What is Access Point Name (APN)?
An Access Point Name, often abbreviated as APN, is the name of a gateway between a data-transmitting mobile network and another computer network, frequently the public internet.
A mobile device making a data connection must be configured with an APN to present to a carrier.
Mobile devices connected to data-transmitting carriers must be configured with APNs to transmit data. Carriers identify these devices to determine what network connection should be attributed to them (IP address attribution, security methods, and how and whether they should be connected to private customer networks).
APNs identify the packet data network (PDN) that mobile data users wish 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 a Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) server, Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS)) that the PDN provides. APN is used in 3GPP data access networks).
What is the difference between APN and VPN?
An APN is a gateway that allows you to connect to the Internet through your carrier network. In comparison, VPN stands for Virtual Private Network, a technology that creates a secure connection to another network over the Internet.
