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GPRS

One of the most popular technologies in the world currently, GPRS is an extremely  common by-word that is generally thought of when we say the word “ mobile phones”  and “internet connectivity” these days. It is the technology that allows you to check your mail and surf the Internet right from your cellphone. Today, even simple cellphones have GPRS features as a result of which you can check your mail and even reply every time you are travelling on the crowded bus or train. All the Facebook updates that you send from your phone are all due to the magic of the new technology called GPRS. It is also a boon for those people who cannot breathe without the Internet in their lives and surf the net numerous times every day.

This is the day and age of globalization where constant and instant connectivity is the name of the game. With the increasing use of computers, this the age when people across the world can connect to each other in a matter of seconds. And this is because of the Internet. People need to have constant interaction in all sorts of environments, whether it is on the road or at home or in the office. The technology of GPRS provides that sort of connectivity where a man can check and answer his email while travelling and that too without having to take the trouble of using his laptop.

While a lot of us use GPRS almost everyday of our lives, a very few of us actually know about the technical aspects of the service. GPRS stands for General Packet Radio Service. It is different from GSM which is Global System for Mobile Communications. The former uses a system of packet switched service. According to this system, all the data is broken up into packets and then transferred through a shared network or channel. On the other hand, GSM uses a circuit switched system where the data is routed through a special circuit or connection created between the users or points of transmission.

There is a difference in the ways in which data transfer rates are calculated in the case of the GPRS network and the GSM network. GSM calculates the costs of data transfer according to the number of minutes that the circuit has been active. This means that the costs are also calculated for those times when the circuit is active but there has been no data transfer. In that sense, GPRS is more economical as the data costs are calculated only on the basis of how much of data has been transferred and shared. Thus it is not time based as GSM is, but data based.

There are certain services that GPRS provides. Firstly, there is Internet connectivity at all times. Then there is the feature of MMS or Multimedia Messaging Service through which users can send picture messages, voice as well as video messages. There is also the PTT or the Push To Talk feature. Users can also avail of Instant Messaging Services as there is a constant and steady connection to the Internet. Also WAP or Wireless Application Protocol is supported by GPRS and many smartphones have WAP so there can be steady Internet connectivity. There is Point to Point Protocol too.

There is another way in which GPRS is more viable than the GSM system. Under the GSM network, which we generally use, one can send up to a maximum of 6 to 10 text messages or SMS-es per minute. On the other hand, if we use the GPRS messaging system, then we can send over 30 text messages in the span of a single minute. Thus, as is obvious, GPRS networks are much more faster and efficient than the GSM ones. And we all know how most of the cellphone users send and receive so many text messages all the time. People are all addicted to texting each other!

These are the protocols that GPRS is compatible with. The first name on the list is the IP or the Internet Protocol. The internet that we use on our cellphones have the Ipv4 which is used by the inbuilt browser of the phone. On the other hand, Ipv6 is not that popular yet, in the market. The second protocol is the Point to Point Protocol or the PPP. Most phones do not support this, and only a few smartphones do so. Also phones which can be used as a modem to connect to the Internet as well. PPP is used to channelize IP into the cellphone.

The next protocol that is supported is the X.25 channel. This is used for wireless payment terminals and is compatible with both PPP and IP. However for X.25 support, a network router is needed for the particular device that is to be used. Also with the use of TCP/IP  a single cellphone can may more than one or even two IP addresses. This is obviously for GPRS enabled phones. Basically TCP sees to it that there is no loss of packet data and even if there is, then then it can quickly resolve the problem.

There are three classes of devices which are GPRS enabled. Firstly, there is the Class A device, which are built to support both GPRS and GSM services at the same time. It can perform features of both the services like voice calls and SMS-ing at a simultaneous level. The second class is the Class B device which again is enabled with both GPRS as well as GSM, but can only use one at a time. When one is being used, the other service is disabled temporarily. Lastly there is also the Class C device which can either be hooked to the GPRS or the GSM network and there can be a manual switching between the two. That will of course depend on the user

There are the USB modems which are very popular now for those people who want a wireless internet connection.