German operator T-Mobil and Sweden’s wireless giant Ericcson Thursday announced the two companies have deployed the first live trial of General
Packet Radio Services technology for wireless Internet services.
Ericsson’s GPRS system will enable T-Mobil (Deutsche Telekom MobilNet GmbH)
to offer wireless Net access and other IP-based services at wireline speeds.
Ericsson GPRS packet-switching equipment is also being tested for
operations with other supplier’s equipment.
“GPRS is an important step in the migration from today’s GSM networks
towards 3G. This technology will considerably promote the penetration of
new mobile datacom applications,” says Karl Alsmar, Ericsson GmbH’s
managing director.
“We expect that this first GPRS implementation will attract other operators to install this technology.”
Ericsson and T-Mobil inked the GPRS deal in January. The two companies also
plan to develop non-voice applications, including deployment of new
technologies such as Bluetooth and Wireless Application Protocol.
T-Mobil plans to offer commercial services next year.
Motorola Inc. Wednesday won a $47 million contract to upgrade T-Mobil’s
T-D1 GSM mobile communications network so that the company can introduce
high-speed data applications over GPRS.
Motorola’s GPRS architecture can be implemented over an existing GSM
network, requiring no modifications to existing hardware.
Earlier this year, Motorola and Cisco Systems Inc., formed an alliance to
develop and deliver the first all-IP platform for the wireless industry.
The two industry heavyweights plan to jointly invest up to $1 billion over four to five years to deliver wireless Internet.