Glossary

GPRS

Acronym for General Packet Radio Service, which is a packet-switched technology that enables data communications over GSM network, often described as 2.5G (second and a half generation). It does not set up a continuous channel from a portable terminal for the transmission and reception of data, but transmits and receives data in packets, thus enabling efficient use of the available radio spectrum. In theory GPRS allows data speeds of about 115 kbps, although the actual speeds are about 30-40 kbps. There are three GPRS classes – class A (shows that the device can be connected to both to GPRS and GSM service, using the two of them at the same time); class B (shows that the device can be connected to both to GPRS and GSM service, but can use only one of them at a time); class C (shows that the device can be connected to either GPRS or GSM service and the switch between them is manual).