Bearer Type Characteristics
The phone accesses WAP services over SMS or IP, where IP can be provided either over GSM Data or GPRS depending on network services.
Typical differences which distinguish the bearer types are listed below.
GPRS Access
•The connection is maintained “constantly”, as required by the application, and data is trans- mitted in packets. This means that the phone is connected almost all the time without using network capacity.
•Higher transmission speed than with GSM Data and SMS access.
•Pricing of GPRS can be dependent on the actual use of bandwidth, which means very low cost when no data is sent or received, while the phone remains connected to the WAP ser- vice.
•When transmitting large amounts of data, bandwidth can be increased automatically to allow faster transmission speed.
•GPRS is ideal for Complex Pull services, Browsing, Data transfer, Provisioning, Pager ser- vice, Messaging services, Info services, Push initiations.
GSM Data Access
•Circuit connection of data call which means that the phone is connected during the entire WAP session.
•Comparably higher transmission speed than with SMS access.
•Pricing of GSM Data access can be compared to pricing of data calls in the network.
•GSM Data is suitable for Complex Pull services, Browsing and Data transfer.
•GSM Data is not suitable for Provisioning, Pager service.
SMS Access
•SMS
•The connection is maintained by the automatic exchange of ”messages” between the phone and the SMS Service Center.
•Comparably lower transmission speed than with GSM Data access.
•Pricing of SMS access can be compared to pricing of the normal SMS service in the net- work.
•SMS is suitable for Messaging services, Info services, Push initiations, Provisioning.
•SMS is not suitable for Browsing, Data transfer.
Gateway Characteristics
The WAP Gateway provides services in the company’s Intranet, a banking or stock trading ser- vice on the internet, or access to other WAP applications on web addresses anywhere on the internet. A Gateway is identified by an IP number or by a phone number, depending on access type.
14