Corporate and business mobile phone users can now expect to avail of general packet radio switching (GPRS) services from both Eircell and Esat over the next few weeks, it was confirmed yesterday.

Eircell announced yesterday that it had completed its GPRS (2.5G) network and the company was conducting commercial trials. An Eircell spokeswoman said it planned to make the new service commercially available to corporate and business users around June once it was satisfied that sufficient approved handsets were available.

An Esat Digifone spokeswoman confirmed the company was also conducting commercial trials of its GPRS network and would shortly offer the service to corporate and business users. No details were available from either company about the pricing structure to be used for GPRS services, although Eircell said charges would be initially based on the volume of data transmitted. While it will be possible for some consumers to avail of GPRS services, both Esat and Eircell will delay introducing GPRS until later this year. This is to ensure that there will be enough GPRS handsets available to meet demand. There is only a limited available range of approved GPRS handsets available. Both companies are keen to avoid the mistakes over the hugely-hyped WAP (wireless access protocol) mobile phone services, which have not matched up to expectations.

Indeed, the Esat spokeswoman was keen to emphasise that GPRS services "will not suit everybody".

The advantages of GPRS include much higher data transmission speeds than existing GSM networks and an "always on" connectivity.

This means customers will be always connected to a data network once they log on to it, eliminating repetitive and time-consuming reconnections.

Eircell chief executive Mr Stephen Brewer said the introduction of GPRS represented the second of three phases in the evolution of the company's mobile data services, culminating in a 3G service. The company introduced its HSD (high speed data) service last April.

Although 3G services are not expected to be commercially available until 2003-04, Mr Brewer said GPRS and HSD offered much of what will be possible through 3G.

Eircell says it will invest #100 million over the next three years on all aspects of the service, while Esat says it has already spent £50 million.