Global - Mobile Data - GPRS, Push to Talk, EDGE, HSCSD & i-Mode

Synopsis

Archived report. This report was archived in 2010 and has not been updated since.This report discusses the technologies that are being used to bridge the gap between the well established 2G and the much vaunted 3G, the so-called 2½G. Interest was rekindled in the technologies of GPRS, EDGE, HSCSD and i-mode following the poor showing by WAP. EDGE is proving to be a very popular way to upgrade GPRS networks to 3G, with deployments rapidly occurring around the world, particularly in Africa, Europe and the Middle East.

Table of Contents

• 1. Synopsis
• 2. Introduction
• 3. General Packet Radio Services (GPRS)
  • 3.1 Introduction
  • 3.2 Push-to-Talk (PTT)
    • 3.2.1 Introduction
    • 3.2.2 Standards finalised
    • 3.2.3 PTT introduced in the US
    • 3.2.4 US security concerns
• 4. High-Speed Circuit Switched Data (HSCSD)
  • 4.1 Introduction
• 5. Enhanced Data for GSM Evolution (EDGE)
  • 5.1 Introduction
  • 5.2 EDGE technology
  • 5.3 Growth of EDGE – 2004 - 2008
• 6. i-mode
  • 6.1 Introduction
  • 6.2 i-mode services
    • 6.2.1 i-mode’s limitations
• 7. Related reports

• Table 1 – Estimated Push to Talk subscribers worldwide – 2006; 2008; 2012
• Table 2 – Number of GSM/EDGE networks in commercial service – 2007 - 2008
• Table 3 – i-mode subscribers and annual change – Japan – 2000 - 2006
• Table 4 – Mobile Internet services, standards and subscribers by providers – Japan – May 2007

• Exhibit 1 – Theoretical and realistic speeds GPRS, EDGE and UMTS (kb/s)
• Exhibit 2 – Examples of major WCDMA/EDGE operators