What is the difference between gprs and 3g networking?

Hi alfaromeo_gel,

  Good day and thanks for your question.

3G is an ITU specification for the third generation (analog cellular
was the first generation, digital PCS the second) of mobile
communications technology. 3G promises increased bandwidth, up to 384
Kbps when a device is stationary or moving at pedestrian speed, 128
Kbps in a car, and 2 Mbps in fixed applications. 3G will work over
wireless air interfaces such as GSM, TDMA, and CDMA. The new EDGE air
interface has been developed specifically to meet the bandwidth needs
of 3G.
Source :: http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/3/3G.html

GPRS, short for General Packet Radio Service, a standard for wireless
communications which runs at speeds up to 115 kilobits per second,
compared with current GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications)
systems' 9.6 kilobits. GPRS, which supports a wide range of
bandwidths, is an efficient use of limited bandwidth and is
particularly suited for sending and receiving small bursts of data,
such as e-mail and Web browsing, as well as large volumes of data.
Source :: http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/G/GPRS.html


An interesting article can be found here :
GPRS vs 3G - Hold on to your data
http://www.vnunet.com/Features/1131343

There is also an interesting discussion on 3G Vs. GPRS in the Usenet
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&frame=right&th=aa53759f8c8a612&seekm=397362B9.1FDCCBF8%40videotron.ca#link1

I hope you got the answer to your question. In case you have a
clarification, the please don't hesitate to ask.

Thank you for using this service and have a good day

Warm Regards,
Aditya2K

alfaromeo_gel,

Analog = 1G  (1984 - Present)
Digital = 2G (1992 - Present)
GPRS = 2.5G  (~2001 - Present)
UMTS = 3G    (~ 2003/4)

GPRS "in practice" allows your phone to transmit at about 10K uplink
and 40K downlink.  It uses "packet data" so you are always connected,
but not paying for the entire time you are always connected. 
Typically you pay for what you transmit and receive.  This is much
better than "circuit switched" data because you pay for the entire
time you are connected.  (For example if you were to get a stock quote
on a phone; after the data was put on the screen, you would be paying
for the time you were reading the screen (or a news story is a better
example).  With GPRS you only pay for the data that is transmitted and
received.

3G is the next data standard that will boost speeds even higher.  In
practice it will likely be about "100K" downloads.  but if the
econonomy doesn't turn around soon, it may not be out for a number of
years... since the wireless companys need to shell out big bucks to
deploy it.

I use GPRS on a Motorola 720 wireless phone on AT&T and it works
really well.  You can get an Ericsson T68i and connect it to a laptop
via bluetooth or infra red and surf the net at about 30K download. 
Which is VERY GOOD for wireless communication.

Jim