VODAFONE CONDUCTS NATIONWIDE BUSINESS TRIALS OF GPRS IN UK
(The following is a reformatted version of a press release issued by ICL plc.)
27 September 2000
Vodafone conducts Nationwide business trials of GPRS in the UK
Vodafone UK today announces that full Customer Trials of its General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) begin next month, following successful field trials with almost 100 people. The Customer Trial Programme will be the largest of its kind with over 500 users from a selected group of blue chip organisations, including among others, ICL.
Initially the trials will be conducted on a regional basis, using business support systems that will be available at commercial launch, and will be extended nation-wide in November. The trials are being carried out in conjunction with Ericsson, Vodafone's partner in the development of its GPRS infrastructure.
Peter Bamford, Chief Executive at Vodafone UK Ltd, commented: "This is an important step in our GPRS launch schedule. Not only does this present us with an ideal opportunity to test our GPRS offerings, but also creates a forum for inter-working with key customers, leading to closer working relationships that we hope will continue for many years to come."
Andrew Boswell, Chief Technology Officer at ICL commented: "Mobile data applications will soon become part of our everyday working life. ICL feels it is important to get involved at this early stage in the development of Vodafone's GPRS services, as one of their major corporate customers. This will give our staff valuable, first hand experience of the latest technology and ensure that we are well placed to advise our customers on how they can use the technology to their best advantage."
The trialists will be provided with a GPRS device, which will allow them to make a direct comparison on the enhanced speeds and capabilities that GPRS brings over GSM. As GPRS is "always on," users can now eliminate the repetitive process of re-connecting communications each time they need to send data, making the mobile office a much simpler reality.
The business trials will test and validate the end-to-end service performance of the GPRS network and to verify the customer experience. In addition to Wireless Office Applications such as email, scheduling, task management and Intranet browsing (HTML); WAP based information and entertainment services and Service Management Applications will be used in order to test applications that have been developed specifically for corporate customers.
This is the latest stage of Vodafone's GPRS Trial Programme, in the run up to launch. Live network rollout commenced last month and is scheduled for completion at the end of October. Vodafone will be the first UK operator to incorporate the latest GPRS standards into its live GSM network.
About GPRS
GPRS is a data transmission technology operating at data rates significantly faster than the current GSM rate and approaching the fastest fixed dial-up speeds of ISDN. Unlike conventional GSM technology, GPRS employs packet switching technology that means the data is split and sent in small packets, each addressed to the appropriate destination, enabling several users to share the same radio resource.
With current GSM use, one radio channel slot is allocated per user. With GPRS multiple users will be able to use the same channel, (in contrast to GSM where one channel is used and charged even during pauses in data transmission,) meaning that the network is used far more efficiently and it is consequently more cost effective for the user. It is possible to join channels together to improve the speed of GPRS. The process of joining channels together is commonly known as "multi-slot". At launch, terminals will support the joining together of 4 radio channels for downloading information to the mobile, creating a data application speed of approximately 48kbps, but with an uplink data application rate of 12kbps. (The 13.4kbps speed per channel that has been reported historically, is actually the radio data rate of GSM.)
Once logged on to the GPRS network, users have a virtual permanent connection, whereby radio resources are only consumed on the network during the transfer of data. If you happen to go out of coverage, data transfer is suspended and continues when you move back into GPRS coverage. Unlike GSM charging which bills per second, GPRS calls are charged for the quantity of data transmitted.
GPRS uses the existing GSM base stations, but introduces two new network nodes. These new nodes form part of a nation-wide packet backbone network, which handle the packet switching of the GPRS traffic.
About Vodafone
Vodafone Group Plc is the world's largest mobile telecommunications company, with a current market capitalisation of around œ200 billion. The Group is focused on mobile voice and data communications, two of the fastest growing segments in the telecommunications industry.
In the UK, Vodafone is the second largest public company. The market leader since 1986, it has more than 9.3 million customers - a market share of around 31 per cent - with more than 5.5 million subscribers on the hugely successful `Pay as you Talk' pre-pay scheme.
About Ericsson
Ericsson is the leading communications supplier, combining innovation in mobility and Internet in creating the new era of mobile Internet. Ericsson provides total solutions covering everything from systems and applications to mobile phones and other communications tools. With more than 100,000 employees in 140 countries, Ericsson simplifies communications for customers all over the world.
About ICL
ICL is one of Europe's leading e-Business services companies and employs more than 21,000 people in over 40 countries. It designs, builds and operates e- Business solutions for customers in the financial services, telecoms, retail, government, utilities and travel markets.
ICL's e-Business services portfolio is focused on the transformation of its customers' businesses. It offers an end-to-end services capability - from new media design, consultancy and systems implementation through to managed e- Infrastructure services that underpin the `mission-critical' requirements of today's businesses.
For the year ended 31 March 2000, the company's revenues were œ2,774.6 million and its profit before tax was œ96.1 million. Headquartered in London, ICL is wholly owned by Fujitsu of Japan. |
