While it can be argued that the mobile Internet is still an immature technology that has a lot growing up to do, several other factors are seen to affect is growth. Among others, local operators will have to address infrastructure defficiency. This makes the use of WAP impractical. Connecting to the Net via WAP now costs an average of eight Philippine pesos per minute, and with the slow transmission rate, using the mobile phone to get the desired data can be both a frustrating and an expensive experience, since such information can be retrieved more easily from the desktop personal computer. GPRS is expected to speed up mobile data connections to up to 144 kbps.
Users can also anticipate cost effective services once the technology becomes available.
Since it enables per-packet transmission of data, it can maximize the use of mobile networks. This means that it does not tie up a pipe for a particular use. However, this capability is expected to stir up a hornet's nest of issues in pricing. Rico L. Camus, Globe assistant vice-president for wireless data applications, noted that while the price of mobile connections will slide, it cannot be expected to go down to as low as the price of short message service, known in local jargon as texting, which cost PhP1 per packet. Still, he stressed that GPRS can be expected to ferry services that will provide more value to consumers that would make, say, PhP10 per trasmission or per minute connection seem reasonable because they are able to access data and services promptly.