New Delhi, June 22: It was such a picturesque setting. The pristine Himalayas just ahead of me, crisp air caressing my face and Peter Gabriel's Passionate melody drumming from the FM Radio. Such good music I would love to hear again. My mobile, a few punched keys and five minutes later -- Peter Gabriel's Passion must be on its way to my house in New Delhi. Thank you GPRS.
What is GPRS? Webopaedia describes it as Short for General Packet Radio Service, a standard for wireless communications which runs at speeds up to 115 kilobits per second, compared with current GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) systems' 9.6 kilobits.
GPRS, which supports a wide range of bandwidths, is an efficient use of limited bandwidth and is particularly suited for sending and receiving small bursts of data, such as e-mail and Web browsing, as well as large volumes of data
According to Nokia: "With General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), you can enjoy a continuous wireless connection to data networks and access your favorite information and entertainment services. GPRS technology allows mobile phones to be used for sending and receiving data over an Internet Protocol (IP)-based network. GPRS as such is a data bearer that enables wireless access to data networks like the Internet. The applications using GPRS are WAP, MMS, SMS, Java and the PC dial-up (for example, Internet and e-mail)."
Why so much importance to GPRS? 1. Huge Market There are more than one billion mobile phones in use worldwide and they are carried by around 15% of the world's population.



2. Value to customer GPRS enables a variety of new and unique services to the mobile wireless subscriber. These mobile applications contain several unique characteristics that enhance the value to the customers.



Mobility: First among them is mobility-the ability to maintain constant voice and data communications while on the move.



Immediacy: Immediacy allows subscribers to obtain connectivity when needed, regardless of location and without a lengthy login session.



Speed: Theoretical maximum speeds of up to 171.2 kilobits per second (kbps) are achievable with GPRS using all eight timeslots at the same time. This is about three times as fast as the data transmission speeds possible over today's fixed telecommunications networks and ten times as fast as current Circuit Switched Data services on GSM networks.



Localization: Localization allows subscribers to obtain information relevant to their current location. The combination of these characteristics provides a wide spectrum of possible applications that can be offered to mobile subscribers.



GPRS Services: Some of the services GPRS can offer · Communications-E-mail; fax; unified messaging; intranet/Internet access · Value-added services (VAS)-Information services; games · E-commerce-Retail; ticket purchasing; banking; financial trading · Location-based applications-Navigation; traffic conditions; airline/rail schedules; location finder · Vertical applications-Freight delivery; fleet management; sales-force automation · Advertising One of the biggest advantages of GPRS is delivery of content at a particular location at a particular time. Imagine you are near your favorite restaurant around noon and images of mouth watering delicacies are sent on your mobile phone at that particular time and location.



There are basically are 2 models · Push refers to the transmission of data at a predetermined time, or under predetermined conditions. It could also apply to the unsolicited supply of advertising (for example, delivery of news as it occurs, or stock values when they fall below a preset value).



· Pull refers to the demanding of data in real time by the user (for example, requesting stock quotes or daily news headlines).



To be valuable to subscribers, this content must posses several characteristics: · Personalized information is tailored to user-specific needs with relevant information. A stock ticker, focusing on key quotes and news, or an e-commerce application that knows a user's profile are two examples of personalized information.



· Localized content is based on a user's current location; it can include maps, hotel finders, or restaurant reviews.



· Convenience suggests that the user interface and menu screens are intuitive and easy to navigate.



· Trust pertains primarily to e-commerce sites where the exchange of financial or other personal information is required.



Conclusion: Charles Dickens once said, "Never close your lips to those to whom you have opened your heart." Perhaps our generation can say "never close your eyes to whom you have opened your ears". GPRS has arrived! First the ears then the eyes promising pleasures heart's every vied Then the wallet Before you know it a newer technology arrives!