What is APRS anyway?

: "APRS is a real-time tactical digital communicatons protocol for exchanging
information between a large number of stations covering a large (local)
area. As a multi-user data network, it is quite different from
conventional packet radio.

APRS is different from regular packet in four ways. First by the
integration of maps and other data displays to organize and display
data, second, by using a one-to-many protocol to update everyone in real
time, third, by using generic digipeating so that prior knowledge of the
network is not required, AND FORTH, since 1997, a worldwide transparent
internet backbone, linking everyone worldwide. APRS turns packet radio
into a real-time tactical communications and display system for emergencies
and public service applications (and global communications). Normal
packet radio has only shown usefulness in passing bulk message traffic
(Email) from point to point. It has been difficult to apply conventional
packet to real time events where information has a very short life time
and needs to get to everyone."