Difference between GSM and GPRS

GPRS is an upgraded the basic features of GSM technology, it allows mobile handsets to obtains much high data speed than GSM. Here this article gives information about the difference between GSM and GPRS to know more details about it.
  • GSM called global system for mobile communication while GPRS stands for general packet radio services.
  • GSM is in general circuit switch architecture, GPRS is in general packet switch architecture.
  • GSM has a lower bit rate while GPRS is a higher bit rate.
  • In GSM data rate up-to in the range off 9.6 kbps, GPRS data rates up-to range of 14.4 to 15.2 kbps.
  • GSM is a point to point services, GPRS is a multi-point service.
  • GSM is a standard bearer of 2G technologies, GPRS is the upgrade over the basic GSM features. It allows the mobile handset to obtain much higher data speed than what standard GSM can offers.
  • GSM is used circuit switching traffic while GPRS used for packet switching traffic.
  • In GSM UE will be two states, i.e., idle as well as ready while in GPRS UE will be in three states called idle, ready and standby.
  • In GSM location area based concept is used while In GPRS routing area based concept is used.
  • In GSM time slot allocated both in uplink and downlink. Due to these radio resource allocation is GSM is called as symmetric type while in GPRS radio resource allocation is asymmetric, for example, it is possible to allocate the time slot only in downlink not in up-link when a user is only downloading the file.
  • GSM has time-based billing while GPRS has traffic based billing.
  • GSM has reserved bandwidth, GPRS has shared bandwidth.
  • GSM is an inefficient use of resources while GPRS is an efficient use of resources.
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