Re: [PATCH 1/4] DTD changes for mms, prepaid, wap

["Andrew Bird (Sphere Systems)" <ajb spheresystems co uk>]

Hi Marcel,

On Friday 22 July 2011, Marcel Holtmann wrote:
> Hi Andrew,
> 
> > > > diff --git a/serviceproviders.2.dtd b/serviceproviders.2.dtd
> > > > index d150a99..a0c5a31 100644
> > > > --- a/serviceproviders.2.dtd
> > > > +++ b/serviceproviders.2.dtd
> > > > @@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
> > > > 
> > > >                 password?,
> > > >                 dns*)>
> > > >  
> > > >  <!ATTLIST apn value CDATA #REQUIRED>
> > > > 
> > > > +<!ATTLIST apn type (mms|prepaid|wap) #IMPLIED>
> > > 
> > > I would propose "internet", "mms" and "wap" as types. That is really
> > > what we care about. What can you do with this context.
> > > 
> > > The only tricky part is that in some cases some providers use the same
> > > APN for Internet access and MMS. We could just list the context twice
> > > in that case or have a list of types per context.
> > > 
> > > Android seems to use comma separated string for this. Where there also
> > > have some custom defined types like special Assisted GPS contexts. That
> > > seems to be Nokia specific detail in some countries with a total
> > > different billing concept.
> > > 
> > > In addition to the actual type of the APN, I like to see an attribute
> > > for the "plan". So we can differentiate between "broadband", "prepaid"
> > > and others.
> > 
> > How would you describe the association between MMS and internet APNs? For
> > example in the UK Vodafone has the following APN usage:
> > 
> > Contract Plan (MMS retrieval bandwidth is zero rated)
> > ========
> > internet access is via 'internet' APN
> > MMS retrieval is via 'wap.vodafone.co.uk' APN
> > 
> > Prepay Plan (MMS retrieval bandwidth is charged too)
> > =======
> > internet access is via 'pp.internet' APN
> > MMS retrieval is via 'pp.internet' APN
> > 
> > So it's important to select the correct APN for your plan even when
> > retrieving MMS as either it won't function with your SIM, or you'll get
> > charged for bandwidth when you shouldn't
> 
> that is exactly my point in separating these:
> 
> 	wap.vodafone.co.uk ==> type="mms" plan="contract"
> 	pp.internet        ==> type="mms" plan="prepaid"
> 
> So you can define a type with different plan details.
> 
In your example is 'contract' a well known type or a unique identifier of 
another APN? So would that handle the situation where there are two prepaid 
plans and each has a respective MMS APN?

Andrew