GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) is global mobile data technology. More important it is a step en route to next-generation wireless, or 3G, for many networks in the US and most networks in Europe and Asia. Questions like "when can we expect European take-up of GPRS?", "what kind of roaming will the standards bodies adopt?", "what functionality will first-generation terminals provide?", or "how will GPRS change the basic business practices of GSM operators?" all need to be answered before implementations proceed. This book helps the wireless industry gets its arms around the issues with contributions from many of the pioneering companies in the mobile data industry. It equips professionals with plain English explanations of technology, markets, billing systems, terminals and management challenges.

McGraw-Hill authors represent the leading experts in their fields and are dedicated to improving the lives, careers, and interests of readers worldwide

PART 1: INTRODUCTION TO GSM NETWORKING

Chapter 1: Global Domination of GSM

Chapter 2: Roaming Across Borders

Chapter 3: Short Message Service and GSM Circuit-Switched Data

PART 2: A PERSPECTIVE ON GPRS ADOPTION AROUND THE WORLD

Chapter 4: GPRS Market Demand and Key Drivers

Chapter 5: Market Positioning

Chapter 6: The Enterprise Business Model

Chapter 7: GPRS in the Mass Market

Chapter 8: Portals

PART 3: GPRS FOR DUMMIES LIKE ME (AND MAYBE YOU)

Chapter 9: Cool High-Speed Data Services

Chapter 10: Planning and Dimensioning

Chapter 11: Implementation and Testing

Chapter 12: IP Addressing

Chapter 13: Access Point Names

Chapter 14: GPRS Security

PART 4: IT'S THE APPLICATION, STUPID

Chapter 15: WAP and Lessons Learned

Chapter 16: M-Services

Chapter 17: M-Commerce

Chapter 18: Applications in a GPRS Environment

Chapter 19: Interoperator Settlement

Chapter 20: GPRS Roaming eXchange

Chapter 21: Location-Based Services

PART 5: UNLESS YOU CAN MAKE A GPRS TOASTER, YOU NEED A NEW GPRS TERMINAL DEVICE

Chapter 22: Types of Devices and How They Grow

Chapter 23: GPRS Devices

Chapter 24: Environmental Issues

PART 6: TOMORROW: JUST LIKE YESTERDAY WITH A BYTE OF THE UNKNOWN?

Chapter 25: Testing and Approvals

Chapter 26: Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution

Chapter 27: GPRS Evolution

Chapter 28: All-IP Networks

APPENDIX: ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

CONTRIBUTORS

INDEX