Jordanian mobile network Fastlink recently announced the launch of its General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), a global system for mobile communication (GSM) which allows high-speed data transmission. Fastlink will be giving its customers GPRS services for free until February 15, 2002.
Fastlink’s post paid customers nationwide will now on be able to continually connect to the Internet via their mobile and will be charged for usage rather than time online. GPRS mobile phones with permanent Internet connections will be available in Fastlink shops across the country.
The commercial launch of the service comes less than six months after Fastlink carried out a technical launch of the first phase of GPRS network in the greater Amman area. “While the regular GSM data transfer rate is 9.6 Kbps, the GPRS we are launching currently provides a speed of up to 44 Kbps, and in the future the speed will be even higher reaching more than 170Kbps,” says Samer Bazyan, Data Group Manager at Fastlink.
For mobile users, GPRS delivers a WAP service that is four times faster than what it used to be. Users can also hook up their PCs, laptops or Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) to their GPRS handset for a more traditional Internet experience that includes surfing, chatting, accessing email, etc. “The subscriber would not have to dial in to a special server or their Internet provider, the Net will always be there. It is akin to having a leased line versus a dial-up connection at home.” adds Bazyan.
For businesses, GPRS will soon mean remote access that enables employees to access their office-based systems when on the move. Using laptops, PDAs, they will be able to reach a range of applications including directories, e-mail, databases, calendars, stock-control lists or job schedules which are based on their Local Area Network (LAN).
For faster transmission, GPRS works by breaking information into discrete “packets”. Based on today’s GSM networks, GPRS provides a constant connection to the Internet, and users according to the amount of data they receive and transmit rather than the length of time a call takes.
GPRS is an example of 2.5G (2.5 Generation) technology, the stepping-stone from GSM services to those 3G services which are expected to become available through the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) in the next few years. — (menareport.com)
© 2002 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
