GRPS to Facilitate WAP Internet Access in ChinaThe speed of wireless application protocol (WAP) Internet access in China is expected to increase dramatically by this yearend.An executive with Ericsson (China) disclosed in Shanghai on Sept. 26 that by the end of this year, China Mobile Communications Co. and China Unicom will import Ericsson's communications general packet radio service (GPRS) system. An experimental network has already been set up, according to the Sept. 27 Wenhui Bao (Wenhui Daily). GPRS technology can increase Internet access speed of WAP-enabled mobile phones 10 to 100 times, the article said. Experts predict that by 2003, China will have over 200 million mobile phone users, surpassing the United States to become the largest mobile phone user group in the world. The demand for Internet access is very strong among Chinese mobile phone users. However, since the Internet access speed of mobile phonesis still slow, WAP mobile phones do not sell well in spite of high demand, according to the story. GPRS technology will increase the network transmission speed and therefore lower the usage charges of WAP-enabled mobile phones, making WAP access a practical option for more Chinese consumers, the article noted. |
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