GPRS for Beginners

GPRS Stands for ?

General Packet Radio Service

What is GPRS ?

In layman's terms, it is an ALWAYS-ON INTERNET FACILITY FOR YOUR MOBILE PHONE. That means, you can send and receive emails and you can browse Internet without Dialling.

Always On Internet Means?

It is the opposite of DIAL-UP INTERNET. In case of dialup, once you dialled and connected to the Internet, you are getting charged.If you are connected for 20 minutes, then you will be charged for 20 minutes. In addition to this, you will be charged for the quantity of data transferred. But, in case of always-on, you are connected to the Internet always. You will be charged only for the quantity of data transferred.

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What type of Technology is this?

It is 'PACKET' switched wireless technology which uses 'RADIO' frequencies

Which frequency range is used by GPRS?

It is an additional service to GSM. GSM uses 900 MHz and 1800 MHz. In some countries 1900 MHz is used instead of 1800 MHz

What is its Maximum speed?

Theoritically it is 171.2 Kbps. But normal speed is 56 kbps

I am having a GSM phone. Whether I will get GPRS facility?

Your service provider needs to make a very little upgradation in his infrastructure. He might have done that. So you will get GPRS facility.

What is EDGE?

It is the next generation of GRPRS. EDGE stands for Enhanced Datarate for Global Evalution

What is the difference between GPRS and EDGE?

1. GPRS is 2.5 Generation Technlogy. EDGE is 3 G Technology. 2. GPRS maximum speed is 171.2 kbps. EDGE maximum speed is 384 kbps. 3. Spectral efficiency of EDGE is 2 times better than GPRS. Spectral Efficiency is around 0.04-0.07 bps/Hz/sector

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What is the meaning of "Radio Service" here?

Radio is "Wireless communication using Radio Waves".

What is the meaning of "Packet" in the word "GPRS"?

GPRS uses packet switching. Not Circuit Switching.

Compare the two images given below and find out the difference between Circuit Switching and Packing Switching.

What is the difference between packet switching and circuit switching?

Circuit switching means, a dedicated path will be established first and you can use for transfer of information.
But channel utilisation efficiency is not good, because when you are idle, the channel is not allotted to others.
Then, where Circuit switching is employed?
When dedicated path is needed (such as real time applications like our speech conversations).

What is the relation between GSM and GPRS?

GSM technology was developed for voice communications. It is not designed for Data Communcations ( Note: Internet is an example for datacommuncations). By slightly modifying the GSM infrastructure ( by adding some software and hardware), they are able to use the same GSM infrastructure for Datacommuncations. If GSM infrastructure is used for DataCommunications, we can call it is as GPRS.

Always-On means

You need NOT dial-up and connect to the Internet.

Only the mobile phones will have GPRS facility?

GPRS is used mainly by Mobile phones.
But you can insert a gprs-card in your PC and get Internet
A hand-held pc may be having an inbuilt gprs facility.

My Mobile phone is Class-B GPRS device. What is the meaning of Class-B.

Class-A phone means, you can connect to Internet even while you are speaking to somebody over this mobile.
Class-B operates at gsm and gprs mode simultaneously. But both the job of speaking over mobile and browsing is not possible.
Class-B means only one facility will be active at a time.

Before GPRS was developed, are the people NOT using Internet?

They were using by dialling the Internet Service provider number and they got a speed of only 9.6 kbps. But with gprs, the speed is much more and you need not dial.

What is the Internet speed if I use GPRS?

Theory says, gprs speed is 171.2 kbps. But you will get 53.6 kbps normally

In Wireless generations GPRS belongs to 2G or 3G?

GPRS is 2.5G