GPRS Explained
The charges for GPRS (Mobile Data/Mobile Internet) vary widely from plan to plan and from carrier
to carrier. While GPRS data charges are generally low, it is important to contact your carrier and
ensure you are on the best possible rate for this service.
Because your mobile carrier sets the GPRS rates, MobiPowered can’t tell you exactly how much it
will cost for your mobile Instant Messaging sessions, but we can give you some examples (valid at
December 2005), and tell you about the way GPRS charges are usually calculated.
1. How much does it cost to MobiChat on GPRS?
2. Getting the Right plan for you
3. Getting connected with GPRS
4. Difference between WAP and GPRS
5. The Best Plans
1. How much does it cost to MobiChat on GPRS?
There are different components in GPRS data costs.
In most countries around the world we see three main categories:
- Free
Some Carriers don’t measure and don’t charge for GPRS at all. Mostly we see this model in the North American market.
-
Flag fall and Data Charges
The user pays a small ‘flag fall charge’ when he connects to the data network (internet) via your mobile.
With GPRS, on this type of plan, you pay for what you use. For example an SMS has a maximum of 160 characters
per message and a fixed fee to send this message whether you send 1 OR the full 160 characters.
However, with most mobile carriers when you use MobiChat you will only pay for the amount of data you type
e.g. ‘Hello. How R U?” will only cost the relevant GPRS rates. If you sent it as an SMS however, it would cost
the full SMS rate even though it is well short of 160 characters.
-
Timed Data Charges
Some carriers charge you per minute of connection regardless of how much or how little you actually use the GPRS link.
This can make GPRS data prohibitively expensive but thankfully this type of plan is rare as it simply doesn’t make any
practical sense for the carrier or the user. Check with your carrier on the GPRS plans they have to make sure it is not
a timed data service they provide.
2. Getting the Right plan for you
Choosing the right mobile plan can be difficult but a simple rule of thumb is that the default rate is the most expensive rate.
A simple call to the carrier call centre to discuss and adjust your data rate can reduce the cost significantly.
Regardless of the plan you are on, we have found that for the vast majority of plans across the world, MobiChat is much
cheaper than SMS when averaged out over a month – frequently one hundredth of the cost..
3. Getting connected with GPRS
- Your current plan may not be configured at the mobile carrier end to permit you to use GPRS on your handset. So give your mobile service provider a call. Best to do this from your handset as this is usually a free call.
- Select the best plan for you. Ask the service centre for advice on the best data plan for you making sure you ask the questions given here.
- Get them to send you the OTA configuration messages. Most mobile carriers can send a text message to your phone that will setup your phone with all the settings it requires to access data on their network.
- You should now be ready to install your MobiPowered application.
4. Difference between WAP and GPRS
What is GPRS?
GPRS is a packet based data service that works in conjunction with the GSM cellular network. Simply put, GPRS enables data
to be sent to and from a GPRS enabled cell phone at high speed and at reasonable cost. The GPRS service provides a connection
from the cell phone to the Internet. It is therefore possible to browse the Internet from a GPRS enabled cell phone and access
web sites or corporate intranets given appropriate access rights.
What is WAP?
The Wireless Application Protocol is a secure specification that allows users to access information instantly via handheld
wireless devices such as mobile phones, pagers, two-way radios, smartphones and communicators. WAP runs “over” GPRS so should
be seen as being included in it rather than an altogether different communications protocol.
WAP over GPRS
Most mobile data today is accessed using GPRS. However WAP is making a comeback in the form of WAP over GPRS. The speed of
GPRS eliminates the long connect times previously experienced with WAP and the GPRS tariff structure provides a cost-effective
service. MobiData sometimes uses WAP to deliver applications Over The Air (OTA) to mobile devices. The WAP protocol runs over
the GPRS network and is effectively a subset of it.
5. The Best Plans
The easiest way to ensure you are on the best available plan for MobiChat is to ask your mobile carrier for the following:
- Regular daily connections with a small amount of traffic and data (you are just sending and receiving text).
- No session fees, that is being timed by the minute
Data Cap - Many of the mobile carriers now offer monthly plans with a data cap. These generally offer an amount of data per month included in one straightforward monthly fee and most importantly DO NOT include a session fee.
Per kilobyte – The next best thing to a Data Cap is to pay per kilobyte. For most mobile carriers this is the default plan.
The most important thing to remember is that with the right data plan MobiChat can be much more fun and a lot cheaper than SMS and most mobile carriers will be able to offer you a good GPRS data rate plan.
