BT Cellnet claims it will deliver a high speed mobile data service in the UK by next summer, despite lingering concerns about overheating handsets and short battery life.

Scientists at BT Cellnet's labs last weekend performed the first data call using general packet radio service (GPRS) over a live GSM mobile network. GPRS provides a constant mobile data connection at up to 115Kbps, although initial services are likely to offer much lower speeds.

However, unlike receiving data, sending data from a GPRS phone requires that large amounts of radiation are emitted from the handset to maintain a signal. This can cause overheating in the phone as well as rapid battery drain.

Motorola, which is supplying the handsets for BT Cellnet, said the heat issue will not delay handset rollout as it is only a problem when transferring large amounts of data upstream, something it says users will rarely do.

Dominic Strowbridge, communications division marketing manager at Motorola in the UK, told vnunet.com at the recent Telecom 99 show in Geneva: "If you try to use more timeslots in the uplink, then you get problems with heat and battery life.

"Symmetric applications, like large file transfer, ideally like as many timeslots as possible. Those aren't mass-market applications. We found that the vast majority of emails are answers like yes, no and hi," he said.

Mike Short, BT Cellnet's director of network strategy, said the issue has been overhyped and that it will be resolved in time for the company's planned rollout.

"Our terminals have to be properly tested. I still think there will be GPRS terminals ready by June next year," said Short.

A senior executive at a mobile phone technology company in the UK, who asked not to be named, confirmed the problem. "When transmitting, a phone has to radiate RF power. The laws of physics say it has to radiate in order to pick up a signal," he said.

BT Cellnet's trial used a Motorola GPRS handset to access a remote Web server over the BT Cellnet commercial network, and download Web pages to a laptop. BT Cellnet managing director Peter Erskine said a GPRS service would be launched in the first half of next year.

What are the other UK operators' plans for GPRS?

• Vodafone is testing GPRS equipment and is planning a service "some time next year".
• One 2 One is testing GPRS in conjunction with Ericsson and will launch a service "well in advance of 2002", when third generation mobile will appear.
• Orange is about to launch its own high speed data service, HSCSD (high speed circuit switched data) and is planning a GPRS service by the end of 2000.

See also:

Mobiles ring further alarm bells

The government has announced a multi-million pound research programme into the safety of mobile phones after an official inquiry warned they may be harmful to children.  12 May 2000

BT Cellnet loses some friends

Poorly designed software means that BT Cellnet is overcharging its customers.  27 Jan 2000

Orange plans high-speed alternative to GPRS

Orange today dismissed hype surrounding next generation 'data only' wireless networks, as it launched its own alternative mobile data service that runs on top of its existing voice network.  29 Nov 1999

Mobile Internet technology failing to deliver

The much hyped technology that promises to bring Internet services to your mobile phone is late to the UK as vendors fail to meet demand for handsets.  10 Nov 1999

High speed mobile Internet technology faces a testing time

The voice and data communications industry is developing rival technologies and standards to underpin mobile connectivity. Which will win?  06 Oct 1999

Vodafone: 3G technology prices to undercut GPRS

If licensed, Vodafone will launch 3G technology in 2002.  24 Sep 1999

Exclusive: Mobile phone technology helps prevent rail crashes

by Andrew Craig, VNU Newswire  01 Sep 1999

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