The implementation of GPRS technology will be developed in phases, because the technology has limitations and implementation of solutions for them. In the first phase will be used only to data, and then used to carry voice (never simultaneously with the data) and finally the joint transmission of voice and data.
Among the various possibilities offered by the GPRS include:
"Chat". Internet is full of chat rooms, which are discussed all the issues imaginable. It will be possible to access chat rooms from existing mobile terminals.
Sailing on the network. With GPRS it will be possible to directly access pages on the World Wide Web written in HTML and have access to all contents of sites, including images.
- WAP over GPRS. The technology can be used to complement access to WAP services, enabling almost instant ligation and downloads of information faster.
- Images. It will be possible to receive and display photos, cards, and send pictures taken with digital cameras.
- Transfer documents. Access FTPs, etc.
- "E-mail". The emails are received at the time the mobile does not require connecting to the server to check for new e-mails.
- Audio. Voice and sound files can be sent using the GPRS
- Other possible applications include using the mobile to control appliances equipped with Bluetooth technology from anywhere, and so on.
Issues and Limitations of GPRS
Despite the leap that this technology represents in terms of speed and capacity, the existing limitations in relation to preventing network maximum speeds can be achieved. The operating mode of the GSM system divides the available frequencies into "timeslots" (time slots), attributing these spaces to phone calls. This allows each frequency may carry multiple channels of data. To reach the maximum limit of 172.2 Kbps would be necessary that the operations on all resources for a single call GPRS (attributing the eight "timeslots"). Besides being unlikely to pass, the first GPRS terminals must be limited in the number of "timeslots" that can bear. At the same time, calls for GPRS and voice use the same network resources, which means that a channel that is transmitting data can not be used for a regular phone call.
The practical result is that, initially, speeds must haunt the 28 Kbps, and will rise as operators and manufacturers to proceed with improvements to the network and terminals and provide more "timeslots".
But there is another research technology that will enable mobile internet systems give the gas pedal: the EDGE (Enhanced Data rate for GSM Evolution). The EDGE was announced as a final solution for GSM in relation to data, while being designed to be used in conjunction with GPRS. It is a high-speed system that will treble the values
Data transmission with GPRS.
One issue that is placed is called unsolicited information. Internet users often receive data that have not asked, such as unsolicited advertisements and unidentified senders. These situations happen in a GPRS terminal can create situations where the operator has no way to recover the transmission of information by not knowing the sender or the recipient may have to pay for information that he requested and was not interested. The problem was that manufacturers and consider the hypothesis of the first terminals are unable to receive calls GPRS, only perform them, thus limiting the benefits that the system could bring.
The IP protocol has inherent another matter: the de facto riding in separate packets, using different paths, can provide that they are lost or damaged by the road. Despite the IP protocol and the GPRS envisages these problems and strategies apply this relay and packet integrity, and blackberries can be lags in receiving information.
Looking at the GPRS mobile phone models announced, put another question: the screen size and color availability. Does the GPRS will be developed for use in the same way that the WAP or should we wait for good news as it happened with the Japanese brother GPRS, I-mode? There are some exceptions such as the Ericsson Communicator, which has a high definition display. One possibility has already been announced is to use the phone as a modem for a handheld computer with Internet access, via an infrared or Bluetooth. However, physical limitations on terminals should mean GPRS terminals will not find the level of a personal computer for Internet access.
Finally, there are delays, the level of manufacturers in the marketing of terminals equipped with this new technology. On this site, at the time of preparing this article, are two examples of phones equipped with GPRS, and major brands have already announced the market entry of its models by the end of 2000 and beginning of 2001.
The first phase of GPRS will not allow the establishment of multipoint ligations - l ability to send information to multiple mobile GPRS simultaneously. This capability should be available only in 2002 with the so-called phase 2 of GPRS, which also must be commercially introduced EDGE technology.
