What is GPRS?
GPRS is an acronym for General Packet Radio Service. It is a mobile communications technology designed for transmission of data rather than voice. It is currently available to subscribers on some mobile networks in Africa precisely South Africa, Egypt, Nigeria and recently Kenya, whilst it is still on test in Ghana.
It offers "always-on" internet connection and lets you use your phone (or other device) to browse the Web, send and receive multimedia messages and access services specific to your location, and use your phone for it's main conventional use: voice calls.
When you set up your GPRS connection, you get almost immediate connection. There is no need to dial-up or use a modem.
Your phone transmits and receives data through "packet-switching": the information is broken up into smaller "packets", each carrying the destination address. Email is delivered in a similar way.
In theory the data can travel at up to 170 kilobits per second, but in practice speeds will be closer to 50 kbps. It is 9.6kbps on GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) networks, the ones most of us use now.
GPRS facilitates several new applications that have not previously been available over GSM networks due to the limitations in speed of Circuit Switched Data (9.6 kbps) and message length of the Short Message Service (160 characters). GPRS will fully enable the Internet applications you are used to on your desktop from web browsing to chat over the mobile network. Other new applications for GPRS include file transfer and home automation- the ability to remotely access and control in-house appliances and machines.
It gives access to any web page or application. Unlike Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) phones, whose poor connections were criticized, GPRS delivers the mobile Internet.
GPRS is often known as 2.5G, that is, half a step up from current second generation phones as opposed to third-generation technology. You will need a GPRS-enabled handset. Your network is likely to charge for data exchange or a flat rate. You can also access a GPRS network, whilst you are abroad, if your home network has a GPRS roaming agreement with the mobile networks where you are going. On most networks, you r service provider might have to activate GPRS roaming, before you can use it elsewhere.
You can send voice, text, still images and video between phones. Thus cell phones are no longer simply mobile telephones. Rather through GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) images get transmitted to the handset and scaled down web sites to fit a phone screen have become the new wave.
Mobile handsets that support GPRS include: Nokia 3200, Nokia 7250i, Nokia 7710. The list is endless. Simply check a handset's manual before buying. Most recent phones now come with GPRS.
David Ajao, a Web Developer writes from Accra, Ghana.
www.web4africa.net
16 August 2004 08:09 GMT
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See Also:
- GSM in Africa
- Mobile Technology spotlight: What is GPRS?
- Technology spotlight: What is EDGE?
- Guide To Wireless Phones
- Mobile Phone Usage In Africa and the future
- Mobile Phone Market in Africa
- Mobile Telephony. Which Way For Africa?
