GENERAL
The General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) is an extension of the GSM mobile telephone network. It supplements today's Circuit Switched Data and Short Message Service. GPRS is NOT related to GPS (the Global Positioning System), a similar acronym that is often used in mobile contexts. GPRS has several unique features which can be summarized as:
TRANSMISSION SPEED
Theoretical maximum speeds of up to 171.2 kilobits per second (kbps) are achievable with GPRS using all eight timeslots at the same time.
This is about three times as fast as the data transmission speeds possible over today's fixed telecommunications networks and ten times as fast as current Circuit Switched Data services on GSM networks.
True connection speeds are generally between 28 (kbps) and 38 (kbps)
By allowing information to be transmitted more quickly, immediately and efficiently across the mobile network, GPRS is a relatively less costly mobile data service compared to SMS and Circuit Switched Data and even conventional radio in most cases.
IMMEDIACY
GPRS facilitates instant connections whereby information can be sent or received immediately as the need arises, subject to radio coverage. No dial-up modem connection is necessary. This is why GPRS users are sometimes referred to be as being "always connected".
Immediacy is one of the advantages of GPRS when compared to Circuit Switched Data. High immediacy is a very important feature for time critical applications such as remote credit card authorization where it would be unacceptable to keep the customer waiting for even thirty extra seconds.
General Packet Radio Service is an extension to the existing GSM (Global System for Mobiles) network infrastructure, providing a connectionless packet data service.
GPRS supports PPP (point to point) transport of IP-based packet data. GPRS networks can be into a VPN (Virtual Private Network), or directly into the Internet. GPRS supports PAP (Password Authentication Protocol) and CHAP (Challenge Handshake Protocol) security. CHAP is the preferred method of authentication as no plaintext usernames or passwords are required to be transmitted. VPN connection offers an added degree of security as data is kept within a secure network and purposely unavailable to internet access.
GPRS is a very cost effective method of transferring small amounts of data. With costs of between $0.01 and $0.02 per kilobyte, vehicle tracking at intervals of 30 seconds can be accomplished for about
$5.00 per vehicle per
week, based on an average vehicle's movements.
