Cell Phone Terminology
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A glossary of cell phone terms geared toward the consumer:
Activation Fee - The fee charged to turn on a cell phone so that it can operate on the selected carrier network.
Airtime - The time spent talking on the phone, includes both incoming and outgoing calls.
Analog - Designed in the 1980's, a method of modulating radio signals so that they can transmit voice or data information.
Bluetooth™ - A trademarked wireless technology that connects various electronic devices such as telephones, computers, headsets, microphones, speakers, etc.
Broadband - Refers to communications medium that uses wide-bandwidth channels for sending and receiving large amounts of data, video or voice information.
Carrier - The company that provides wireless telecommunications service upon which the cell phone calls, signals and data are carried.
Cell - The basic geographic unit of a cellular system and the basis for the generic industry term "cellular.” A city or other geographical area is divided into smaller "cells," each having a low-powered radio transmitter/receiver. Calls are handed off from one cell transmitter/receiver to another as the caller travels through them.
CDMA - Code-Division Multiple Access. One of two major mobile phone technologies in the U.S. Sprint and Verizon use CDMA. Cingular and T-Mobile use GSM. Cell phones operate on either CDMA technology or GSM technology, and are not compatible on each others networks. CDMA is used in the Americas and some parts of Asia, GSM in most other parts of the world.
Coverage Area - The area in which a wireless network company offers service for their subscribers.
Encryption - Encryption is a method of encoding data for security.
FCC - The Federal Communications Commission.
GPS - Global Positioning System. A worldwide radio-navigation system which uses orbiting satellites to be able tell you your exact longitude and latitude. Some cellphones have GPS capabilities to help you locate where you are or map where you plan to go.
GSM - Global System for Mobile Communications. One of two major mobile phone technologies in the U.S. Cingular and T-Mobile use GSM. Sprint and Verizon use CDMA. Cell phones operate on either GSM technology or CDMA technology, and are not compatible on each others networks. GSM is more prevalent in most other parts of the world, and especially in Europe.
GSM phones use SIM cards.
Locked/unlocked -
Some cell phones use a microchip (SIM card) that stores subscriber data. A locked phone will only recognize a SIM card from the carrier that the phone was purchased from. If a cell phone is unlocked, it will recognize a SIM card from any carrier. The "lock" is a software setting that keeps the cell phone "loyal" to one carrier. Carriers often 'lock' a phone onto their network if the phone is provided to the consumer at a heavily discounted cost as part of a packaged plan. Phones sold at full retail value without an attached plan are generally not locked.
MMS - Multimedia Messaging Service, a new version of SMS that is designed to be able to send photos, video and audio clips as well as text.
PDA - Personal Digital Assistant. A handheld device with organization and basic computing functions.
PCS - Personal Communications Services, a marketing term that describes a wide variety of digital wireless service offerings operating at 1900 MHz.
Predictive Text Input - Allows users to write text messages with the help of an integrated dictionary. The dictionary offers possible word matches as the beginning of the word is typed.
PTT - Push to talk, a two-way mobile technology that works like a walkie-talkie.
Quad-band - A quad-band phone allows you to roam almost anywhere globally. It covers the 850 Mhz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 1900 MHz frequency ranges.
Ringtone - The sounds and tones emitted by cell phones when there's an incoming call. A tone can range from a simple beep to tunes and polyphonic ringtones. Polyphonic Ringtones can more accurately reproduce complex music and sounds.
Roaming - When you use a cell phone outside of your carriers service area.
SIM card - A portable memory chip used in GSM phones to hold your phone numbers and other information. Can be removed and inserted into other GSM phones, allowing you to transfer your cell phone number, phone book, text messages and other data to a different (SIM based) phone.
Smartphone - A handheld device that integrates various cellphone and PDA capabilities together. A smartphone may allow users to store information, access email, install programs along with sending and receiving cellular phone calls.
SMS
- Short Message Service - A feature available on most phones that allow the user to send or receive short messages.
Standby Time - The length of time that a cell phone is ready to send or receive calls, but is not being used in a call.
Talk Time - The length of time a person can talk on the cell phone without recharging the cell phone batteries.
Voice Activated Dialling - A feature that allows the user to dial a telephone number by speaking.
Voice Recognition - A feature that allows cell phones to be operated by spoken words.
WAP
- Wireless Application Protocol. A standard for web sites and information services to deliver simple web page layouts to mobile phones.
WiMax - A high-performance version of Wi-Fi, WiMax (or 802.16) offer the bandwidth of Wi-Fi at ranges measured in miles rather than feet. Many industry observers feel that WiMax could be the future of wireless networks, boasting speeds rivaling those of wired gigabit Ethernet networks.
Wireless Data - Wireless data allows you to send digital information on a cellular phone.
World Phone - A quad band cellphone that works on most networks around the world, assuming your provider has a roaming agreement with the country you are in or a SIM card for that country is used.
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