What is APN (Access Point Name)?
The APN is a unique identifier that allows connection to the network and it identifies the data access services associated with your account. The APN is the exit point from the 3G or GPRS network into either the public Internet or a private customer gateway.
On a technical level it is a configurable network identifier used by a mobile device when connecting to a GSM carrier. The carrier will then examine this identifier to determine what type of network connection should be created, for example: what IP addresses should be assigned to the wireless device, what security methods should be used, and how/or if, it should be connected to some private customer network.
More specifically, the Access Point Name (APN) identifies an IP Packet Data Network (PDN), that a mobile data user wants to communicate with. In addition to identifying a PDN, an APN may also be used to define the type of service, (e.g. connection to wireless application protocol (WAP) server, multimedia messaging service (MMS)), that is provided by the PDN. APN is used in 3GPP data access networks, e.g. general packet radio service ( GPRS ) , EDGE , 2G , 3G , 4G 5G , evolved packet core (EPC).
GPRS / APN Settings for India:
| BRAND / Profile Name | APN | DIAL NO. | USER NAME | PASSWORD |
| Reliance 2G & 3G | RCOMNET OR SMARTNET | *99# | Blank | Blank |
| Airtel 2G & 3G | airtelgprs.com | *99# | Blank | Blank |
| Tata Docomo 2G | tata.docomo.internet | *99# | Blank | Blank |
| Tata Docomo 3G | tatadocomo3g | *99# | Blank | Blank |
| Vodafone 2G & 3G | www | *99# | Blank | Blank |
| Aircel 2G & 3G | aircelgprs or aircelgprs.co | *99# | Blank | Blank |
| Videocon 2G & 3G | vgprs or vinternet | *99# | Blank | Blank |
| Uninor | uninor | *99# | Blank | Blank |
| BSNL | bsnlnet | *99# | Blank | Blank |
| IDEA | internet | *99# | Blank | Blank |
