Tuesday, July 8, 2008

GPRS Platform

GPRS
GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) is the world's most ubiquitous wireless data service, available now with almost every GSM network. GPRS is a connectivity solution based on Internet Protocols that supports a wide range of enterprise and consumer applications. With throughput rates of up to 40 kbit/s, users have a similar access speed to a dial-up modem, but with the convenience of being able to connect from anywhere. GPRS customers enjoy advanced, feature-rich data services such as colour Internet browsing, e-mail on the move, powerful visual communications such as video streaming, multimedia messages and location-based services.
GPRS Class Type
The class of the device determines the speed at which GPRS can be used.
For example, the majority of GPRS terminals will be able to download data at speeds of up to 24Kbps (kilobytes per second). At the higher end, speeds are theoretically possible up to 171.2 kbit/sec when 8 slots are assigned at the same time to a single user. In reality 40-50Kbps.PC cards capable of GPRS will send data up to speeds of 48Kbps.
Compare this to current data speeds available:

Type

Uplink (Sending)

Downlink (Receiving)


14 kbps

28-64 kbps

GSM CSD

9.6-14 kbps

9.6-14 kbps

HSCSD

28 kbps

28 kbps

Dial-UP

56 kbps

56 kbps

ISDN Standard

64 kbps

64 kbps

ADSL

256 kbps

512 kbps

Broadband

2 Mbps

2 Mbps


GPRS Multislot Classes

Multislot classes are product dependant, and determine the maximum achievable data rates in both the uplink and downlink directions.
Written as (for example) 3+1 or 2+2, the first number indicates the amount of downlink timeslots (what the mobile phone is able to receive from the network).
The second number indicates the amount of uplink timeslots (how many timeslots the mobile phone is able to transmit).
The active slots determine the total number of slots the GPRS device can use simultaneously for both uplink and downlink communications.


Multislot Class

Downlink Slots

Uplink Slots

Active Slots

1

1

1

2

2

2

1

3

3

2

2

3

4

3

1

4

5

2

2

4

6

3

2

4

7

3

3

4

8

4

1

5

9

3

2

5

10

4

2

5

11

4

3

5

12

4

4

5


Futher Examples:

Class 2


Class 4

One Up, Two Down - (2+1)


One Up, Three Down - (3+1)

8-12Kbps Send - 16-24Kbps Receive


8-12Kbps Send - 24-36Kbps Receive

Mororola Accompli A008
Trium Mondo, Sirius


Motorola TimeportT260




Class 6 - Configurable between


Class 8

Two Up, Three Down


One Up, Four Down

16-24Kbps Send - 24-36Kbps Receive


8-12Kbps Send - 32-40Kbps Receive

Or Three Up, Two Down


Ericsson T39, R520
Motorola v60i, v66i
Samsung Q200, S100
Siemens S45, ME45, M50
Trium Eclipse

24-36Kbps Send - 16-24Kbps Receive


Nokia 6310, 6510, 8310





Class 10- Configurable between


Class 12- Configurable between

One Up, Four Down


One Up, Four Down

8-12Kbps Send - 32-48Kbps Receive


8-12Kbps Send - 32-48Kbps Receive

Or Two Up, Three Down


Or Two Up, Three Down

16-24Kbps Send - 24-36Kbps Receive


16-24Kbps Send - 24-36Kbps Receive

Philips Fisio 820


Or Three Up, Two Down



24-36Kbps Send - 16-24Kbps Receive



Or Four Up, One Down



32-48Kbps Send - 8-12Kbps Receive



Sierra Wireless Aircard 750
GSM/GPRS PC Card


Class A, Class B & Class C?

The class indicates the mobile phone capabilities.

Class A
Class A mobile phones can be connected to both GPRS and GSM services simultaneously.

Class B
Class B mobile phones can be attached to both GPRS and GSM services, using one service at a time. Class B enables making or receiving a voice call, or sending/receiving an SMS during a GPRS connection. During voice calls or SMS, GPRS services are suspended and then resumed automatically after the call or SMS session has ended.

Class C
Class C mobile phones are attached to either GPRS or GSM voice service. You need to switch manually between services.

GPRS Roaming Exchange (GRX)
The GSM Association (through its GPRS Working Party within the International Roaming Expert Group) has collected information on potential providers of GPRS Roaming Exchange (GRX) services.
The information will be updated by the GSM Association upon request by the respective GRX Provider in accordance with these Rules, which also apply, to companies that wish to offer GRX services in the future.

RFI Process
The initial RFI process consisted of 2 rounds:

During the initial round potential GRX Providers were able to describe their future service offerings by answering a few fairly general questions.
Based on the results of the first round a group of experts from the GPRS Working Party (GPRSWP) of the GSMA's IREG compiled a questionnaire containing 83 detailed questions. This questionnaire was sent back to the potential GRX Providers. Additional GRX Providers who did not take part in the first round were able to join in during the second round.
The questionnaire contained two types of questions: those covering basic require-ments and those covering additional aspects.

The potential GRX Providers were requested to answer the question concerning the basic requirements, the other questions were sent in order to give an impression of which additional questions may be put by the GPRS Operators. Answers from the potential GRX Providers were compiled and the results were made available to the GSMA members.

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