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AMPS

Advanced mobile phone standard. Analogue standard used widely in North America .

Analogue

The traditional way by which speech is transmitted in which the signal is continually varying. Normal fixed phones use analogue transmission. Analogue (ETACS) cell phones are slowly being replaced by GSM phones which use digital transmission. The analogue cell phone networks are due to be phased out in Australia by the year 2000.

Access Period

The amount of time that you have access to a network.

Area of screen Display

The screen length multiplied by its width.

ADSL

Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line. A new technology to provide high-speed access via the old copper telephone line network. An alternative to laying new high-bandwidth cable allowing delivery of services including data, vice and one-way full motion video.

APAC

Asian Pacific

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Bandwidth

The capacity of a communications link to deliver services.

Broadband

A wide band of electromagnetic frequencies or multiple channels of data over a single communication medium. Broadband has the capacity to deliver to consumer a broad range of integrated services.

Bluetooth

Low power radio technology replacing the need for wires connecting electronic devices such as personal computers, printers, palm top computers and mobile phones.

Base station

The base station is a multi-circuit transceiver located at the center of a cell whose primary purpose is to handle all incoming & outgoing calls within the cell. The base station relays the mobile's signal to the MTSO via wire-line.

Baud Rate

Speed of transmission - number of pieces of information per second

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Call Barring

Allows you to set your phone to prohibit certain incoming or outgoing phone calls.

Canned (Messaging)

Canned messages are messages that are already there, sort of like a template, where you don't have to type the same messages over and over again. The frequently used phrases could be inserted into your SMS messages to use for your convenience.

CMOS

CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) is the semiconductor technology used in the transistors that are manufactured into most of today's computer microchips. Semiconductors are made of silicon and germanium, materials which "sort of" conduct electricity, but not enthusiastically. Areas of these materials that are "doped" by adding impurities become full-scale conductors of either extra electrons with a negative charge (N-type transistors) or of positive charge carriers (P-type transistors). In CMOS technology, both kinds of transistors are used in a complementary way to form a current gate that forms an effective means of electrical control. CMOS transistors use almost no power when not needed. As the current direction changes more rapidly, however, the transistors become hot. This characteristic tends to limit the speed at which microprocessors can operate.

CMTS

A cable modem termination system (CMTS) is a component that exchanges digital signals with cable modems on a cable network. A cable modem termination system is located at the local office of a cable television company. A data service is delivered to a subscriber through channels in a coaxial cable or optical fiber cable to a cable modem installed externally or internally to a subscriber's computer or television set. One television channel is used for upstream signals from the cable modem to the CMTS, and another channel is used for downstream signals from the CMTS to the cable modem. When a CMTS receives signals from a cable modem, it converts these signals into Internet Protocol (IP) packets, which are then sent to an IP router for transmission across the Internet. When a CMTS sends signals to a cable modem, it modulates the downstream signals for transmission across the cable to the cable modem. All cable modems can receive from and send signals to the CMTS but not to other cable modems on the line.

Caller display

Same as Caller Line Identification. System found on digital mobile phones whereby the number of an incoming caller is displayed on-screening before the phone is answered.

Call Forwarding

A feature allowing the subscriber to forward a call to another telephone number.

Call waiting

A feature allowing the subscriber to be alerted of another call during a current conversation.

Coverage

The area in which a mobile phone can make or receive calls. Coverage is usually expressed by networks as a percentage of the resident population who could use mobiles outside their own homes.

CDMA

(Code Division Multiple Access) CDMA separates communications by code. Voice is encoded into digitized bits, and groups of bits are tagged with a code.

Call Divert

This is a network feature that can also be accessed through most handsets providing the ability to redirect your number to another number. There are several levels of diversion available; not answered, out of service, engaged, switched off or unconditional.

Call Profile

The ability of a phone to assign different ring types to different callers.

Carrier

The carrier is the network to which you are connected

Cell Info Display

The capability of your phone to display the location of the nearest Cell tower to your location

CLI

Caller Line Identification. Also known as “caller ID”. This is a network feature that once activated can be switched off and on through most handsets. It allows for callers' numbers to be displayed on the screen of the phone before the call is answered, providing the caller does not have a silent number.

Conditions

Specific guidelines to which the customer must agree to abide by.

Connection Fee

A once only start-up fee when a service is connected.

CDMA

Code Division Multiple Access. This digital mobile phone system operates on two bands 800MHz and 1900MHz. Allowing further transmission from a CDMA tower to handset than a GSM signal can to a digital handset.

Cellular Phone

Another name for a mobile phone.

Conference Call

This enables three or more, rather than just two, persons to participate in a single telephone call made from a basic telephone service and connected to other basic telephone services within your country or telephone services outside your country.

CIF (display)

CIF (Common Intermediate Format) is standard video format used in videoconferencing. CIF formats are defined by their resolution and bit transfer rates of 30 frames per second. The original CIF, also known as Full CIF (FCIF), transfers 352 x 288 resolution frames at 36.5Mbps.

Concatenated SMS

This feature allows the user to send a longer then 169 characters SMS, turning it into multiple SMS messages, with links to each other, allowing the recipients to view the message as one again.

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Data Transmission

Transmitting data over the mobile phone network using your mobile handset. Your mobile phone could be used as a modem when connected to your notebook or desktop computer, and even PDAs to transmit such data.

Digital Transmissions

Digital transmissions pass sounds in the form of a stream of binary numbers, rather than as an analogue electrical signal.

Drop Out

When a call on a mobile phone is prematurely cut off due to congestion or lack of coverage on the network.

DTMF

Facility for sending multi-frequency tones across the network from a phone. Each number, when pressed, transmits its own individual sound. Necessary fro accessing some network features.

Dual-band

Phone that can switch between two different bands of frequencies GSM900 and GSM1800.

Dual-mode

Phone that can operate using two different standards.

Data/Fax Capability

A mobile phone can be used to send and receive fax and data files, access the internet, and send email when connected to mobile office equipment.

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ESN

(Electronic Serial Number) Unique identifier transmitted by analogue cell phones.

ETA

“Estimated Time of Arrival” of a newly announced product, in a shorten form.

EFR

Enhanced Full Rate. This is a network and handset feature enabling better speech quality to GSM users.

EMS

Enhanced Message Service. The technology allow mobile phone users to send and receive words, add pictures, animation and sound clips.

Enhanced Service

Any telecommunications service that uses computer applications to provide consumers with value-added telephone services, such as voicemail and call waiting.

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Frame Relay

Frame relay is a telecommunication service designed for cost-efficient data transmission for intermittent traffic between local area networks (LANs) and between end-points in a wide area network (WAN). It is based on the older X.25 packet-switching technology which was designed for transmitting analogue data such as voice conversations. Unlike X.25 which was designed for analogue signals, frame relay is a fast packet technology, which means that the protocol does not attempt to correct errors. When an error is detected in a frame, it is simply "dropped" (thrown away). The end points are responsible for detecting and retransmitting dropped frames. (However, the incidence of error in digital networks is extraordinarily small relative to analogue networks.)

Fax Transmission

Transmitting fax over the mobile phone network using your mobile handset. Your mobile phone could be used as a modem when connected to your notebook or desktop computer, and even PDAs to transmit such data.

FYI

“For your Information”, used in articles to give you extra information about something of interest or importance.

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GSM

(Global System for Mobile Communications) A digital cellular communications standard used throughout Europe, and Australia . The standard is used in three distinct frequency bands - 900Mhz, 1800Mhz and 1900 Mhz.

Games

Phones which have a number of games installed in their software.

GPRS

General Packet Radio Service. This is means of data transfer over the GSM network. Maximum speeds of up to 171.2 kilobits per second (kbps) are achievable with GPRS using all eight timeslots at the same time.

Global Roaming

Global Roaming is the convenience of having a mobile phone to make and receive calls, send and receive SMS while you travel overseas with your regular mobile number.

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HTML browser

HTML browsers are used to view web pages written in HTML from the Internet. Some mobile handsets have a HTML browser installed to view pages from the Internet using WAP or GPRS.

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IEEE

IEEE 1394, High Performance Serial Bus, is an electronics standard for connecting devices such as mobile phones to your personal computer. IEEE 1394 provides a single plug-and-socket connection on which up to 63 devices can be attached with data transfer speeds up to 400 Mbps (megabits per second).

IMEI

(International Mobile Equipment Identity) A unique serial number used on digital mobile phones

Iridium

A global mobile phone system of 66 satellites that offer global communications.

Internal Hands-free

A mobile phone which has the hands-free capability built-in, ideal for when a group of people need to involved in the call, or when you cannot stop working to take a call.

IR or Infra Red Port

Infra-Red. The ability to transmit data with out the need for cables.

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Java application

Application such as utilities or games created using Java programming language, which could be used to install into a Java supported mobile handset, letting the users have their own choice of softwares to be used with their phone.

J2ME

J2ME (Java 2 Platform, Micro Edition) is a technology that allows programmers to use the Java programming language and related tools to develop programs for mobile wireless information devices such as cellular phones and personal digital assistants (PDAs). J2ME consists of programming specifications and a special virtual machine, the K Virtual Machine, which allows a J2ME-encoded program to run in the mobile device.

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Lithium-ion

A battery technology used in personal mobile phones. Lithium-ion batteries generally provide more energy capacity than Nickel Metal Hydride batteries of the same weight.

Languages

The number of different languages in which the phone can display its text.

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Modem

A device which converts digital signals to analogue signals and vice versa.

Mb

As a measure of computer processor storage and real and virtual memory, a megabyte (abbreviated MB) is 2 to the 20th power bytes, or 1,048,576 bytes in decimal notation. Most mobile phones require storage of data now, due to being Java enabled, and also having the function of a camera. They usually come with at least one megabyte of storage space.

MHz

The megahertz, abbreviated MHz, is a unit of electromagnetic (EM) wave frequency equal to one million hertz (1,000,000 Hz). An EM signal having a frequency of 1 MHz is near the centre of the standard amplitude-modulation (AM) radio broadcast band, and has a wavelength of 300 meters, or about 980 feet. An EM signal of 100 MHz is near the middle of the standard frequency-modulation (FM) radio broadcast band, and has a wavelength of 3 meters, which is a little less than 10 feet. Some radio transmissions are made at frequencies up to many thousands of megahertz.

MIDI

MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is a protocol designed for recording and playing back music on digital synthesizers that is supported by many makes of personal computer sound cards. Originally intended to control one keyboard from another, it was quickly adopted for the personal computer and now the mobile phones. Rather than representing musical sound directly, it transmits information about how music is produced. The command set includes note-ons, note-offs, key velocity, pitch bend and other methods of controlling a synthesizer. The sound waves produced are those already stored in a wavetable in the receiving instrument or sound card. Since a MIDI file only represents player information, it is far more concise than formats that the sound directly. An advantage is very small file size. A disadvantage is the lack of specific sound control.

MMS

MMS (Multi Media Messaging) allows users to be able to do everything from inserting their own video clips and pictures into text messages before customizing them with rich colours and sound clips.

Model

A name or number designated to a particular handset in a product range.

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NiMh

Nickel Metal Hydride. A common battery technology used today on most mobile phones. This type of battery can be charged anytime. They are reputed not to develop memory effect.

NITZ

(Network Identity and Time Zone)

Nickel Cadium

Nickel cadmium batteries are robust and long-lasting

Nickel Metal Hydride

A type of batteries hold more power for their size than NiCd batteries and environmentally friendly.

Number Portability

The ability to retain the existing mobile phone number and switching to any network.

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Pre-paid

Term used for no-contract, no rental charge services where you buy credit 'vouchers' in advance for calls. Each network has its own pre-paid service.

PDA

(Personal Digital Assistant) A top-of -the-range personal organizer which allows you to store information and to use simple computer programs.

PCMCIA

Personal Computer Memory Card International Association. This is the cable, including modem card, used to connect a mobile phone to a laptop computer for data transfer.

Portable Hands-free

A device which connects to your phone and plugs into your ear which allows you to use your phone without having to hold it on your ear.

Predictive Text

This is a mobile phone feature to make text messaging quicker and easier. The phone will predict the word you are typing reducing the number of keystrokes required.

Polyphonic

The term used to describe the ability to play multiple instruments from a midi file at the same time, mainly used in mobile phones as ring tones. Samsung was one of the first mobile phone manufacturers to make us of this technology into their handsets.

Pin

Personal Identification Number - A code used for all GSM-based phones to establish authorization for access to certain functions or information. The PIN code is delivered together with a subscription.

PUK

(Personal Unblocking Code) A code used to unblock a blocked SIM card, obtained from your network or service provider.

PTT

Push-to-talk functionality, basically a service that allows you to use a phone handset much like a traditional radio-based walkie-talkie. This is a half-duplex voice over IP (VoIP) solution using the existing GPRS and EDGE data networks that are part of current GSM systems.

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QCIF

Data transfer rate is a quarter of the Full CIF. The QCIF (Quarter Common Intermediate Format) standard is defined as 176 x 144 resolution frames transferred at 9.1Mpbs.The QCIF is suitable for videoconferencing by telephone lines.

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Roaming

A service offered by most mobile phone service providers that allows subscribers to use mobile service while traveling outside their home service area. When they are outside their home service and come within range of another mobile system, the ROAM indicator on the mobile phone will indicate that they are in range.

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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 phone directory and received SMS messages.

SMS

(Short Message Service) Two-way text messaging service is offered on digital networks. Messages of up to 160 characters can be sent at low cost.

Standby time

The number of hours that a freshly-charged battery will keep a mobile phone running without making or receiving a call. When 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 station.

SAR

In a packet-switched telecommunication network, segmentation and reassembly (SAR, sometimes just referred to as segmentation) is the process of breaking a packet into smaller units before transmission and reassembling them into the proper order at the receiving end of the communication. Packets are made smaller to speed them through the network and specifically because of specified packet size restrictions in a given path. In the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model, SAR is performed in the Transport layer at both ends. A transport protocol determines the size of the smallest maximum protocol data unit (PDU) supported by any of the involved networks, and segments the packets accordingly. SAR is used for asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) communications. In TCP/IP, the same process is known as fragmentation.

SDIO

SDIO (Secure Digital Input/Output), allow an SD Slot to be more then just a memory slot, letting compatible devices such as camera, communication cards etc to be plug into it for usage.

STN (display)

STN (Super Twisted Nematic Liquid Crystal Displays) is one of the first colour mobile handset's displays available. However, it's not as bright and not as good quality to its newer successors TFT and UFB displays.

Service Provider

A company that buys airtime from a network and re-sells it to a customer.

Sim Tool Kit

With Network support the SIM toolkit enables you to receive a wide range of essential information. Anything from travel reports to sports results.

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Tri-Band

A phone which can operate on 3 different radio frequencies.

Third Generation(3G)

Third Generation or 3G is the wireless communications involving internet access and data delivery to mobile phones with audio, moving colour images and sophisticated internet services.

TIO

The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman.

TFT (display)

TFT (Thin-Film Transistor) is a technology that has a transistor for each pixel (tiny elements that control the illumination of your display) in a handset's LCD (liquid crystal display) screen. Having a transistor at each pixel meant that the current that triggers pixel illumination can be smaller, faster and brighter then other method of LCD screen, such as STN displays.

Talk time

The number of minutes of continuous speech will allow you to make on a mobile phone.

TDMA

(Time Division Multiple Access) Type of processing system used by digital mobile phones that allows several handsets in the same area to use the same frequency. Each conversation is allocated its own time slot -so that you only hear the conversation for the fraction of each second.

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Unconditional Forwarding

When you choose to divert all calls to another service or phone number. That is, the diversion is unconditional no matter what the circumstances

UFB (display)

UFB (Ultra Fine & Bright) LCD screens have lower energy-consuming features than TFT-LCDs, and brighter picture capabilities than STN LCD, allowing up to 65K colour for mobile handset's displays.

USB

USB (Universal Serial Bus) is a plug-and-play interface between a computer and add-on devices (such as audio players, joysticks, keyboards, mobile phones, scanners, and printers). With USB, a new device can be added to your computer without having to add an adapter card or even having to turn the computer off. It supports a data speed of 12 megabits per second.

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Vibrating Alert

The ability of a phone to alert you of an incoming call or SMS by vibrating.

Voice Record

The ability of a phone to record the conversations on a call for playback later.

Voice Recognition

Facility offered by a few handsets enabling calls to be made by using voice commands rather than pressing the numbers. The memory can be programmed to store and identify names spoken into the handset and call numbers associated with them

Voice mail

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.

Voicemail Box Number

This is the number of the "mailbox" where voice messages are left when CALLback is activated. Different to your mobile number, this is the number you need to call to access messages from a phone other than your mobile handset

Value Added Services

Additional services which add value to those already available on the network

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World Wide Web

Part of the Internet which presents information in the form of multimedia combining text, images, sound and video. It is accessed with a Web browser such as Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Internet Explorer

WAP 1.2.1

Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) 1.2.1 is a technology designed to provide users of mobile devices with rapid and efficient access to the Internet. WAP is a protocol optimized for low speed wireless network and for the limited display capabilities by today's mobile devices. WAP integrates telephony services with micro browsing and enables easy-to-use interactive Internet access from the mobile handset. Today's web contents are not optimised for mobile access. WAP contents are typical written in a less heavy language in WML. Typical WAP applications include information provisioning, messaging, m-commerce transactions and online banking.

WAP 2.0

WAP 2.0 allows the usage of XHTML (Extended Hyper Text Mark-up Language) based supporting full colour and easy navigation. This future WAP will look more like the Internet people know from the fixed world with a familiar look and feel.

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XHTML browser

XHTML browsers are used to view web pages written in Extended HTML from the Internet. Newer mobile handsets have a XHTML browser installed to view pages from the Internet using WAP or GPRS.