Technology - Mobile 4 - 2-5G - MMS, WAP, GPRS, SAIC & EDGE

Synopsis

We discuss the two most important 2.5G services - MMS multimedia messaging and the micro-browser based WAP Wireless Application Framework. We discuss GPRS, its Quality of Service characteristics, and problems arising with TCP/IP networking in this or any other mobile data service. We also discuss EDGE - the 2.75G enhancement that forms a bridge to 3G applications and QoS.

Table of Contents

• 1. Synopsis
• 2. Messaging and WAP
  • 2.1 MMS - Multimedia Messaging Service
    • 2.1.1 Transport protocols - WAP and GPRS
    • 2.1.2 HTML and SMIL
    • 2.1.3 Commercial MMS service-providers
    • 2.1.4 Display via streaming media
    • 2.1.5 Standards
    • 2.1.6 Unified messaging
    • 2.1.7 Instant Messaging and Presence Service (IMPS)
  • 2.2 Wireless Application Protocol (WAP)
    • 2.2.1 WAP Datagram Protocol (WDP)
    • 2.2.2 Wireless Transaction Protocol (WTP)
    • 2.2.3 Wireless Session Protocol (WSP)
    • 2.2.4 Wireless Markup Language (WML)
    • 2.2.5 WMLScript
    • 2.2.6 Microbrowser and WAP gateway
    • 2.2.7 Slow acceptance of WAP
    • 2.2.8 WAP for games and gambling
  • 2.3 General Packet Radio Service (GPRS)
    • 2.3.1 Delays and latency
    • 2.3.2 Comparison with 3G technologies
    • 2.3.3 Robustness and TCP problems
    • 2.3.4 Flexibility and simultaneous voice operation
    • 2.3.5 Quality of Service (QoS)
    • 2.3.6 Variable coding rates
    • 2.3.7 Efficiency and charging
• 3. Single Antenna Interference Cancellation (SAIC)
  • 3.1 Joint Demodulation
  • 3.2 Synchronising base-stations
  • 3.3 Overall benefits of SAIC
• 4. Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE)
  • 4.1 Enhancement to GSM
  • 4.2 Path to 3G
  • 4.3 Upgrade from IS-136
  • 4.4 EDGE Compact and Classic
  • 4.5 New modulation schemes
  • 4.6 ARQ and Reframing
  • 4.7 Incremental reception
  • 4.8 Quality of Service
• 5. Related reports