GPRS Deconstructed For Dummies

General Packet Radio Service is explained as a “packet oriented mobile data service” operating  on the 2G and 3G cellular communication systems global system for mobile communications (GSM).

Remind Me About 2G (and 3G)

No, it doesn’t mean two grand. The abbreviation refers to the Second Generation wireless telephone technology that was launched by leading edge network providers and subsequently adopted as the standard.

The 2G referred to second generation and introduced us to digital communication, replacing the analog signal (which became known as 1G).

Digital allowed the use of data packages and created text; phones enhanced screens and before you could say Webster’s Dictionary the youth segment totally destroyed 1000 years of English grammar.

Third generation, or 3G was somewhat less laissez faire as huge sums of money to modify or build new infrastructure were involved. Secondly, as our Governments owned the airwaves (on your behalf and naturally in your best interest) they preceded any build by holding lucrative auctions of airwave bandwidth.

OK, But What’s 4G

That’s easy to answer; 4G is fourth generation. More importantly another opportunity for our beloved politicians to sell yet more bandwidth (by getting rid of analog radio and analog TV which justifies the flat-screen digital 3D you bought recently) to an ever diminishing number of communications providers who can invest the huge sums needed to build …….. what are they building?

Convergence

Before we can offer an answer to what you thought was a simple question, we must advise you that the pundits believe that communications are converging.

The cynical will indeed say that they are converging on a big party. We are pompous in our non cynical status and are pleased to explain that your phone is no longer a mobile phone because it swallowed up any need for you to carry a PDA (yours was probably a Palm Pilot).  Recently the late Apple guru Steve Jobs also complicated your life by absorbing your iPod and iPad into something he called an iPhone.

Enough Already, I only asked about GPRS

True, but until you understand that your smartphone (google googled iPhone and discovered a similar tree called an Android) your Android will soon, it is predicted, offer you TV.  In fact, the chances are your phone as you know it will disappear.

The Great Caucasian Male Revolution

At UnlockWorldwide.com we are predicting that your phone will become a Bluetooth earpiece linked to your Android Tablet. To carry his Galaxy tablet the average Anglo American male will defy decades of macho prejudice and carry a ManBag!

The world may end in Manchester, Oklahoma City and Dallas.

Get To The Point; What Is GPRS?

It provides moderate-speed data transfer, by using unused time division multiple access (TDMA) channels in, for example, the GSM system. GPRS is integrated into GSM Release 97 and newer releases.

Got That?

No!

Look, just get yourself a BlackBerry Bold 9900 and enjoy it. In five years it may look like a Model T Ford and you can tell your grandson it was a marvel. He will just shrug as his ears are dedicated to ….. a device as yet un-invented, un-named and inoperable to anyone over thirty.