What is GPRS?

Just turn on, tune in, and download - whenever you like. GPRS is the perfect bearer for many kinds of applications: Multimedia messaging, Imaging and browsing.

GPRS utilizes packet switching technology where information is transmitted in short bursts of data over an IP-based network. GPRS provides a quick session set up and fast data transmission speeds. GPRS can use multiple time slots for data transfer as opposed to a normal single time slot.

The development of General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) is an essential milestone on the road to 3G and All-IP. As a convergence of mobile telecommunications and data networking, GPRS brings Internet Protocol (IP)-based services to the mobile mass market. For instance, GPRS is ideally suited to applications with a 'bursty' nature of data transfer e.g. WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) services, messaging, Multimedia Messaging Service, Internet, etc.

This compliments data products such as the Nokia D211 multimode radio card, (small but powerful) as it leads to "always-on" Internet access through GPRS, HSCSD (High Speed Circuit Switched Data), and wireless LAN (Local Area Network) coverage areas. It is an ideal product for mobile professionals needing mobile data connectivity as it extends personal mobility further with remote access to corporate services. Users need only one device for mobile data services and email, but have more options for connecting to the Internet and the company intranet. There are numerous benefits to GPRS, but principally, it brings IP to GSM networks, which improves spectrum efficiency and end-user experience e.g. allowing higher data transmission speeds and lower costs.

A GPRS mobile can be used as a wireless modem, (with a PC or PDA) which enables the user to download emails and read them (a set up similar to traditional circuit switching data connections) after they have connected to an ISP (Internet Service Provider.) GPRS technology is truly modern as M2M connections can be infrared or Bluetooth (e.g. mobile phone to laptop.) It is not only ideal for downloading emails, but users can surf the Internet using GPRS as it's 'sporadic' nature is optimal for applications like web - browsing. When you access a web page, the browser sends data to the web server, the server sends back the page that was requested and after that the user can spend as much time as required reading the page. Another feature of GPRS is its convenience when browsing. Most of the time you are not sending or receiving anything, but when you want to fetch a new page it is important that you can start sending and receiving data quickly again. With a GPRS dial-up connection, you first open the connection, and then browse as long as you want without worrying about how long the connection will be open.

It follows that, as GPRS opens up the world of mobile communications, it is bound to raise questions of security. However, the GPRS connection is secured as authentication and ciphering are used in radio access, although the IP is operator dependent and there are various standard Internet security methods available.