Definition

The General Packet Radio System (GPRS) is a new service that provides actual packet radio access for mobile Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) and Time-Division Multiple Access (TDMA) users. The main benefits of GPRS are that it reserves radio resources only when there is data to send and it reduces reliance on traditional circuit-switched network elements. The increased functionality of GPRS will decrease the incremental cost to provide data services, an occurrence that will, in turn, increase the penetration of data services among consumer and business users. In addition, GPRS will allow improved quality of data services as measured in terms of reliability, response time, and features supported.

The unique applications that will be developed with GPRS will appeal to a broad base of mobile subscribers and allow operators to differentiate their services. These new services will increase capacity requirements on the radio and base-station subsystem resources. One method GPRS uses to alleviate the capacity impacts is sharing the same radio resource among all mobile stations in a cell, providing effective use of the scarce resources. In addition, new core network elements will be deployed to support the high burst ness of data services more efficiently.

The General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) is a new non voice 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 addition to providing new services for today's mobile user, GPRS is important as a migration step toward third-generation (3G) networks. GPRS will allow network operators to implement a IP-based core architecture for data applications, which will continue to be used and expanded upon for 3G services for integrated voice and data applications. In addition, GPRS will prove a testing

and development area for new services and applications, which will also be used in the development of 3G services.
In addition to the GPRS timeline, it is necessary to investigate the 3G deployment timeline. Because many GPRS operators are either planning to deploy or are investigating 3G, GPRS can be seen as a migration step toward 3G. Several proof-of-concept type trials are currently under way, and these trials will lead to more technical- and application-oriented trials in early 2001. As with GPRS, terminal and infrastructure availability are driving factors. In addition, completion of the licensing process is a necessary step for commercial deployment.
Global System For Mobile Communication (GSM)

Global system for mobile(GSM) is a second generation cellular system standard that was developed to solve the fragmentation problems of the first cellular systems in Europe's is the world's first cellular system to specify the digital modulation and network level architecture and services. Before GSM, European countries used different cellular standards throughout the continent, and it was not possible for customer to use a single subscriber unit throughout Europe. GSM's success has exceeded the expectations of virtually everyone, and it is now the world's most popular standard for new cellular radio and personal communication equipment throughout the world.