What is GPRS
Novice users often confuse GPS and GPRS. Sometimes they also confuse the first two terms with RFID, but for this already, unambiguously, you need to deprive sweets. To avoid confusion, let's nevertheless clarify this issue. Today we will find out what the mysterious term GPRS means, which is colloquially pronounced as "ZHPRS", but quite colloquially ... however, I will not be able to pronounce it on the radio, because I will be fired immediately. So, the abbreviation GPRS stands for and translates as "packet data transmission over a radio channel." GPRS is, as it were, an add-on to the GSM standard, which is used by our usual mobile phones. To implement GPRS, a mobile operator needs to install, configure and constantly administer various hardware and software, which together form a special computer-mobile network. However, ordinary users should not worry about all these subtleties. To use this technology, they just need to purchase a mobile phone with GPRS support, and I should note that almost everyone supports it. modern phoneseven the cheapest. After that, you need to turn on the GPRS service with your operator, if it is suddenly not turned on, well, then - use GPRS in the tail and in the mane, if there is such a need. What does GPRS give on an ordinary mobile phone-smartphone? The ability to access the Internet and connect to relevant services: Internet pages, news channels, and so on and so forth. "Wait," you say. "But what about WAP? I remember, I can connect to some pages from my phone using WAP." That's right, you can! But only when you connect to WAP via a regular connection (CSD), then your phone is busy, and you pay for this connection in almost the same way as for a regular conversation on your mobile - that is, wild money! And GPRS is a technology that allows you to transfer data over parallel channels, which practically do not interfere with normal communication. In this regard, you pay not for the time spent on the Internet, which is very painful for any wallet, but only for traffic - that is, for the transferred files (I note just in case that opening some Internet page already means downloading files - text and page design). Moreover, this fee is very small compared to the payment for calls: about 10-20 cents per megabyte of data. Thus, your mobile phone can be connected to GPRS all the time - it practically does not interfere with incoming and outgoing calls, and if you do not download anything, then the money from the account is not spent.
In the characteristics of mobile phones, you can find many incomprehensible terms and abbreviations. One of these abbreviations is GPRS. Users who actively use the mobile Internet since the mid-2000s know the meaning of this term. But, there are also many who in those years used the phone only for voice calls and SMS. If you also do not know what GPRS is in a phone, then we suggest that you familiarize yourself with this small article.
What is GPRS in the phone
The abbreviation GPRS stands for General Packet Radio Service, which can be translated into Russian as packet radio communication common use... This technology is an extension of the technology mobile communications GSM and allows data transmission over a mobile network. This allows the GSM user to exchange data with other users of the GSM network, as well as with external networks such as the Internet.
The principle of GPRS operation is to combine data into packets and send them over unused GSM voice channels, which allows more efficient use of GSM network resources. In this case, the mobile operator can choose which type of transmission has a higher priority, voice or data packets. In Russia, traditionally, mobile operators prefer voice traffic, so the connection speed via GPRS strongly depends on the operator's network congestion.
In theory, the GPRS data transfer rate can reach 171.2 kbps, but due to various limitations in practice, the speed is usually much slower. For example, mobile phones from the 2000s, when GPRS was actively used, could receive data at speeds of no more than 85 kbps.
GPRS is part of the second generation mobile networks and now this technology is almost never used in practice. Currently, most mobile phones support 3rd and 4th generation mobile networks, where data transfer rates are much higher. Therefore, if you notice GPRS support in the characteristics of a mobile phone, then you can not pay special attention to this, you will no longer use this technology.
Separately, let's say a few words about GPS, which is often confused with GPRS. Despite the similar names, these are completely different technologies that are responsible for the solution different tasks... As already mentioned, GPRS is a technology for packet data transmission over gSM networkswhich is mainly used to access the Internet. Whereas GPS is a satellite navigation system that allows you to determine the exact location.
We will tell you what GPRS is and whether modern smartphones need it.
Most mobile phones support internet connectivity. Usually, for this, the services of mobile operators are used, which offer users several options for network connection:
- GPRS.
- 3G ().
Let's dwell on the first option. GPRS is a packet radio general use... In fact, this is an add-on that is present in legacy devices... But new smartphones also have GPRS support.
To use GPRS, you need to install correct settings access points provided by the mobile operator. Usually this information is located on the official website of the company. A potential user needs to enter the phone settings, save the required configuration and open a browser to use the Internet. After successful connection, “G” will be displayed on the screen.
The GPRS standard is usually slow. The technology allows you to achieve maximum speed data transmission 172 kilobits / s. Practice shows that this value is overestimated. The decrease in speed occurs as a result of congestion mobile operator and various obstacles between the smartphone user and the repeater cellular communication.
Why do you need GPRS in a smartphone?
A logical question may arise - why use GPRS if modern phones support modern communication standards? The main reason is poor coverage cellular operator... To access the Internet in the countryside, you can only connect to an outdated communication standard. Other methods of transferring information often remain inoperable.
The second advantage of the standard is low energy consumption. It is relevant for users navigation programs... A 3G or 4G connection quickly drains the battery of a smartphone, as it requires increased energy for the radio module for transmitting information. The outdated protocol will significantly extend the use of the built-in battery. This feature is useful if the smartphone is often used on trips as a navigator.
The third reason to enable GPRS is the low cost of services. Sometimes you need to use a specific site or read news on the Internet. It will be impractical to connect a 3G or 4G Internet package - such a service is very expensive. It is much more profitable to use a GPRS connection and save money on your balance. Of course, in 2019, this argument looks impractical.
GPRS technology remains relevant in 2019. Thanks to the standard, phone owners can visit the desired site or use the navigator to transfer the coordinates of their location to another device. But there is a serious disadvantage - extremely low Internet speed.
General Packet Radio Services technology.
Answering the question, what is GPRS and what is it for, let us dwell on some aspects of the operation of GSM networks. We will not go into unnecessary technical details and will try to tell everything intelligibly.
1. How does GPRS work?
With a normal connection, both for conversation and for transmitting data, a GSM subscriber is allocated a radio channel (more precisely, a part of a radio channel) with a bandwidth of 9.6 Kbps. Such a low speed seriously limits the possibilities of using GSM networks, for example, it concerns working with the Internet. (For comparison: when connecting to the Internet using a modem, the information exchange rate can ideally reach 52 Kbps.) But when the GSM standard was being developed, the need for data transmission was small, and they did not concentrate on solving the problem.
All the existing difficulties associated with high-speed information exchange will disappear with the advent of third generation (3G) networks. However, 3G is tomorrow ( approx. ed .: this article was written in 2006), and today it is necessary to transfer data in the networks that have received everyday distribution, GSM. GPRS technology allows you to modify communications with minimal costs (although we are still talking about millions of dollars).
The principle of operation of GPRS is based on the fact that the radio channel is divided into intervals (timeslots, we will call them slots). At each moment of time, part of the slots remains free, which means that they can be used for data transfer. This opportunity is exploited by GPRS. An ordinary GSM phone always uses one slot, while GPRS devices use several at once, which significantly speeds up data transfer. The throughput of one slot can be from 9.5 to 21.4 kbps, depending on the coding scheme. The theoretical speed limit in GPRS is 171.2 Kbps. According to the provided speed (the number of simultaneously occupied slots), all GPRS devices are divided into 12 classes (MultiSlot Class). Devices of the first generation are capable of exchanging information at a speed of up to 40.3 Kbps.
Handsets are also classified according to another criterion - according to the order of work with data and voice (GPRS Class). Class A devices allow you to simultaneously transmit information and conduct a conversation. Class B also works both in voice and data transmission modes, but it does not allow doing this at the same time (mobile phones of this class are currently entering the market). Class C supports either voice or data.
GPRS places high demands on the cellular network. For data transmission, resources are used that are not occupied by conversations. Voice traffic has priority, so if the network is congested, then GPRS does not work. Accordingly, the data transfer rate can be judged on the network reserves.
The PC Magazine / RE test laboratory investigated the new GPRS data transmission services provided by the Beeline GSM network.
Theoretically, as mentioned above, GPRS provides data transfer rates up to 171.2 Kbps (8 channels 21.4 Kbps per channel, when using the CS4 coding scheme). In practice, the speed, of course, is lower; when using the CS2 coding scheme implemented in currently existing terminals, the data transmission rate in one channel is 13.4 Kbps, while existing phones can only occupy three to four channels for receiving data (plus one for transmitting).
One of the problems that significantly delayed the deployment of GPRS networks is the insufficient number of GPRS phones. When developing complete devices, designers faced a problem increased power consumption; since the terminal works with several channels, the transmitter power must be higher, which means more consumption. Despite the fact that the GPRS architecture provides for the possibility of solving this problem (for example, the terminal does not spend energy on scanning the air over a given frequency range, tracking only the signaling channels, through which information is transmitted, on which channels of this particular terminal to expect data), the problem power supply proved to be quite serious. Today it has been more or less solved, but a relatively mass release of GPRS-phones is expected only in the fall. At the time of testing, there was only one phone on sale - Motorola T260 (maximum speed 40.2 kbps).
Exploring gPRS services in the Beeline GSM network (while the network is in trial operation mode). At first, it was planned to evaluate the quality of services based on a set of special scenarios that simulate the actions of an average cellular Internet user (viewing e-mail, Web, working with ICQ, FTP, etc.). When working with a laptop and different models handheld PCs (Psion netBook, Palm IIIxe and HP Jornada 548). During the research, no noticeable problems were found when setting up the connection of handheld PCs and laptops with GPRS, at least not more than when working with a regular cell phone. Everything is as usual - modem and connection "profiles" are created and information provided by the operator is entered into them (IP-addresses dNS servers and parameters for managing "quality of service"). To connect to the GPRS network, you need to “call” using standard system tools to the “pseudo-telephone” number * 99 #.
So far, any quantitative estimates do not make sense. The nominal speed of communication in the BeeLine GSM network, according to company representatives, is 15-20 Kbps. Practice has shown that this is the peak speed, as a rule, in reality it is much less. In the Beeline GSM network today, voice traffic has a higher priority than GPRS services, and therefore the "average connection speed" parameter is small, which indicates the quality of communication, too wide a scatter of values. In general, Web pages are loaded at about the same speed as when working with the GSM network, however, from the user's point of view, this happens a little differently - if in the GSM network the page is slowly but surely "pumped", then when working with GPRS , as a rule, there is a pause (speed 3-4 bytes / s), then a "peak" (15-20 kbps), the "pivsite" is loaded, then again a pause. As a result, the process takes about the same time as when working with GSM (the time of “loading” of the www.pcmag.ru page was measured, some measures were taken to compensate for the influence of graphic images posted on other Web sites).
It should be noted the strange behavior of the network when working with fTP servers - if the test file is more than 1 KB in length, then the chances of copying are sharply reduced. In this case, an attempt to "download" a file using http protocol, certainly turns out to be successful. Almost the same picture is observed when working with e-mail (letters larger than 1 KB are transferred quickly, while larger ones “freeze”). How this effect is explained is unclear; it is quite possible that these are manifestations of the "exploratory" nature of the GPRS network. After the start of commercial operation, this problem can be investigated in more detail.
From the user's point of view, there are few preferences in GPRS. Before, the paid pause (20-60 s) disappears when connecting to the traditional "cellular Internet" (currently the user is registering in the network). "Instant" connection makes work much more comfortable, and a simple calculation shows that connecting to the cellular Internet twice a day (for example, checking mail, watching news, etc.), you can save 20-60 minutes per month. airtime. Another plus is the principle of "per megabyte" payment, the dependence on a factor not controlled by the user - time - disappears.
It is too early to draw final conclusions, since the main thing is unknown - prices (during the trial operation, until September 20, GPRS services are provided free of charge). At first glance, however, the technology looks promising.
2. A look at the GPRS technology from the inside.
One of the significant disadvantages of GSM cellular networks today is the low data transfer rate (maximum 9.6 kbps). And the very organization of this process is far from perfect - one voice channel is allocated to the subscriber for data transmission, and billing is carried out based on the connection time (moreover, according to tariffs, it does not differ much from the voice one).
For high-speed data transmission via existing GSM networks, GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) was developed. It should be noted that in addition to increasing the speed (the maximum is 171.2 Kbit / s, but more on that below), the new system assumes a different payment scheme for data transmission services - when using GPRS, calculations will be made in proportion to the volume of transmitted information, and not to the time spent online. In addition, the introduction of GPRS will contribute to a more economical and rational distribution of the radio frequency resource: without going into technical subtleties, we can say that "packets" of data are supposed to be transmitted simultaneously over many channels (it is in the simultaneous use of several channels that the gain in speed lies) in pauses between transmission of speech. And only in pauses - voice traffic has an unconditional priority over data, so the speed of information transfer is determined not only by the capabilities of the network and subscriber equipment, but also by the network load. I would like to emphasize that in GPRS, not a single channel is fully engaged for data transmission - and this is the main qualitative difference between the new technology and the currently used ones. Just imagine - you can constantly have a green ICQ chamomile on your laptop without overloading the network, and pay in proportion to the volume of received and sent messages.
Of course, the GPRS developers have made every effort to make the installation of the new system "on top" of the existing GSM networks as less burdensome (and ruinous, which is important) for operators. Let's take a closer look at what new blocks and connections appear in the general architecture of the GSM cellular communication system with the introduction of GPRS, and then we will discuss the user equipment capable of working with high-speed packet data transmission.
2.1 GPRS from the inside.
Modification of the GSM network for the provision of high-speed GPRS data transmission services can be conditionally divided into two forms - software and hardware. If speak about software, then it requires either replacement or updating almost everywhere - from HLR-VLR registries to BTS base stations. In particular, a mode of multi-user access to time frames of GSM channels is introduced, and in HLR, for example, a new parameter Mobile Station Multislot Capability appears (the number of channels with which a subscriber's mobile phone can simultaneously work, but more on that below).
Fig. one Structural scheme GPRS network.
The core of the GPRS system (GPRS Core Network) consists (Fig. 3.1) of two main blocks - SGSN (Serving GPRS Support Node) and GGPRS (Gateway GPRS Support Node). Let's dwell on their functions in more detail.
SGSN is, roughly speaking, the brain of the system in question. In a way, the SGSN can be called an analogue of the MSC - a GSM network switch. They appeared in the same way as MSCs, SGSNs, there may be more than one in the system - in this case, each node is responsible for its own section of the network. For example, Motorola's SGSN has the following characteristics: each node supports transmission of up to 2000 packets per second, simultaneously monitors up to 10,000 online users. In total, the system can contain up to 18 Motorola SGSNs.
The purpose of the GGSN can be understood from its name - roughly speaking, it is a gateway between the cellular network (more precisely, its part for the transmission of GPRS data) and external information highways (Internet, corporate intranet networks, other GPRS systems, etc.). The main task of the GGSN, therefore, is the routing (routing) of data going from and to the subscriber through the SGSN. Secondary functions of GGSN are data addressing, dynamic allocation of IP addresses, as well as tracking information about external networks and own subscribers (including billing of services).
Note that the GPRS system has good scalability - when new subscribers appear, the operator can increase the number of SGSNs, and when the total traffic escalates, add new GGSNs to the system. Within the core of the GPRS system (between the SGSN and the GGSN), data is transmitted using a special GTP (GPRS Tunneling Protocol) tunneling protocol.
Another component of the GPRS system is the PCU (Packet Control Unit). The PCU interfaces with the base station controller BSC and is responsible for routing data traffic directly from the BSC to the SGSN.
In the future (when the system is oriented towards mobile Internet) it is possible to add a special node - IGSN (Internet GPRS Support Node).
The OMC-R / G (Operation and Maintenance Center - Radio / GSN) is responsible for the management and control of the GPRS system. This is the so-called interface between the system and its operating personnel.
Before starting to work with GPRS, the mobile station, as in the usual case of voice transmission, must register in the system. As already mentioned, the registration (or, more precisely, the "attachment" to the network) of users is handled by SGSN. In case of successful completion of all procedures (checking the availability of the requested service and copying the necessary data about the user from the HLR to the SGSN), the subscriber is issued a P-TMSI (Packet Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity - temporary number mobile subscriber for packet data), similar to the TMSI, which is assigned mobile phone for voice transmission (by the way, if the subscriber terminal belongs to class A, then both TMSI and P-TMSI are allocated to it during registration).
To quickly route information to a mobile subscriber, the GPRS system needs data about its location relative to the network, and with greater accuracy than in the case of voice traffic (remember, HLR and VLR store the Location Area (LA) number where the subscriber is located). But imagine how the service traffic in the cellular network and the power consumption of the mobile device will increase if the phone informs the system every time it moves from one cell to another! To find a compromise between the volume of signaling traffic in the GPRS network and the need to know with high accuracy the location of the subscriber, the terminals are divided into three classes:
· IDLE (not working). The phone is disconnected or out of network coverage. Obviously, the system does not track the movement of such subscribers.
· STANDBY (standby mode). The device is registered (attached) in the GPRS system, but for a long time (determined by a special timer) it has not been working with data transmission. The location of STANDBY subscribers is known with an accuracy of RA (Routing Area). RA is smaller than LA (each LA is divided into several RAs, but, however, RA is larger than a cell and consists of several elementary cells).
· READY (readiness). The subscriber terminal is registered in the system and is in active operation. The coordinates of phones in READY mode are known to the system (more precisely, SGSN) with cell accuracy. According to this ideology, terminals in STANDBY mode, when moving from one RA to another, send a special signal to change the routing area (routing area update request) to the SGSN. If the new and old RA are monitored by the same SGSN, then changing the RA only results in an adjustment of the SGSN entry. If the subscriber moves into the coverage area of \u200b\u200bthe new SGSN, the new SGSN asks the old for information about the user, and the MSC, VLR, HLR and GGSN are notified of the SGSN change. When a telephone operating with a GPRS system moves to another LA, the SGSN sends a message to the corresponding VLR about the need to change the subscriber's location record.
The situation is interesting with data routing in the case of GPRS-subscriber roaming. In this case, two options are possible, or, more expediently, scenarios. SGSN in both cases is used by the guest (VSGSN - Visited SGSN), but the GGSN can be used either by the guest (VGGSN - Visited GGSN), or home (HGGSN - Home GGSN). In the latter case, there must be a GPRS backbone between the home and guest operators (InterPLMN GPRS BackBone - GPRS line between different mobile networks) to transfer traffic between the HGGSN and mobile subscriber... In addition, there is a need for BG (Border Gateway) on both sides in order to protect networks from outside attacks.
It should be noted such an important parameter as Qo (Quality of Service - quality of service). Obviously, real-time video conferencing and e-mails have different requirements, for example, delays in the path of data packets. Therefore, there are several Qo classes in GPRS, which are subdivided according to the following criteria:
· Required priority (there are high, medium and low data priority);
Reliability (division into three classes by quantity possible mistakes various kinds, lost packets, etc.);
· Delays (information delays outside the GPRS network are not taken into account);
· Quantitative characteristics (peak and average speed);
The Qo class is selected individually for each new data transmission session.
In addition to Qo, the characteristics of a data transmission session include the type of protocol (PDP type - Packet Data Protocol type) PDP address issued mobile station (the issuance of addresses can be both static and dynamic), as well as the GGSN address with which the work is in progress. The "profile" of the session (in the English language literature, the designation "PDP context" is accepted) is recorded in the telephone, as well as in the SGSN and GGSN serving it. Several communication profiles for each user can be supported at the same time.
Broadly speaking, packet data transmission provides two modes of "connections":
1. PTP (Point-To-Point);
2. PTM (Point-To-Multipoint).
The PTM broadcast mode, in turn, is divided into two classes:
1.PTM-M (PTM-Multicast) - transmission necessary information all users located in a specific geographic area;
2. PTM-G (PTM-Group Call) - data is sent to a specific group of users.
Support for multipoint PTM transmission is expected in future GPRS specifications.
Therefore, the main characteristics of the GPRS protocol are efficient use of radio and network resources, as well as fully transparent support for the IP protocol. GPRS optimizes the use of network and radio resources. The GPRS protocol uses the radio resource only in cases where it is actually required to receive or transmit data. Using packet technology, this protocol allows applications to use network resources only when user applications have data to transfer over the network. Thus, the protocol is adapted to the uneven traffic patterns of user applications.
Another important feature of GPRS is its immediate connectivity and high bandwidth. Applications based on standard data transfer protocols such as IP and X.25 are supported. To support data transmission applications, the GPRS protocol uses several new network nodes, in addition to the network nodes used in GSM PLMN. These nodes are responsible for routing traffic and implementing other exchange functions with external packet switching networks, searching for subscribers, selecting cells, roaming, and many other functions necessary to ensure the operation of the cellular network. In addition, GPRS uses the GSM SMS and GSM MM protocols (the latter is called GMM in GPRS).
2.2 GPRS outside subscriber devices.
Now let's talk about GPRS client equipment. Unfortunately or fortunately, but to work with the packet data system, you need to have a special phone that is compatible with GPRS. More strictly speaking, GPRS terminals are divided into three classes:
1. Class A devices are capable of simultaneously working with both voice and data transmission (they, in technical terms, have the ability to operate both in circuit switched mode and packet switched mode. - we are talking about simultaneous work in different modes);
2. Class B devices can carry out either voice or data transmission, but not simultaneously;
3. Class C devices only support data transmission and cannot be used for voice communication. As a rule, these are various kinds of computer boards for providing wireless access to data.
It should be noted that the maximum data transmission rate is determined, first of all, by the number of channels with which the subscriber terminal can simultaneously work. One channel provides data transfer rates up to 13.4 Kbps.
The French company SAGEM was one of the first manufacturers to introduce GPRS-compatible phones. The Sagem MC-850 model, which was presented at the Geneva exhibition TELECOM-99, belongs to class B and has one data transmission channel and three for reception, and a slightly more modern Sagem MW-959, presented to the public at CEBIT-2000, includes already four channels for incoming traffic (there is still one channel for transmission, the class of the device has not changed either). Thus, the maximum speed of data reception using the Sagem MW-959 phone is 53.6 Kbps, and the transmission speed is 13.4 Kbps.
Conclusion. In the current 2002, an avalanche, if I may say so, the introduction of GPRS around the world is expected. The next step from GSM to third-generation networks UMTS (Universal Mobile Telephone System) is EDGE technology (Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution - loosely translated “data transmission to increased speed"), Which allows transferring information at speeds up to 384 Kbps over eight GSM-channels (48 Kbps per channel). To implement EDGE "over GPRS", operators will need to replace BTS base station equipment, and users will need to purchase EDGE-supporting telephones. Although at the moment it is difficult for me personally to imagine what a subscriber of a GSM cellular network should do so that the speed of 170 Kbps offered by GPRS is not enough for him.
2.2.1 What does GPRS technology give a subscriber?
GPRS will allow the introduction of fundamentally new services that were not previously available. First of all, it is mobile access to Internet resources with a satisfying consumer speed, instant connection and a very favorable tariffication system. For example, when browsing a web page using the GPRS system, we can study the content as much as we need, since we pay only for the received information and do not pay for the time spent on the Internet (without transmitting data, we do not occupy the network channels). When introducing time wages on fixed telephone lines, tariffs for Internet access from a mobile GPRS phone will be even more competitive.
GPRS technology will allow you to quickly transfer and receive large amounts of data, video images, MP3 music files and other multimedia information.
For those subscribers who have already appreciated the convenience of using phones with a WAP browser, the introduction of GPRS technology means almost instant loading of WAP pages on the phone screen and a more favorable billing system.
For corporate users, the GPRS system can serve as an excellent tool for ensuring safe and quick access of employees to corporate networks of enterprises, to mail, information servers, and remote databases. At the same time, it will be possible to get access to corporate networks even if the subscriber is in the network of another GSM operator with which GPRS roaming is organized.
GPRS technology can be used in telemetry systems: the device can be connected all the time without occupying a separate channel. Such a service may be required by the security services of banks to connect ATMs in other areas, including industrial ones.
3. Trends in the development of demand for GPRS. Prospects for the development of services.
After describing the advantages of GPRS, it hardly needs proof that while a number of GSM operators see GPRS only as a transitional stage to 3G systems, others - especially those who are not going to apply for 3G licenses and do not hope to obtain such licenses. see GPRS as a long-term solution to the explosion predicted in wireless data transmission, comparable to what can be achieved through leading implementation. However, for those who intend to implement 3G systems, additional equipment required to support GPRS will become a good basis for supporting data traffic in W-CDMA systems.
GPRS infrastructure developments, which are actively pursued by Alcatel, Ericsson, Lucent, Motorola, Nokia, Nortel and Siemens, are moving forward by leaps and bounds. GPRS system examinations, conducted jointly with operators, made it possible to make the first GPRS call for data transmission in the "live" GSM network back in November 1999. Since then, although the initial impetus for GPRS development came from the main European GSM operators, more and more operators from other regions, especially from Asia-Pacific, have reported on GPRS exams.
The delivery of subscriber terminals (i.e. GPRS phones), as in the case of WAP, was late in comparison with the development of infrastructure. Successful commercial launches of GPRS networks will be blurred due to the lack of suitable phones in mass quantities. As of early March 2000, only a few cell phone manufacturers have demonstrated prototypes of GPRS equipment, and none of them could name the exact dates of their commercial production.
After the massive appearance of various models of GPRS phones on the market, GPRS services will gradually reorient towards the mass consumer, and the development of GPRS will follow a combined scenario that takes into account the interests of both corporate clients and the mass consumer with a tendency towards the latter's requests.
Many users are not very clear about what GPRS is. This abbreviation stands for Public Packet Radio. This is such an add-on over the technology of mobile communication, which carries out data transmission. With this method of providing information, the used radio channel is occupied only directly in the process of data transmission. In this regard, high efficiency of its application is achieved. The presence of GPRS allows the device to exchange information with other devices within the GSM network, as well as with external networks, to access the Internet and connect to relevant services: news channels, Internet pages, etc.
What is the difference between WAP and GPRS
The difference primarily concerns payment. When you are using the Internet, connecting to WAP, standard connection (CSD), at this time your phone is busy. At the same time, you pay for this connection in almost the same way as for the time of a regular call on your mobile. While the GPRS technology allows you to transfer data through parallel channels, which do not interfere with normal communication. Payment for using the GPRS Internet assumes billing based on the volume of information exchange, and not on the amount of time spent on the network. What is GPRS traffic? These are transferred files when using the Internet. For example, opening any Internet page already involves downloading text files and page design. Paying for GPRS Internet is more profitable than for calls: about 10-20 cents for one megabyte of data. Thus, it becomes clear what GPRS is in a phone - this means that your mobile phone can always be in the GPRS connection mode. The connection does not interfere with incoming and outgoing calls, and if you do not download anything specifically, then the money will not leave your account.
What is GPRS service
Some operators, for example Megafon, Beeline, MTS, offer the GPRS Internet service, which allows you to access the Internet and use various kinds of Internet services in the absence of a computer or landline phone.
Thanks to this service, you can use the Internet in any situation. For example, you can check email, take advantage corporate network, you can coordinate the actions of employees via the Internet, no matter where you are. You will be able to upload content, use ICQ or other means of communication. It is also convenient that you can use a phone instead of a modem
Before connecting to this service, please make sure your phone or smartphone supports GPRS.
What does a GPRS phone mean as a modem
By connecting the GPRS phone to an ordinary computer or to your laptop, you can get internet access. The speed is comparable to that of a conventional modem. However, the maximum speed of 115 Kbps is difficult to achieve in practice. The reason for this is the very structure of the GPRS. The maximum speed will be achievable, provided there is sufficient traffic for the operator with the Internet, as well as for base stationto which your cellular telephone, if there are free channels. The ability to reach the maximum speed occurs at night, when the networks of the cellular operator are least loaded.
