Abstract

2G data service is still an important component inmobile communication system. GPRS network bears a widevariety of data business, especially IM communicationbusiness which has a large number of users. QQ, Weixin,Fetion are beyond any doubt the most popular IMapplications in the current Mobile Internet applicationsspectrum. Their wide use led to signaling storm, whichdrawn the attention of telecom operators and the researchcommunity, both interested in knowing IM applications'internal mechanisms, charactering traffic andunderstanding the applications' network behavior. In thispaper, we dissect the network behavior and trafficconsumption of QQ, Weixin and Fetion for Android inGPRS. We use a traffic sniffer to get data packets of eachapplication in different scenarios. Furthermore, leveragingon the use of the network protocol analyzer-Wireshark andour knowledge of network communication, we study eachapplication’s behavior characteristics. Understanding thecharacteristics of these applications makes for a betterbusiness promotion, a more optimal network resourceallocation, a positive guiding significance for businessincome and resources investment income.