GPRS/GSM
General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) has become a substitute for 3G as a result of the development costs involved. 2.5G (as it is known) enables data exchange over a cellular phone link at 150 kilobits per second, allowing photographic images and more reliable connectivity. GPRS networks offer 'always-on', higher capacity, Internet-based content and packet-based data services. This enables services such as colour Internet browsing, e-mail on the move, powerful visual communications, multimedia messages and location-based services
Second-generation GSM networks deliver a high quality and secure mobile voice and data services (such as SMS/Text Messaging) with full roaming capabilities across the world. Today's GSM platform is a hugely successful wireless technology and an unprecedented story of global achievement. In less than ten years since the first GSM network was commercially launched, it has become the world's leading and fastest growing mobile standard, spanning over 190 countries. GSM technology is in use by more than one in six of the world's population and it is estimated that at the end of 2003 there were 960 million GSM subscribers across 205 countries of the world.