Mobile firms unite for GPRS fight
By Ian Lynch [29-06-2001]
After the Wap flop, analysts say that mobile vendors have agreed "unprecedented co-operation" to promote general packet radio service (GPRS), the technology inbetween Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) and 3G.
Facing the prospect of customers ignoring the low-ish speed but always-on internet connection provided by GPRS to wait for the higher speed connection and added value services of 3G, vendors are clubbing together to promote GPRS as a way to try and keep the market growing.
The GSM Association has agreed an industry-wide proposal for GPRS standards in handset manufacturing and software development. It is hoped that this will drive GPRS adoption, improve customer experience, and allow more relevant services to be developed for users.
So far, vendors Alcatel, Ericsson, Motorola, Nokia, Sagem, Samsung and Siemens, among others, are supporting the proposals.
UK analyst Butler group commented: "It is heartening to see that the mobile operators have learnt the lessons of the Wap debacle, and are now taking cognisance of user requirements, rather than pushing wireless technology and services which the devices were plainly not capable of supplying."
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