 CELLULAR
GLOSSARY
3G (Third Generation
Wireless): refers to
planned developments in
mobile communications.
Increased Bandwidth, from
128 Kbps while moving at
high speeds to 2Mbps for
fixed stations, will enable
multimedia applications
and advanced roaming features.
Abbreviated dialing: A
subscriber can program a
number into their phone with
a corresponding short number
code that will establish
connection with the number
required.
Account administrator: A
corporate account administrator
manages the bills of multiple
users within a company.
Activation fee: A
one time initial connection
and setup fee charged by
the service provider at the
time of service initiation.
Active flip: A feature
which will answer a call
by opening the keypad cover,
and end a call by closing
it.
Airtime: Most wireless
carriers bill their customers
based on how much time the
customer has spent on the
carriers (the provider) network
(the total time that a channel
is occupied, including call
time, call-set-up, and call-tear-down
time). Most carriers bill
in minutes increments, a
few bill in seconds increments.
Customer is charged for incoming
and outgoing calls and also
for toll-free calls. The
airtime rate varies based
on the time of day the call
is made or received.
Alphanumeric display: A
display capable of showing
letters, numbers and other
special characters.
Analogue: The traditional
method of modulating radio
signals so that they can
carry information (as opposed
to digital). AM (amplitude
modulation) and FM (frequency
modulation) are the two most
common methods of analog
modulation.
AMPS: AMPS stands
for Advanced Mobile Phone
System. AMPS was the first
analog system used for providing
cellular phone service. It
works in the 800MHz frequency
range. AMPS was introduced
in 1983. Analog works by
converting sound into electrical
energy which is then transferred
to the far end. The signal
being transmitted is analogous
(similar) to the original
signal and is not digitized.
Analog offers one voice conversation
per voice channel.
Authentication: A
fraud prevention technology
used to verify a user's authenticity.
Automatic Message Accounting
(AMA): The network
functionality that measures,
collects, formats and outputs
subscriber network usage
data to upstream applications
for billing and other uses.
Asynchronous transmission: A
mode of communication characterized
by start/stop transmissions
with undefined time intervals
between transmissions.
Automatic number identification: The
process of automatically
identifying a calling number.
Baud: Unit of signaling
speed (symbols per second).
Blocking: When a
telephone call cannot be
completed due to capacity
constraints, it is said that
the call is blocked.
Bluetooth: A low-cost,
miniaturised radio communication
technology that provides
communication between devices
such as cellphones, PDAs,
and computers, and allows
for connectivity to the internet.
Busy hour: The hour
of the day (or week, or month,
etc.) during which the telephone
system carries the most amount
of traffic (calls). All networks
are designed with the busy
hour traffic in mind.
Call holding: Enables
you to put a caller on hold
while a second call is answered
or made.
Caller ID Blocking: When
the incoming number is blocked
from showing up on your display
through called ID. Most often
utilized by direct marketing
organizations and bill collectors.
Call forwarding: A
customized feature that allows
customers to direct all incoming
calls to another number.
Calling number identification
or ID: A service whereby
the calling party number
can be identified by means
of a visual or verbal indication
at the called terminal.
Call screening: Facility
on some answering machines
that allows the user to hear
who’s calling so they
can decide whether to answer
in person or not.
Call waiting: A
customized feature that alerts
you of an incoming call while
you are on another call.
You can then put your present
caller on hold and answer
the other call.
Car kit: An accessory
that lets you use a portable
phone in the car without
having to hold it.
CDMA: Code Division
Multiple Access. CDMA is
a spread spectrum digital
technology. CDMA works by
spreading all signals across
the same broad frequency
spectrum and assigning a
unique code to each signal.
The signals are pulled out
from all the other signals
only by the receiver that
knows the code. This process
allows more calls to occupy
the same space.
CDPD (Cellular Digital
Packet Data): a digital
data transmission technology
developed for cellular
networks. Operating at
19.2 Kbps, it sends data
over constantly changing
open intervals in voice
channels. If the system
is busy, the data is sent
when a channel opens up.
Cell broadcast: Service
provided by digital cellphone
networks where useful info
is provided to users via
on-screen text messages.
Cellular: A radio
phone system in which a network
of transmitters links the
mobile user to the public
phone system. Each transmitter
covers users in its own ‘cell’.
Channel: A pair
of frequencies used by the
mobile (i.e. one send and
one receive frequency).
CLI: Calling Line
Identification. A range of
services in which the number
of a caller can be accessed
by the recipient.
CLIP: Calling Line
Identity Presentation. A
service that allows you to
see who is calling you, before
you pick up the call.
CLIR: Calling Line
Identity Restriction. A service
that stops the person you
are calling from seeing who
is calling before they pick
up.
Clone: Whereby a ‘cloned’ analogue
cellphone is illegally re-chipped
with an ESN belonging to
another. Can also refer to
a phone ‘badged’ by
one company and sourced from
another.
Conference call: A
call between three or more
participants.
Contract: A service
agreement with a provider
for a specified length of
time. Early termination of
a contract is often accompanied
by a cancellation fee. Not
applicable to prepaid!
Coverage: The area
in which a cellphone can
make or receive calls.
Cradle: a stand or
bracket designed to hold
a phone or handheld computer
in place on your desktop,
or mounted to your dashboard.
It may incorporate recharging
or data transfer functions.
Desktop charger: Cradle
for holding a phone upright
while it is charging.
Digital: A method
of decoding information for
transmission. Information,
or in this case, a voice
conversation is turned into
a series of digital bits
- the 0s and 1s of computer
binary language. At the receiving
end, the information is reconverted.
One of the main advantages
of digital cellphones is
that they allow several cellphones
in the same area to use the
same frequency simultaneously.
Digital switching: A
process in which connections
are established by operations
on digital signals without
converting them to analog
signals.
Dual Tone Multifrequency
(DTMF) signaling: Generic
name for push-button telephone
signaling equivalent to
the Bell Systems TOUCH
TONE®.
DTX: Discontinuous
transmission. Battery-saving
feature on some phones. When
switched on, it conserves
power by turning off transmission
during pauses in speech.
However, it impairs sound
quality.
Dual-band: Phones
that can switch between two
different bands of frequencies.
All new phones in the UK
are now dual-band, capable
of switching between GSM1800
and GSM900 frequencies. Useful
for travellers, allowing
roaming on a greater number
of networks across the world.
Dual-mode: Phone
that can operate using two
different standards. Dual-mode
digital/analogue cellphones
are currently available in
the USA.
EDGE (Enhanced Data GSM
Environment): intended
as incremental step toward
3G services. It operates
at 384 Kbps, and enables
multimedia transmissions
and broadband applications
for mobile phones and computers.
EPOC: an operating
systems for handheld computers
and mobile phones with Web
access. It's an open operating
system developed by Psion,
and now licensed by Symbian.
EPOC's main competitor is
Windows CE.
Emission category: The
more powerful the transmitter
in your cellphone, the better
it will be in giving you
coverage in remote areas.
Hand portable phones are
Class 4 devices (as defined
by the DTI) and offer maximum
output of 2 Watts (although
this is usually limited to
0.6 Watts). Carphones and
transportables are usually
Class 2 devices offering
a maximum signal output of
8 Watts.
ESN: Each cellular
phone is assigned a unique
ESN, which is automatically
transmitted to the cellular
tower station every time
a cellular call is placed.
FCC: Federal Communications
Commission. The regulatory
body in USA that governs
telecommunications.
Frequency: The rate
at which electric and magnetic
fields of a radio wave cycles.
Frequency is usually expressed
in MHz (1,000,000 Hz); 1Hz
(Hertz) = 1 cycle per second.
GPRS: GPRS stands
for General Packet Radio
Service. It is a system that
allows for the transfer of
information over GSM cellular
networks in small packets,
similarly to the way information
is sent over the internet.
GPS: Global Positioning
System. Satellite-based radio
positioning system capable
of providing specific location
information to suitably equipped
users anywhere on earth.
GSM: Global System
for Mobile Communications.
A digital cellular communications
standard used throughout
Europe, and elsewhere around
the world. The standard is
used in three frequency bands – 900MHz,
1800MHz, and 1900MHz.
Hand-over: As you
move, the network transfers
the handling of a call from
one cell to another. This
process happens automatically.
Hands-free-kit: An
important safety feature
that's included with most
of today's mobile phones.
It permits drivers to use
their cellular phone without
lifting or holding the hand-set
to their ear. Available as
an accessory for most mobile
phones.
HDML (Handheld Device Markup
Language): a language that
formats information for mobile
phones or handheld computers
in the same way that HTML
does for PCs. It was originally
developed by Unwired Planet
(now phone.com) and is considered
to be the forerunner of WML
(Wireless Markup Language).
Most current HDML browsers
are capable of interpreting
WML sites.
HSCSD: High Speed
Circuit Switched Data. An
enhancement to GSM networks
that enables data speeds
to be boosted from 9.6kbps
in multiples up to 57.6kbps,
by combining timeslots.
IMEI: International
Mobile Equipment Identity.
A unique serial number used
on digital mobile phones.
i-Mode: a packet
based mobile phone service
from Japan's NTT DoCoMo.
I-Mode operates at 9.6 Kbps
and uses a simplified version
of HTML rather than WML.
Its next generation system
should support rates of 384
Kbps, enabling multimedia
applications.
Inclusive talktime: Free
minutes that are included
in the monthly subscription.
These do not apply to several
service numbers, or to international
calls.
International roaming: A
service that allows you to
use your cellphone overseas,
and ensures you’re
always available on the same
number.
IrDA: A phone that
is irDA-enabled can connect
wirelessly to a mobile computer
with an infra-red port.
ISDN: Integrated
Services Digital Network.
High quality fixed telephone
line used primarily for data
transfer or video conferencing.
LAN: Local Area
Network. Communications system
used by offices that connects
computers to their servers,
and allows employees to share
files and printers.
Mobile Phone: Also
known as a car phone - the
type of cellular phone that's
installed in a car, truck
or van. There are three main
types of cellular phones
being sold today: mobile,
transportable and portable.
A mobile unit is attached
to the vehicle, draws its
power from the vehicle's
battery and has an external
antenna.
Modem: Modulator/Demodulator
that converts binary to analog
signals and analog to binary
signals. Used in digital
devices like computers over
analog telephone lines.
MSA/RSA: (Metropolitan
Statistical Area/Rural Service
Area). MSAs are cities with
at least 50,000 people, or
urban areas with at least
100,000, and the counties
that include these areas.
RSAs are all areas not included
in MSAs. The FCC licenses
and assigns freqencies in
these areas, allowing multiple
carriers.
NAM: Number Assignment
Module. A memory that contain
subscriber, systems and options
details about a cellular
telephone.
Off Peak: The period
of time after the business
day has ended during which
carriers may offer reduced
airtime charges.
OGM: Outgoing message.
What the caller hears when
they dial your answer machine
or voice-mail box.
One-touch memory: Button
on a phone that allows you
to dial a number just by
pressing this one key. Also
known as a fastkey.
Palm OS: the operating
system originally designed
for the Palm series of PDAs.
Palm has since been purchased
by 3Com, but they still develop
and license the OS. Unlike
operating systems used by
other handhelds, the Palm
OS is built to function on
a particular type of device.
PABX: Private Automatic
Branch Exchange. Automated
multi-extension exchanges
or switchboards as used nowadays
by most offices.
PBX: Private Branch
Exchange. Multi-line switchboard
exchange, as used in many
offices.
PC card: Small accessory
that allows you to connect
a suitable digital mobile
phone with a portable computer.
Primarily designed for sending
and receiving faxes and digital
files (such as email).
PCMCIA card: An
older term for the PC card.
PCS (Personal Communications
Services): an all-digital
set of cellular services
operating in the 1850-1990
MHz bands. PCS technologies
include CDMA, TDMA, AND
GSM.
PDA: Personal Digital
Assistant. A small handheld
device commonly used as a
mobile computer or personal
organizer. Many PDAs incorporate
small keyboards, while others
use touchscreens with handwriting
recognition. Some of these
devices have Internet capabilities,
either through a built-in
or add-on modem.
Peak: Highest-usage
period of the business day
when a cellular system carries
the most calling traffic.
Pocket PC (formerly Windows
CE): an upgraded version
of Windows CE that offers
greater stability and a
new interface. Features
include mobile Internet
capabilities, an e-book
reader, and handwriting
recognition.
Portable: A one-piece,
self-contained cellular telephone.
The newest portable model
phones are so small - weighing
as little as 3.1 ounces -
that they can be folded up
and carried in a suit pocket
or purse. Portables normally
have built-in antennas and
a rechargeable battery.
Predictive text: Predictive
text allows for faster typing
of text messages on the handset’s
keypad, by completing words
as they are typed.
Pre-pay/Prepaid: Term
used for no-contract, no
rental charge services where
you buy credit ‘vouchers’ in
advance for calls. Each network
has its own pre-pay service.
PTT: Push-To-Talk.
A radio switch (usually part
of the microphone) that must
be pushed before the user
can transmit. Normal in two-way
radio.
PUK code: Your PUK
code allows you to unblock
your phone if an incorrect
PIN has been entered more
than three times.
Receiver: Equipment
that receives radio frequencies
from the air and converts
it back into the form of
the input signal, like audio.
RF: Radio frequency.
Term used to describe the
signal transmitted or received
by a mobile phone.
Roaming: Using a
cellular phone through a
system other than the usual "home" switch.
RS232: Connection
socket commonly found on
computers. Some cellphones
have the ability to be connected
to a PC through this socket
to facilitate the updating
of personal directories,
or for writing SMS text messages.
RSA: Rural Service
Area (USA). Small cellular
service areas.
Serial Number: Each
cellphone sold has a unique
serial number, usually printed
underneath the battery. If
your phone is stolen, it
is essential that you have
this number, so that you
can have it blocked from
further use.
Service Plan: A
rate plan selected by subscribers
when they start up cellular
service, usually consisting
of a base rate for system
access and a per-minute rate
for usage.
SIM: Subscriber
Identity Module. The smart
card used in digital phones.
It carries the user’s
identity for accessing the
network and receiving calls
and also stores personal
information, such as a phone
directory and received SMS
messages.
Smartphone/Webphone:
a mobile, digital telephone
that has features not associated
with traditional home or
mobile phones. These features
include Internet access,
simple text messaging, and
data services.
SMS: Short Message
Service. Originally part
of the GSM system, it refers
to any text messaging service
available on digital mobile
phones.
Standby time: The
number of hours that a freshly-charged
battery will keep a mobile
running without making or
receiving a call. When it
is switched on, power is
used continuously by the
phone to keep it in contact
with the local cell site,
so that the network knows
where you are, should you
receive a call.
Switch: In wireless
radio, the connecting switch
between the telephone network
and the radio base station.
Also called the Mobile Exchange,
MTSO, MTX, MSC.
Talktime: The number
of minutes of continuous
speech that a freshly charged
battery will allow you to
make on a cellphone.
Tariff: A list of
charges for services provided.
Tariffs are usually made
up of a fixed monthly fee
and call costs that vary
depending on the time of
day you make your calls.
Some tariffs include a fixed
number of free calls per
month.
TDMA: Time Division
Multiple Access. A digital
system that divides cellular
channels into three time
slots, increasing data capacity.
This lets multiple users
or conversations to be carried
on the same channel.
Transmitter: Equipment
that converts input signals,
like audio, into radio frequency
that can be transmitted through
air to a receiver.
Transportable: The
transportable cellular phone
is a standard mobile phone
that can be removed from
the vehicle and used by itself
with an attached battery
pack. The entire unit is
generally mounted or built
into a custom carrying case
to make it easy to carry.
Although technically "portable," the
transportable should not
be confused with smaller,
one-piece cellular phones.
Time division multiplexing
(TDM): Sharing a transmission
link among multiple users
by assigning time intervals
to individual users during
which they have entire
bandwidth of system.
T9: Predictive text
inputting system designed
to make text message writing
easier. Instead of having
to select letters individually
by pressing each key numerous
times, mobiles with T9 software ‘guess’ what
you’re writing as you
go along, reducing the number
of key presses required.
Tri-band: Triple-band
phones are capable of operating
on three GSM frequency bands – the
GSM 900 and GSM 1800 frequencies
used in over 100 countries
worldwide plus the GSM 1900
frequency band that’s
increasingly being adopted
in America.
Two-way paging/Interactive
paging/Two-way Messaging: Sending
and receiving data over
the Web, via the paging
network.
UMTS: Universal
Mobile Telecommunications
System. New mobile communications
standard offering numerous
voice, data and multimedia
applications. The eventual
successor to GSM.
Voice Activated Dialling: A
feature available only on
selected phones that permits
you to dial numbers by calling
them out to your cellular
phone, instead of dialing
them manually. This function
is especially convenient
for making calls from your
vehicle while driving.
Voice recognition: Facility
offered by a few handsets
enabling calls to be made
by using voice commands rather
than punching in numbers.
The memory can be programmed
to store and identify names
spoken into the handset and
call numbers associated with
them.
Voicemail: Mobile
phone service provided by
the networks that records
a message for you when you
can’t, or don’t
want to answer a call. Unlike
a traditional answeringmachine,
the system can take messages
for you when you are using
the telephone.
WAP: Wireless Application
Protocol. An agreed standard
which enables WAP-compatible
mobile phones to access Internet-type
services (such as news, travel,
entertainment, finance, sport
etc) via their menu system
and LCD screens. WAP is supported
by most wireless networks
and operating systems. It
supports HTML and XML, but
is designed for WML.
WCDMA: Wideband
Code Division Multiple Access.
Air interface standard which
will enable Third Generation
mobile phones to carry new
mobile multimedia services
(see UMTS).
Web Clipping: The
process of pulling specific
information from a web page
so that it can be displayed
on a webphone or PDA.
Windows CE: A version
of Windows designed to run
on PDAs or other small devices.
CE was renamed Pocket PC
with the version 3.0 release.
WML (Wireless Markup
Language): a language
developed to control the
presentation of web pages
on mobile phones and PDA
in the same way that HTML
does for PCs. Part of the
Wireless Access Protocol
(WAP), WML is an open standard,
and is supported by most
mobile phones.
XHTML: a reworking
of HTML 4.0 designed to work
as a application of XML.
It allows anyone to create
sets of markup tags for new
purposes.
XML (Extensible Markup
Language): a standard
for creating expandable
information formats that
allow both the format and
the data to be shared.
XML is similar to HTML
in that both use tags to
describe the contents of
a document. However, while
HTML only describes how
the data should be displayed
or used, XML describes
the type of data. This
allows anyone who can interpret
those tags to use the data
they contain. |
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