General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) is a system of transferring information over the GSM
network in small packets.
What simply happens through GPRS is that the information is broken
down into smaller bits, transferred over the network and reassembled
at the destination. With GPRS, information transfer can be faster
because spare network capacity can be taken advantage of. |
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2.
How is GPRS different from a normal data call?
When you make a phone or data call, your information is transferred using
9.6Kbs. This is the entire timeslot allocated by a cell site radio channel for
each phone call.
Because GPRS breaks information down into smaller packets and transfers it in
bits, it is able to take advantage of extra bytes available from various
timeslots on the network instead of searching for one single 9.6Kbs timeslot to
carry your data. |
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3.
How fast is GPRS?
The speed of GPRS is dependent on the quality of network coverage, as well as
how many people are using the mobile network at a particular point in time. The
number of people on the network affects how much spare network capacity can be
utilised for GPRS.
Also, the configuration of the GPRS handset has an effect on speed. GPRS
handsets are able to use more than one timeslot in sending and receiving data.
The most typical configuration is 4 timeslots for receiving data and 1 timeslot for sending. This is a typical ratio for sending email or browsing the internet
and if you have the timeslots to yourself, you could get up to 38.4Kbs.
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4. Can all phones use GPRS?
No. Only GPRS compatible handsets can use the service. |
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5. Can I use GPRS on other devices like laptops?
Yes. By connecting to a GPRS-enabled mobile phone using Infrared, Cable or
Bluetooth, or by linking through a GPRS PCMCIA card. |
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6. How does Etisalat charge for GPRS?
Etisalat charges for GPRS based on how many bytes you download during
your browsing session.
Charging you for using GPRS is based on how much data you send and
receive and not how long you browse for. |
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7.
Can I make a voice call while my GPRS handset is receiving data?
If you receive a voice call while receiving data, your data transfer
will pause temporarily and will be automatically resumed once your
voice call is concluded. |
