Future without wires - GPRS today and tomorrow
Technology GPRS - a system for packet data cellular network GSM. What did she give us?
First, pay tribute hackneyed cliches ...
The world of the future will be mobile. It will be mobile in all respects, especially in the information. Here's the translation where some trouble, we learn about it instantly - much faster than learn today, on broadcast channels or through the press.
Information has long been a hot commodity, but these days it is becoming a necessary condition for normal life. A huge number of people around the world are making money outside the office. Work at home, work on the road, work on the road from home to work ... Over time, this nightmare can become widespread, and many of the usual Today things will look different. For example, money. They probably will not do - in the sense of cash. Will electronic money (which is full of today - in the form of payment cards) will be more electronic money (for the calculations on the Internet map itself is not needed, you need a bank account and its details), will be the virtual equivalent of money, having no physical counterpart (all wealth in the cell phone - drive you mad).
So, the world of the future will be mobile, and it is nice ... But what about us today? I want to still stay the same, and without delay, without looking enviously over the horizon.
In principle, we already are mobile in the extreme. Voice wireless communications available to anyone who has at least some money ... Not exactly - the farther from the Garden Ring, the smaller the wireless because of reducing the number of those who have money. In some villages in our northern and eastern regions of ordinary people and a phone is not seen, not that cell. But that is another topic ...
Until recently, when a cell phone and Russia still "ustakanivalsya. throwing fake white robes, expensive toys and donned the overalls worn worker, my mobility was limited opportunity to talk but the phone directly on the run. On any serious work, but angry valuable guidance or hurried negotiations on trifles, and the speech was not.
No, the "mobile Internet» was, is and will be. Can directly from the phone (looking at the gray screen in an attempt to make out - what is there translit indicated), possibly through the phone with a handheld computer, possibly with a laptop. But - speed. 9.6 kilobits per second - is not available. It is only in the WAP-e jokes to read.
"Mobile Internet», as well as the "mobile office" (an office in your pocket, palm, armpit, and so on) - just a sound to ever since, while it will not provide high-speed, reliable and cheap wireless communication ...
Most recently, the largest cellular operators in Russia have introduced a service that we are looking forward - Service GPRS. And since then our lives and in fact became mobile. That is - could become, if we will evaluate the possibility of GPRS, and the operators will not be lazy to develop this remarkable technology.
After a splendid entry little technical information. GPRS - General Packet Radio Service - a system for packet data cellular network GSM. It increases the rate of exchange of information over wireless networks, does not overload the communication channels and thus is very cheap channel for data transmission.
Just a question - how much cheaper? Imagine, less any other available today, wireless communication channels. If the idea of signalers transfer fixed telephone lines on time payment to be realized, for many of us, GPRS will be a real alternative to wired access to the global network - the difference in cost would be negligible ...
How can that be? Is GPRS the user does not pay for connection time? Are cellular operators will be used for the introduction of special rates for users of Internet? For operators - pure devastation.
But the fact of the matter is that for the transmission or reception of data via GPRS, we do not have to pay the total connection time, but time spent on information-sharing and the development of the service - only traffic. Secret - in technology GPRS. This protocol uses a data-free channels, giving priority to voice communications. Moreover, the transfer of data packets carried on several (the number to seven, although it is used less) free channels.
This process is as follows. When you call up the operator and running on your device, smartphone, handheld or laptop computer, a browser or email program, we send a request to send or receive information. The base station receives the request, creates an array of data pieces of information - packages, looking for free channels and transmits in parallel. If the speed of data transmission on one channel does not exceed 14 kbit / s (normal to date figure), then using the GPRS technology, the exchange rate is doubled, tripled and so on (up to seven times) - depending on the number of used channels. Simultaneously, the base station converts the data from the GSM format in formats that are used by TCP / IP to exchange data on the Internet.
Baud rate (ie number of channels, which are exchanged), the value is not constant. The higher the network load, the rate of exchange is less, since free transmission of voice data channels are also smaller. But in a more or less free time (at night or early morning) the exchange rate increases - due to the simultaneous use of more free channels ..
One of the advantages of GPRS, which can not be overemphasized, it is the absence of overloading the normal channels used for transmission of voice data (in other words - for phone calls), even at high traffic wireless connections to the Internet. Phones, communicators and smartphones with full support for GPRS at the hardware level, to allow a telephone conversation and connect to the Internet simultaneously. Yet nobody feels the discomfort - data is transmitted exclusively on free channels. And if someone "not enough space in the air" channel, which broadcasts the data is immediately released for voice communications. And the base station is immediately looking for another free channel.
However, this can only the most perfect (and probably most expensive) class of communications equipment - the so-called class A terminals GPRS. Only he can simultaneously support voice communications and to exchange data.
A more democratic type of terminal GPRS - Class B - "know how" to work in voice and terminal mode alternately. That is, when you connect to the Global Network of voice, pure phone functions, the device is not available. It is to this class are the most massive models of handsets supporting GPRS.
The third type - Class C - a device to be attached to laptops or handheld computers. They are made in the form of cellular communication modules supporting GPRS. The format of the modules - cards PC card or CompactFlash (in principle, possible device to format any memory cards or simply connected to the ports on the computer). This module turns a PDA or laptop into a powerful tool for wireless communications.
Most often, a combination cell phone, into Class B, and a laptop. Communication between your phone and your PC is made via infrared or data cable RS-232. The latter is more likely because in practice turns out to be reliable - Infrared communication is subject to interference.
Less frequently used tandem of cell phone and handheld computer. Case again in practice. CCP only in words suitable for viewing web-pages. The small screen forces the user to move the screen without the end of the scroll bar, or to limit the scope to reduce the page is displayed in the browser. A lack of intensive drives are not on the PDA allows you to save any significant amount of information ... But it sounds attractive - "the whole world in your pocket." Is it not?
Yet the most seductive look smart phones - cellphones with computer-integrated e-mail clients and viewers WAP-HSI RESOURCES. In addition, they are wireless modems for connecting a desktop computer, laptop or PDA to the Internet, they are able to work with the network resources themselves - at least to accept and send email that is very, very much.
It is clear that we are at the beginning of a long journey. As long as the GPRS technology live more in words than in deeds. This is evidenced by a small number of customers who use charm GPRS least to some extent ... But the number is growing frightening pace! At times, dozens of times, and every day ...
This is not the allegation, but the hypothesis is only partly supported by the facts. What prevents the widespread dissemination of GPRS?
First, it is not entirely clear prospects remarkable technology. Cell phone operators are reluctant to invest heavily in the improvement of base stations, without a clear idea of the possible demand for wireless services.
Part of the problem resolved scandals Prepaid calls on wire lines. In the regions under the case providers rushed to the limit to reduce the price to connect to the Internet. Today the cheapest Internet can not be found in Moscow and elsewhere in Voronezh or in Vologda.
Cellular operators, having the approximate calculations, came to the conclusion - wireless Internet access via GPRS can cost no more expensive than wired access - if the input time payment for the use of fixed
bathrooms channels of communication, of course. Moreover, at sufficiently widespread GPRS it is possible to reduce the price (better to get a ruble to a million users than a million to a handful of what some nouveau riche) ... Just imagine, in some developed countries (eg Japan), wireless access is cheaper than wired! Add to this the convenience of mobile access - possibility to check the mail in the car or while walking ...
The second reason (back to the aforesaid transfer) curbing the proliferation of GPRS someone may seem controversial. This is my personal suggestion, but I think that it is not particularly distorts the true state of things ... Speech about the complexities of setting GPRS. The technology is very convenient - in the work. But in order to properly set up the phone and the computer will have to look at the site operator and get acquainted with "not bad" instructions ...
Not quite a direct parallel - with the introduction of the new company Bee Line Services «beeinfo». This is an electronic directory of cell phone menu. That is the menu of the device at its inclusion of the SIM-card memory overwrite advance made there room service providers. Information services - Weather forecast, exchange rate, other background information (availability of tickets at theaters, horoscope, the addresses of organizations and much, much more) - available as a text message SMS, who come to the phone user. But it does not have to remember or make a phone book list of numbers on which you can get an information service. These numbers are entered in the phone menu in the form of text, clearly marked and easily read paragraphs - "Jokes", "Aphorisms", "Holidays" ... The same thing without any cost is available to all subscribers of Bee Line. Only for select services (by the way, most are not free) should open a special reference booklet attached to each phone, and dial the appropriate number. That's all.
You know, this is a great marketing ploy - to bring their goods (in this case - the service) to the consumer, make it simple, understandable and easy to use.
Is it time for the housewife or the eyeballs busy working business man to play with those yuroskopami (in the sense - with the settings, dial, remembering it in the address book phone)? And if this horoscope is only a screen a button with a Russian inscription - why not?
Roughly the same thing should happen with the service GPRS. Automatic or at least, extremely simplified settings, accompanied by a paper comic book (like the Japanese, supplying sophisticated electronic guidance "for babies"), and even better - pop-up screen prompts. And on the box with the phone write: "This thing is able to connect to the Internet, send and receive email without taking off your pants last. Success is practically guaranteed. Without a little fanfare, but true ...
Third leading cause of - the technical plan. To effectively use GPRS today's exchange rate via GSM is not enough. Hence the first task - increasing the rate of exchange. The second task is to improve the technology of parallel transmission of data packets on the free channels, an increase in the number of channels simultaneously involved. And what other problems are real and doable. It is safe to say - will demand service, will do the rest.
We are talking about GPRS, how about something readily available. In the meantime, take this charm may be today - just look at the sites of the Moscow operators, or visit the nearest phone shop (how much of the capital).
However, we need an appropriate staff ... Also, in general, not a problem. When choosing a new phone, we draw attention to its list of service functions. Well, there WAP, e-mail, organizer ... A must watch for the presence of support GPRS! Then everything else is simply attached. (Which GPRS without mail and browser?)
Descriptions of today's models, due to their high number, omit.
It is better to think about it - what would like. What appears and shops in the near future and that it should choose.
There are many vkusovschiny. Some people like machines unusual - with built-in QWERTY-keyboard and or player MRZ. Someone prefers sverhzaschischennye phones that even onto the ground, though the wall - are still available. And someone chooses apparatus with a big screen - not to squint, as if blind chicken.
I like the sound devices (and they do not like them?) And multifunctional. I do not see much sense in the application of a handheld computer, if I had a multifunction device. But at the same time it must be small in size as a cell phone, and with the ability to synchronize with a laptop - and, not only to update the phone book ...
It has, say, a phone with a screen Panasonic GD95, with Rohrsen and SMTP mail client (in the Panasonic already has), infrared, and even better with a Bluetooth port, but still ... with chitalochkoy "for e-books, I would not hesitate rid of its handheld machines and would have worn in the pocket only this machine.
But I (anyone, but not an example to follow). Other users need from your phone's other capabilities. For example, a built-in camera, color screen, large memory, the same player MRZ