The Mobile Application Part (MAP) is an SS7 protocol that provides an application layer for the various nodes in GSM and UMTS mobile core networks and GPRS core networks to communicate with each other in order to provide services to users.
The primary facilities provided by MAP are: The Mobile Application Part specifications were originally defined by the GSM Association, but are now controlled by ETSI/3GPP.
MAP is a Transaction Capabilities Application Part (TCAP) user, and as such can be transported using 'traditional' SS7 protocols or over IP using Transport Independent Signalling Connection Control Part (TI-SCCP);[1] or using SIGTRAN.
In mobile cellular telephony networks like GSM and UMTS the SS7 application MAP is used.
There are also several GSM/UMTS PS interfaces in the Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) transported over SS7: