What is the full form of GPRS

GPRS: General Packet Radio Service

GPRS stands for General Packet Radio Service. It is a packet oriented wireless data communication service for mobile communications on 2G and 3G cellular communication systems. It is non-voice, high speed packet switching technology intended for GSM networks.

It is based on a modulation technique called Gaussian minimum-shift keying (GMSK). To enable GPRS on a GSM or TDMA network, we are required to add two core modules: the Gateway GPRS Service Node (GGSN) and the Serving GPRS Service Node (SGSN).

What GPRS does

GPRS can be used to provide connections on the basis of internet protocols that support a wide variety of enterprises as well as commercial applications.

Benefits of GPRS

• It provides higher data transfer speed than fixed telecommunication networks. Its optimum speed is 171.2 kbps, almost three times quicker than fixed-telecommunication speed.
• It provides instant connection and immediate data transfer.
• It is very cost-effective.
• It has innovative and superior applications. It provides internet applications over mobile and also facilitates Web browsing, IM messages, E- commerce etc.

What is needed to use GPRS?

• An application with a GPRS modem
• A GSM/GPRS network
• A SIM card with GPRS service
• A remote station with access to the internet or the GPRS network

Note: Newer technologies like EDGE and 3G are much faster than GPRS.

GPRS is considered as 2.5G technology because it is more advanced than standard 2G digital technology, but does not meet the requirements of 3G technology.