What means GPRS?

GPRS is an end to end connection between a cellular device (e.g. a mobile phone or an ENAiKOON locate VTU) and the internet. This can be used, for instance, to exchange data between an onboard computer and a backend server.

GPRS will typically be used when data must be continuously transmitted between a wireless device and a backend system. In such cases, SMS is most often much too expensive; the big difference between GPRS and a "normal" mobile connection is the pricing: unlike mobile pricing, GPRS pricing is based on the amount of transferred data and is not based on the duration of the connection. One character is one „byte“. One thousand bytes is one kilobyte, one thousand kilobytes is one megabyte (MB).

The transfer of 1 MB costs roughly 1,50 - 10 euros, regardless of how long the transfer takes.

Possible pitfalls:

Two situation can make the use of GPRS more expensive than expected:

• Overhead:
  the GPRS data transfer uses the TCP/IP internet protocol or, less likely, the UDP protocol. Both add on an overhead to the data that must be transferred which can cause small amounts of data (e.g. GPS coordinates) easily to double or triple. This overhead is not easy to remove and must be taken into account.
  
  
• Minimal packet sizes:
  Network operators have different methods to calculate theamount of data. While business customers often get precisely byte-by-byte calculated invoices, private customers' bills are normally rounded up. This can result in substantial extra costs for nothing. It is trongly recommended to look into these details prior to the purchase of a SIM card.
  In the past (conditions: 7/2005) we found that Vodafone is very unfavorable for customers, because they round on 100 KB per connection. This can produce extra costs of 100 euro and more per vehicle per month.
  

<< back