GPRS - General Packet Radio Service

GPRS

The General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) network is an "always on", private network for data. It uses the existing GSM network to transmit and receive TCP/IP based data to and from GPRS mobile devices.

Private IP addresses are typically dynamically assigned within the network to mobile devices. However, Access Point Names (APN's) provide a gateway route to other networks such as the Internet, WAP services or private corporate networks. Firewalls typically reside at the APN to isolate the public and private networks. IP addresses allocated to mobile GPRS devices are therefore not addressable from outside the GPRS network (e.g. from the Internet) without specialised services or infrastructure.

GPRS benefits :

• Efficient - GPRS mobile devices only use the GSM network when data is transferred. The GSM connection is not dedicated to each user, therefore it can be shared with many users resulting in efficient use of the network.


• Speed - GPRS gives speeds of upto 5 time faster than GSM. GPRS offers maximum data rates of 56Kbps (down) and 14.4kbps (up), however this is shared bandwidth therefore actual data rates are potentially lower.
  
• Always on connectivity- GPRS is an always-on service. There is no need to dial up like you have to on a home PC for instance. This feature is not unique to GPRS but is an important standard that will no doubt be a key feature for migration to 3G. It makes services instantaneously available to a device.


• New and Better applications - Due to its high-speed connection and always-on connectivity GPRS enables full Internet applications and services such as video conferencing straight to your desktop or mobile device. Users are able to explore the Internet or their own corporate networks more efficiently than they could when using GSM. There is often no need to redevelop existing applications.


• GSM operator Costs- GSM network providers do not have to start from scratch to deploy GPRS. GPRS is an upgrade to the existing network that sits along side the GSM network. This makes it easier to deploy.


• Payment based on data usage - Billing is not based on time, but on the amount of data actually transferred.

To know more on GPRS:

• Working of GPRS
• GPRS Tutorial
• GPRS Info
• GPRS Applications