What is General Packet Radio Service (GPRS)?
The General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) is a new nonvoice value added service that allows information to be sent and received across a 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.
In the world of mobile data connections, General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) is one way to connect to the Internet. Persistent internet connection With GPRS, you don’t need to dial-up every time you want to get on the Internet. This comes in handy for sending quick emails, or accessing a web page immediately to check the weather or a stock price. Speed GPRS Internet connections are doled out according to slots on a cell tower. Most current consumer GPRS devices clock in at around 10-20 kbps, faster than a dial-up wireless connection. How does GPRS work? GPRS relies on “packet switching” (hence the name). Data is split into “packets” before being sent or received. GPRS allows multiple users to be on the same node on a cell tower at the same time, transferring the packets intermittently but very quickly. Packet switching makes the persistent connection possible. For example, when you view a web page on your smartphone, the page is transferred to you in several packets. If someone else on
