODO(jglasgow): change shill interfaces to a capability model
 
   return AccessTechnologyToString(access_technologies_);
@@ -799,6 +819,10 @@
   OnSignalQualityChanged(quality._1);
 }
 
+string CellularCapabilityUniversal::GetTypeString() const {
+  return AccessTechnologyToTechnologyFamily(access_technologies_);
+}
+
 void CellularCapabilityUniversal::OnModemPropertiesChanged(
     const DBusPropertiesMap &properties,
     const vector<string> &/* invalidated_properties */) {
@@ -1010,9 +1034,16 @@
 
 void CellularCapabilityUniversal::OnAccessTechnologiesChanged(
     uint32 access_technologies) {
-  access_technologies_ = access_technologies;
-  if (cellular()->service().get()) {
-    cellular()->service()->SetNetworkTechnology(GetNetworkTechnologyString());
+  if (access_technologies_ != access_technologies) {
+    access_technologies_ = access_technologies;
+    // TODO(jglasgow): address layering violation of emitting change
+    // signal here for a property owned by Cellular.
+    cellular()->adaptor()->EmitStringChanged(
+        flimflam::kTechnologyFamilyProperty,
+        GetTypeString());
+    if (cellular()->service().get()) {
+      cellular()->service()->SetNetworkTechnology(GetNetworkTechnologyString());
+    }
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/cellular_capability_universal.h b/cellular_capability_universal.h
index a0fd239..411f4c9 100644
--- a/cellular_capability_universal.h
+++ b/cellular_capability_universal.h
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@
   virtual std::string GetNetworkTechnologyString() const;
   virtual std::string GetRoamingStateString() const;
   virtual void GetSignalQuality();
-  virtual std::string GetTypeString() const { return "Universal"; }
+  virtual std::string GetTypeString() const;
   virtual void OnDBusPropertiesChanged(
       const std::string &interface,
       const DBusPropertiesMap &changed_properties,
@@ -126,6 +126,7 @@
   FRIEND_TEST(CellularCapabilityUniversalTest, ScanFailure);
   FRIEND_TEST(CellularCapabilityUniversalTest, Connect);
   FRIEND_TEST(CellularCapabilityUniversalTest, ConnectApns);
+  FRIEND_TEST(CellularCapabilityUniversalTest, GetTypeString);
 
   // Methods used in starting a modem
   void Start_EnableModemCompleted(const ResultCallback &callback,
diff --git a/cellular_capability_universal_unittest.cc b/cellular_capability_universal_unittest.cc
index c2fd206..65b1ba3 100644
--- a/cellular_capability_universal_unittest.cc
+++ b/cellular_capability_universal_unittest.cc
@@ -570,4 +570,45 @@
   connect_callback_.Run(bearer, Error(Error::kSuccess));
 }
 
+// Validates GetTypeString and AccessTechnologyToTechnologyFamily
+TEST_F(CellularCapabilityUniversalTest, GetTypeString) {
+  const int gsm_technologies[] = {
+    MM_MODEM_ACCESS_TECHNOLOGY_LTE,
+    MM_MODEM_ACCESS_TECHNOLOGY_HSPA_PLUS,
+    MM_MODEM_ACCESS_TECHNOLOGY_HSPA,
+    MM_MODEM_ACCESS_TECHNOLOGY_HSUPA,
+    MM_MODEM_ACCESS_TECHNOLOGY_HSDPA,
+    MM_MODEM_ACCESS_TECHNOLOGY_UMTS,
+    MM_MODEM_ACCESS_TECHNOLOGY_EDGE,
+    MM_MODEM_ACCESS_TECHNOLOGY_GPRS,
+    MM_MODEM_ACCESS_TECHNOLOGY_GSM_COMPACT,
+    MM_MODEM_ACCESS_TECHNOLOGY_GSM,
+    MM_MODEM_ACCESS_TECHNOLOGY_LTE | MM_MODEM_ACCESS_TECHNOLOGY_EVDO0,
+    MM_MODEM_ACCESS_TECHNOLOGY_GSM | MM_MODEM_ACCESS_TECHNOLOGY_EVDO0,
+    MM_MODEM_ACCESS_TECHNOLOGY_LTE | MM_MODEM_ACCESS_TECHNOLOGY_EVDOA,
+    MM_MODEM_ACCESS_TECHNOLOGY_GSM | MM_MODEM_ACCESS_TECHNOLOGY_EVDOA,
+    MM_MODEM_ACCESS_TECHNOLOGY_LTE | MM_MODEM_ACCESS_TECHNOLOGY_EVDOB,
+    MM_MODEM_ACCESS_TECHNOLOGY_GSM | MM_MODEM_ACCESS_TECHNOLOGY_EVDOB,
+    MM_MODEM_ACCESS_TECHNOLOGY_GSM | MM_MODEM_ACCESS_TECHNOLOGY_1XRTT,
+  };
+  for(size_t i = 0; i < arraysize(gsm_technologies); ++i) {
+    capability_->access_technologies_ = gsm_technologies[i];
+    ASSERT_EQ(capability_->GetTypeString(), flimflam::kTechnologyFamilyGsm);
+  }
+  const int cdma_technologies[] = {
+    MM_MODEM_ACCESS_TECHNOLOGY_EVDO0,
+    MM_MODEM_ACCESS_TECHNOLOGY_EVDOA,
+    MM_MODEM_ACCESS_TECHNOLOGY_EVDOA | MM_MODEM_ACCESS_TECHNOLOGY_EVDO0,
+    MM_MODEM_ACCESS_TECHNOLOGY_EVDOB,
+    MM_MODEM_ACCESS_TECHNOLOGY_EVDOB | MM_MODEM_ACCESS_TECHNOLOGY_EVDO0,
+    MM_MODEM_ACCESS_TECHNOLOGY_1XRTT,
+  };
+  for(size_t i = 0; i < arraysize(cdma_technologies); ++i) {
+    capability_->access_technologies_ = cdma_technologies[i];
+    ASSERT_EQ(capability_->GetTypeString(), flimflam::kTechnologyFamilyCdma);
+  }
+  capability_->access_technologies_ = MM_MODEM_ACCESS_TECHNOLOGY_UNKNOWN;
+  ASSERT_EQ(capability_->GetTypeString(), "");
+}
+
 }  // namespace shill