Private Mobile Networks Ltd, a provider of private GSM network technology, today announced the launch of a general packet radio service solution to allow customers to take control of the rising cost of data services and Internet connectivity. This solution is available as an optional upgrade to Private Mobile eXchange, enabling business users to access their LAN infrastructure from a standard GSM enabled handset or data device over the private mobile network.

“The inclusion of GPRS into PMX will allow our customers to take advantage of the existing corporate IP infrastructure for mobile voice and mobile data without incurring mobile operator data charges while within range of a private mobile network,” said Dean Parsons, Operations Director for Private Mobile Networks Ltd. “We selected the advanced Enhanced Data rate for GSM Evolution technologies to enable us to gain greater data transfer rates,” added Parsons.

The new solution is a response to steadily growing mobile data access requirement. According to a recent report by the Mobile Data Association, mobile users in the UK accessed the Internet 45.6 million times in the last quarter of 2006 and the figure is set to rise with a new generation of location based services launching in 2007. With standard mobile operator pricing ranging from 0.70p to 1.2p per kilobyte of information, the new PMX/GPRS functionality provides the ability to control costs for employees who routinely need access to data via mobile phones.

“Cost control is one aspect, but we are in discussion with a potential customer who requires a private GPRS network as a secure network for data transfer of business related information around a large campus site,” said Parsons. “In this case, they already have a WLAN infrastructure but believe separation of general data from operational or machine generated information offers a better security option and provides the degree of resilience that they require,” he explained.

Mobile phones with access to the private mobile network can be granted access to the GPRS network on a user-by-user basis with support for rate limiting, encryption and authentication. The use of EDGE enhancement provides data throughput of up to 200 kbit/s compared to 8 kbit/s available using GPRS alone.

Parson adds, “Mobile phone users are one area, but we believe that data terminals for applications such as stock control, telemetry and other machine-to-machine applications are likely to be the bigger market for PMX/GPRS – especially as the ubiquitous mobile operator networks can provide continuity options and allow extended coverage outside the range of a private network.”