i. General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) is 2.5G GSM technology. It introduces packet switching network in the existing GSM core network. All the 2G GSM functionalities are retained.

ii. Packet switching does not require dedicated end-to-end connection continuously. The network resources and bandwidth is used only when data has to be transmitted. Thus, there is optimum utilization of radio resources. There is dedicated end-to-end packet switched data connection.

iii. Thus packet switched GPRS reduces connection time of the mobile device on the network. Also the data from many devices is multiplexed in the time slot for GPRS.

iv. GPRS uses TCP/IP and X.25. It provides speeds up to 115kbps.

v. GPRS supports all widely used data communications protocols, including IP, so it is possible to connect with any data source from anywhere in the world using a GPRS mobile terminal. GPRS supports applications ranging from low-speed short messages to high-speed corporate LAN communications.

vi. GPRS provides a service for bursty and bulky data transfer, radio resources on demand, shared use of physical radio resources, existing GSM functionality, mobile applications for a mass application market, volume dependent charging, and integrated services, operation and management.

vii. Two types of services are provided by GPRS: