GPRS Connection...

[Guest dbrook]

If you've used a service, such as Orange Update with GPRS and you've finished the update and select (3 Exit) from the menu, you're returned to the previous/main screen but the GPRS connection is not terminated.

There should be a prompt of some sort reminding you that the connection is still active - or the connection should be closed when you exit Orange Update.

[Guest Bazz]

Well, quite a few people would rather keep the connection active.

There are lots of people complaining, both on this forum and on microsoft.public.smartphone that the connection terminates too often.

The only reason to terminate the connection is to save battery (apparently there is only a 2 hour battery life with GPRS on). It doesn't cost you anything except if you start downloading and means you can keep signed into Instant Messenger.

Alternatively just look at the icon in the top right hand corner. If there is a small G then you are connected. Click the hang up key to close this (or hold it down to close the connection AND lock the keypad).

Thanks,

Barry

[Guest dbrook]

Personally, I would just prefer it that the connection be terminated automatically.

[Guest harshaw]

The problem is that the GPRS connection is dropped in the following cases:

1) A user makes a phone call. The SPV acts like a class B GPRS device where simultaneous voice and data are not possible.

2) An application that opened the GPRS connection exited.

3) The user hits the end call button. For instance, if your are in Internet Explorer and you hit the end call button you will see the "G" icon in the top right disappear and revert to the network signal status icon. The next time IE wants to fetch a page it will have to reestablish the GPRS connection.

The solution for this problem requires a little bit of code. If an application already has as GPRS connection open, another application will most likely piggyback on the existing connection. The first application is responsible for maintaining the GPRS connection in case any of the 3 aforementioned events occurs. It is possible to monitor the GPRS connection and line state in order to determine when to reestablish the connection.

Hopefully when the whole developer app signing issue is sorted out we will see a number of utilities that address these kinds of problems :D