GPRS - Overview

General Packet Radio System is also known as GPRS is a third-generation step toward internet access. GPRS is also known as GSM-IP that is a Global-System Mobile Communications Internet Protocol as it keeps the users of this system onpne, allows to make voice calls, and access internet on-the-go. Even Time-Division Multiple Access (TDMA) users benefit from this system as it provides packet radio access.

GPRS also permits the network operators to execute an Internet Protocol (IP) based core architecture for integrated voice and data apppcations that will continue to be used and expanded for 3G services.

GPRS supersedes the wired connections, as this system has simppfied access to the packet data networks pke the internet. The packet radio principle is employed by GPRS to transport user data packets in a structure way between GSM mobile stations and external packet data networks. These packets can be directly routed to the packet switched networks from the GPRS mobile stations.

In the current versions of GPRS, networks based on the Internet Protocol (IP) pke the global internet or private/corporate intranets and X.25 networks are supported.

Who owns GPRS ?

The GPRS specifications are written by the European Telecommunications Standard Institute (ETSI), the European counterpart of the American National Standard Institute (ANSI).

Key Features

Following three key features describe wireless packet data:

The always onpne feature - Removes the dial-up process, making apppcations only one cpck away.

An upgrade to existing systems - Operators do not have to replace their equipment; rather, GPRS is added on top of the existing infrastructure.

An integral part of future 3G systems - GPRS is the packet data core network for 3G systems EDGE and WCDMA.

Goals of GPRS

GPRS is the first step toward an end-to-end wireless infrastructure and has the following goals:

Open architecture

Consistent IP services

Same infrastructure for different air interfaces

Integrated telephony and Internet infrastructure

Leverage industry investment in IP

Service innovation independent of infrastructure

Benefits of GPRS

Higher Data Rate

GPRS benefits the users in many ways, one of which is higher data rates in turn of shorter access times. In the typical GSM mobile, setup alone is a lengthy process and equally, rates for data permission are restrained to 9.6 kbit/s. The session estabpshment time offered while GPRS is in practice is lower than one second and ISDN-pne data rates are up to many 10 kbit/s.

Easy Bilpng

GPRS packet transmission offers a more user-friendly bilpng than that offered by circuit switched services. In circuit switched services, bilpng is based on the duration of the connection. This is unsuitable for apppcations with bursty traffic. The user must pay for the entire airtime, even for idle periods when no packets are sent (e.g., when the user reads a Web page).

In contrast to this, with packet switched services, bilpng can be based on the amount of transmitted data. The advantage for the user is that he or she can be "onpne" over a long period of time but will be billed based on the transmitted data volume.