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GPRS - Introduction:

General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) is a Mobile Data Service available to users of Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) and IS-136 mobile phones. GPRS data transfer is typically charged per megabyte of transferred data, while data communication via traditional circuit switching is billed per minute of connection time, independent of whether the user has actually transferred data or has been in an idle state. GPRS can be used for services such as Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) access, Short Message Service (SMS), Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS), and for Internet communication services such as email and World Wide Web access.

2G cellular systems combined with GPRS is often described as "2.5G", that is, a technology between the second (2G) and third (3G) generations of mobile telephony. It provides moderate speed data transfer, by using unused Time division multiple access (TDMA) channels in for example the GSM system. Originally there was some thought to extend GPRS to cover other standards, but instead those networks are being converted to use the GSM standard, so that GSM is the only kind of network where GPRS is in use. GPRS is integrated into GSM Release 97 and newer releases. It was originally standardized by European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), but now by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP).

Benefits of GPRS:

The GPRS provides the following benefits:

• Overlays on the existing GSM network to provide high-speed data service
• Always on, reducing the time spent setting up and taking down connections
• Designed to support bursty applications such as e-mail, traffic telematics, telemetry, broadcast services, and web browsing that do not require detected connection.

By implementing Cisco GPRS products and related solutions, mobile service providers can optimize their networks to deploy high quality mobile voice and data services. They can also benefit from new operating efficiencies, peer-to-peer IP-based architecture for scalability, and IP standard interfaces to billing and customer support.

GPRS Applications:

GPRS enables a variety of new and unique services to the mobile wireless subscriber. These mobile services have unique characteristics that provide enhanced value to customers. These characteristics include the following:

• Mobility—The ability to maintain constant voice and data communications while on the move
• Immediacy—Allows subscribers to obtain connectivity when needed, regardless of location and without a lengthy login session
• Localization—Allows subscribers to obtain information relevant to their current location

The combination of these characteristics provides a wide spectrum of possible applications that can be offered to mobile subscribers. The core network components offered by Cisco enable seamless access to these applications, whether they reside in the service provider's network or the public Internet.

In general, applications can be separated into two high-level categories: corporate and consumer. These include:

• Communications—E-mail; fax; unified messaging; intranet/Internet access
• Value-added services—Information services; games
• E-commerce—Retail; ticket purchasing; banking; financial trading
• Location-based applications—Navigation; traffic conditions; airline/rail schedules; location finder
• Vertical applications—Freight delivery; fleet management; sales-force automation
• Advertising

GPRS - Presentation: