Introduction

Mobile GSM connectivity is the ability to remain connected while moving around. The ability to be hooked up to the internet anywhere, anytime without the need for a wired connection. While the radial distance covered by a single access point (base station) may be as high as 30 km or more, the speed is relatively low at around 14.4 Kbps – to over 100 Kbps.

Services

• GPRS (General Packet Radio Services) or 2.5G, is known as an 'always on' GSM communication service. It transfers information from a mobile phone or remote device to a customer’s infrastructure, a predefined server or the public internet.This service transfers information by breaking data up into 'packets' that each follow their own, shortest-available route to their destination, where they are reassembled. This allows for fast data transmission speeds - the top speed is 170 kilobits per second (Kbps). However networks are presently reporting speeds starting at around 44Kbps. GPRS has been designed for the transmission of data rather than voice, so if for example you get a telephone call while looking for something on the Internet, your session will be paused while you take your voice call, and will resume once you end the voice call.
• Edge (Enhanced Data for Global Evolution) - a faster version of the GSM standard and standard GPRS, using a new modulation technique and introducing improvements in the radio protocol to deliver data at nominal rates up 384 Kbps. This technology is only offered by MTN and has approximately 50% coverage nationally. It is also dependent on the device used, as this device needs to be EDGE enabled as well.

• (3G) Third Generation or UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunication System) – this is a family technology for broadband. Common characteristics are high bandwidth for data transmission and a common frequency. This technology can deliver a rich multimedia experience to terminal devices only in its coverage area.

Benefits

• Improves communications with mobile workers
• Close more sales
• Reduce expensive site visits
• Enhance field service productivity
• Keep tabs on expensive assets
• VPN Access
• Web browsing
• Email
• Information services
• E-commerce applications such as online banking
• Document sharing
• Remote networking