General Packet Radio Service (GPRS)

Well GPRS is a data-overlay on a GSM network, which allows data speeds of up to 144kbps. This is the 2.5 G stage in 3G migration for GSM providers.
Voicestream Wireless (T-Mobile) has always been operating on GSM 100%, and have completed their overlay of GPRS, what they call iStream last last year. So if you were to get Voicestream, you would enjoy these speeds of wireless internet Nationwide, either through your phone, PDA, or laptop. I have iStream, and I must say that it is pretty fast. You can do everything from checking your email, to getting driving directions, to checking movie listings.

 

How about downloading MP3's?

 

Depending on what device you are using to download to, you can download whatever you want (laptop). I don't think that VS sells any phones that support MP3s yet, if that is what you mean.....

 

Sprint has a phone that stores and plays MP3. And this may very well be coming down the road for Voicestream and others: phones that will download MP3 straight from the Internet using G3 or GPRS, store them in memory and play them back. However, I believe that is a feature that shouldn't be in cell phones. Cell phones are for communication, not for entertaimnent.

 

I agree with bobolito about the MP3 playing in the phone. I know with the v60 you can get the FM Radio option, and I see some of the new Nokia phones with it built in, not a option. I do not see the need for FM Radio either.

 

Speaking about MP3's and FM radios, did any of you see the $999 car radio receiver that plays MP3's and MPEGs!? It has a full-color TFT display.

Now THAT is a waste of money.

 

If you stop by www.crutchfield.com you'll find all kinds of car radios that will play anything from DVD movies to MP3, to video games. I've seen LCD touch screens to control any aspect of the sound and even the ability to check your email and digital maps on the LCD screen. Some are already coming with Dolby digital surround sound and other features taken from home systems that IMO are ridiculous and aimed at people that don't know what to do with their money. Some even have an input so you can plug in your Nintendo. I am pretty sure that with the wireless internet and satellite digital radio, the next we will see is streaming video to your car system (they are not car radios anymore). Now, one thing I find useful out of all this is the GPS tracking system and the digital maps.

 

Yes, I get them...I even heard about 7.1 systems too.

 

7.1 has four surround channels: two on the sides (L+R) and two rear (L+R) in addition to the main L+R and center and the subwoofer. Do a Google search for "Dolby 7.1" and you'll get lots of info.

BTW, what happened to your login?

 

<< I am new to cell phone technology and would like to know what exectly is GPRS. I have seen several phones made by Siemans and Ericcson offered by Cingular in South Carolina, which contain the GRPS technology. Is it true that phones will eventually offer TDMA, GSM, and Anolog technologies in the same package? >>

http://www.newscuts.com/cgi-bin/read.cgi?http://www.handytel.com/news/index.asp

EDGE takes GSM to 3G

(Singapore) - Leading suppliers and operators have reaffirmed their commitment to EDGE as a viable technology in the race to deploy 3G services in a timely fashion. Three key factors were identified for the success of EDGE, namely Devices, Networks and Applications, or DNA for short. This was raised during the recent EDGE Operators Forum (EOF) held in conjunction with the Asia Pacific ICT showcase, CommunicAsia 2002, in Singapore.

Over 70 people representing 20 key GSM operator organisations and mobile system suppliers participated in the Forum, as part of a continuous dialogue on the development progress for a smooth deployment of EDGE technology in the world arena.

EDGE triples the capacity of GPRS, as well as enables 3G services, and is a simple add-on to existing GPRS networks at incremental costs. <u>The first EDGE network in the world is expected to be launched in the Americas by end 2002</u>. The ARC Group reported at the Forum that EDGE subscribers are expected to reach 331.4 million globally in 2007.

EDGE is a complementary technology to WCDMA, rather than a competing one, which allows an operator to deploy a single harmonised network delivering optimum performance, coverage and long term flexibility, at lowest cost. EDGE, in conjunction with WCDMA, provides the means for global 3G service build out.

There was a common understanding that EDGE will be deployed seamlessly across all frequencies (800/900/1800/1900). Information was provided regarding the introduction of GSM 800 to the Asia Pacific operators, from 2003.

The EDGE Operators Forum (EOF) meets regularly in all regions with the objective to ensure a wide acceptance of EDGE for 3G services. The EOF includes major EDGE suppliers (Ericsson, Motorola, Nokia, Nortel and Siemens), together with operators already committed to EDGE, and is endorsed by three key industry bodies - GSA (Global mobile Suppliers Association), GSMA and 3G Americas.

The next meeting is scheduled on September 16, 2002 in conjunction with 3GSM Asia Pacific in Singapore.

For more information, please visit www.gsacom.com

Source:
Free Telecom News by HandyTEL.com, Inc. - 06/19/2002
GSA web site:
http://www.gsacom.com
More information on GSA

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Feel Free to forward this article to your friend or colleague.

 

<< I am new to cell phone technology and would like to know what exectly is GPRS. I have seen several phones made by Siemans and Ericcson offered by Cingular in South Carolina, which contain the GRPS technology. >>

http://www.wirelessweek.com/index.asp?layout=story&articleid=CA232092&spacedesc=News&stt=000

Walking A Fine Line
GPRS Carriers Must Balance Voice And Data

By Sue Marek
July 8, 2002
Wireless Week
© 2002, Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved.


Over the past several months, three major U.S. carriers–Voicestream Wireless Corp., Cingular Wireless and AT&T Wireless–diligently have been rolling out their GPRS networks and quietly introducing the new data services to consumer and enterprise customers.

But their uncharacteristic low-key approach to GPRS, a far cry from the hype surrounding first-generation wireless Web offerings, has some industry insiders speculating about the validity and viability of the technology. Others say the apparent trepidation toward GPRS is not a reflection of the technology–all new technologies have challenges–but a calculated effort by the carriers to promise only what they can deliver. Because of the way in which GPRS works, carriers must strike a careful balance between voice and data to ensure one doesn't encroach on the other.

"All these guys are being low-key in their rollouts," says Michael Doherty, senior consultant with Ovum. "They don't want to over-hype or over-promise the market again. This is their last chance and they have to be careful about market expectations."

Some recent media reports have painted a picture of problematic GPRS deployments, where GPRS has certain limits that make it sensitive to usage and demand. GPRS networks are based upon time slots and carriers must determine how many of those slots are for data and how many for voice. That decision plays a role in how fast the data on the network is transmitted. In other words, the more time slots allocated for data, the faster the data speeds.

But because voice traffic remains the most profitable and most popular business, GPRS carriers typically designate the majority of those time slots for voice. "The rules of the network are that if you give more priority to voice, then data is limited," says Eric McHenry, vice president and general manager of Agilent Technologies Inc.'s wireless network test division. "28.8 kilobits per second of data takes up two precious voice slots. Carriers are reluctant to do that until there is demand for data. It's a tough balancing act."

Like a tightrope walker, GPRS carriers walk a fine line, constantly monitoring network traffic and conducting trend analysis to make sure they have dedicated the right amount of resources to voice and data. But with so many uncertainties surrounding data usage, this becomes a very delicate process and may be one of the reasons many GPRS carriers are pricing their data services on a usage basis instead of going the flat-rate route. "Carriers have to figure out how much they have to charge per kilobit for data for the GPRS service to make it on par with the voice service using the same capacity," says Greg Pollini, principal engineer with RSoft Design Group.

But carriers downplay this issue, saying they have many network tools available to monitor the network and make sure they are allocating the appropriate amount of resources to voice and data. "We look per hour, per sector at what the GPRS usage is for any site on our network. And we use tools so that we know when to grow that site," says Dave Williams, vice president of strategic planning at Cingular Wireless.

And if early GPRS network statistics are any indication, it appears carriers are getting it right. Research firm Telephia Inc. has been monitoring GPRS networks since the beginning of the year–compiling information from VoiceStream, AT&T and Cingular networks in seven cities across the United States. The company monitors the networks by setting up data sessions every 15 minutes for 24 hours per day, launching the browser on the GPRS handset and making a network connection. Telephia has been able to establish a consistent connection with the GPRS networks 96 percent of the time and the connection takes an average of 3.5 seconds to make. That compares to current circuit-switched data networks, in which Telephia has been able to secure a data connection 98 percent of the time, but the connection takes about six to eight seconds to make.

"All three GPRS carriers perform very consistently," says Paul Prehn, Telephia's executive director of business development. "And we've seen gradual incremental improvements as we have watched their performance. Every month they are getting better by gradually increasing availability and consistency of response."

Despite the promising test results, carriers acknowledge that they still are working through all the different aspects of their new GPRS networks as they strive to build a compelling business model. "There is a ramp up curve," Williams says. "And as GPRS becomes more popular, we will dedicate more time slots to it. It has to make sense from a business perspective."


GPRS Network Performance
Successful establishment of a GPRS session: 96 percent
Average time it takes to establish a connection: 3 to 4 seconds
Successful establishment of a WAP session on a GPRS network: 97 percent
Average time it takes to connect to a Web site via WAP over GPRS: 2.2 seconds
Source: Telephia Inc.

 

<< Depending on what device you are using to download to, you can download whatever you want (laptop). I don't think that VS sells any phones that support MP3s yet, if that is what you mean..... >>



just though i'd update this, currently the Nokia 9290 communicator can download mp'3 and allow you to listen to them or use them as personal ringtones.