On Mon, 26 Sep 2005 21:32:44 +0100, Geoff Lane
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>I'm not too au faix as yet with GPRS, I am playing around a wee bit
>with the settings on my Sony Ericsson Z600 but am wondering; the data
>settings on the phone allow for GPRS or GSM.
GPRS is a way of transmitting data over GSM whereby the AMOUNT OF
DATA, not the amount of minutes, is what costs money.
A normal GSM data call is charged by the minute (or by the second). So
if you use a GSM data call, and browse one WAP page, you get charged
for how long you took to read the page.
A GPRS data call is charged by the data. So if you use a GPRS data
call, and browse one WAP page, you only get charged for the tiny
amount of data for that one page, regardless of how long you spent
reading it.
(Exception to the rule: some GSM data phones allow you to terminate
the call even though the page is still on the screen. But you get the
idea.)
Also note that GPRS is a SUBSET of GSM. GSM is the general standard
for digital mobile phones; GPRS is a method for sending data in
"packets" (rather than in voice calls) over these types of networks.
>If I get the settings correct should my GPRS be able to communicate
>with my own home WiFi set up and therefore access the internet via my
>ADSL connection.
You can't use GSM (nor GPRS) to communicate with WiFi; wrong frequency
and wrong set of standards.
A GPRS connection will generally give you an IP address which
essentially places your phone on the Internet already. However, most
networks restrict you to a "private IP space" which means you are in a
little playpen hidden away from the real Internet; you can connect
out, but people can't connect in. Additionally, some networks restrict
you to WAP pages only; sometimes you have to ask to have a "proper"
Internet connection that can do real Web browsing, FTP etc.
*IF* you have a "proper" IP connection - which can be vanilla GSM but
is more likely on GPRS - then you can communicate with your home ADSL.
You won't save any money because the data will be going in this route:
1. Your phone, then
2. Nearest transmitter (normally, top of nearest big hill, 2-3 miles)
3. Service provider's network (eg. O2 or Vodafone)
4. Internet
5. ISP's network (eg. Wanadoo, BT Broadband, NTL)
6. Your computer in your house.
I use this to control my computer from my mobile phone even when I'm
hundreds of miles away. You can get the software here but you need to
be quite an advanced user to set it up:
http://j2mevnc.sourceforge.net/
....view and control my Windows/Linux/Mac PC desktop from my mobile
(VNC)
http://www.xk72.com/midpssh/
....view and control my Linux commandline from my mobile
(SSH)
--
Andrew Oakley andrew/atsymbol/aoakley/stop/com
Gloucestershire, UK