Feb/March 2007

Faster data uploading is promised with the latest in-cab unit offered with the Microlise vehicle tracking and fleet management system.

The GPRS modem built into its new mobile tracking unit, or MTU, features EDGE enhancement. EDGE stands for Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution, and allows data rates to be boosted to 384 Kbps - nearly ten times the normal GPRS speed - whilst using the same underlying GPRS network infrastructure.

It does this by using eight 'timeslots' of 48 Kbps each, compared with five timeslots of 32 to 48 Kbps with ordinary GPRS.

The speed increase is said to be especially useful for telematics involving data captured from a vehicle's built-in CANbus data network, or for graphical proof of delivery images or other mobile workforce applications where large amounts of data need to be transmitted back to base.

EDGE technology has been rolled out around much of the world in recent years, though it has been slower coming to Europe. But it is now seen more widely, and where an EDGE network is not supported, devices automatically default to standard GPRS instead.