mobiles

EDGE stands for ‘Enhanced Data-Rates for GSM Evolution’ and is often called as 2.75G when we talk about the generations of the mobile services. This is due to the fact that it was a part of the ITU’s definition for the term ‘3G’.

The reason why EDGE is faster than GPRS, although both belong to the GSM services of around the same time is that EDGE uses enhanced encoding for transmission over radio channels available to the 2G spectrum.

The maximum bandwidth supported by EDGE is 236.8 KBPS (Kilo Bits Per Second).

GPRS stands for ‘Genral Packet Radio Service’ and is used to provide data services to the user. GPRS is used on both the 2G and 3G networks but are often said to be the 2.5 G era service. The GPRS service offers speeds between 56 KBPS to 114 KBPS. The technology used in GPRS is TDMA.

GPRS is used for web browsing but is not limited by the same. It is also used for the MMS, Push to Talk, WAP, P2P and for instant messaging. GPRS can also be used to send SMS, but is mostly no used for this purpose.

Wi-Fi is another name for the ‘Wireless’ technology. It is the same technology used by notebooks to connect to the hotspots in public places. Wi-Fi is mostly synonymous to the IEEE 802.11 standard. If you are bothered by that standard name, you just need to remember that a phone mentioning the word IEEE 802.11has Wireless capabilities and is ready for use at public or private wireless hotspots to connect to the internet.

The word ‘proximity’ means nearness. A proximity sensor is mostly a feature of a touch-screen phone where the proximity sensor is used to detect the distance of the phone from the ear while talking. When the phone is near the ear, the touch functions are disabled so that the touch made by the ear and the face on the phone screen do not affect the call (such as pressing an area of the screen which disconnects the call). Proximity sensor will also help the mobile phone save energy.

The type of glass used in a (touch) mobile phone is important. A touch screen phone has the screen as its most delicate part. It is prone to scratches, falls, moisture and sweat. These things can damage the screen. The damage is more catastrophic in case of touch screens.