Germany beats UK to GPRS networks

The UK has been beaten by Germany in the race to launch the first commercial high-speed General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) mobile networks.

VIAG Interkom and Deutsche Telekom have announced the availability of Europe's first GPRS handsets to the public, while both BT Cellnet and Orange have failed to launch the public GPRS services they promised for the end of last year.

BT Cellnet launched a limited GPRS service to businesses last summer, but only a handful of customers have been able to use it, with the latest contract covering GPs and pharmaceutical salespeople.

All four big UK mobile operators are building GPRS networks, but it is unclear whether roll out delays are linked to infrastructure schedules not being met, or a shortage of phones linked to a worldwide shortage of microprocessors.

However, they may have learned the lessons highlighted by the Wap debacle, when widespread services were announced amid a European-wide Wap phone availability crisis.

First published in Network News