iCellPhone
Cellphones, Cellphone Service, Glossary of Cellphone Terms
iCellPhone Glossary Page 1
Learn about the technology. An informed buyer makes better decisions.Glossary Page 1 (A-G)
3G :3G (Third Generation Wireless) wireless technologies will allow for much higher transmission rates to wireless devices leading to more useful services and a better user experience. This next generation of wireless communications will transmit data at speeds up to 2 megabits per second. These devices will allow the integration of data, voice and video. Each carrier will use a specific 3G standard. Sprint (EvDO Evolution-Data Optimized), Cingular (HSDPA High-Speed Downlink Packet Access), Verizon (EvDO).
Access fee: A special fee that local telephone companies charge customers for the right to connect with the local phone network. Cellular subscribers pay this fee along with a 3 percent federal telephone excise tax.
Activation Fee: The initial set up fee or cost to activate a cellphone so that it can operate within the carrier's network. Many cell phone have activation or set up fees up front, which they could refund to the customer in a form of a rebate later.
Automatic Call Delivery: A feature that permits a cellular phone to receive incoming calls, even when roaming.
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Alphanumeric: A message or other type of readout containing both letters ("alphas") and numbers ("numerics"). In cellular, "alphanumeric memory dial" is a special type of dial-from-memory option that displays both the name of the individual and that individual's phone number on the cellular phone handset. The name also can be recalled by using the letters on the phone keypad. By contrast, standard memory dial recalls numbers from number-only locations.
AMPS (Advanced Mobile Phone Service): An analog cellular phone service standard used in some countries.
Analog: The original form of cellular service using waveform transmissions. Built in the 1980's, analog technology allows a cell phone to transmit by sending voice, video, and data signals that are continually changing, and are the network systems. Analog is a method of modulating radio signals so that they can transmit voice or data information. The newer versions of cellular phones are digital.
Antenna: A device used for transmitting, sending and receiving radio signals. Antenna boosters can also be used to increase transmissions.
APC (Adaptive Power Control): A feature of some wireless handsets that helps reduce power consumption to increase battery charge life.
Authentication: A fraud prevention technology that takes a number of values to create a shared, secret value used to verify a user's authenticity.
Band: Is a Range of radio frequencies between two defined limits which are used in wireless communications. 800 to 1900 MHz is the band used for CDMA.
Bandwidth: Describes the transmission capacity of a medium in terms of a range of frequencies. A greater bandwidth indicates the ability to transmit a greater amount of data over a given period of time.
Bit: A contraction of Binary Digit. It is the smallest unit of information in a binary system.
Bits Per Second (BPS): Rate at which bits are transmitted.
Bluetooth: Technology designed specifically for short-range wireless communications of 10 meters or fewer. The name refers to a Viking King who unified Denmark. Operates at 2.4 GHz. Bluetooth will utilize inexpensive transceiver chips, which will be placed inside smart phones, laptop computers and other portable devices.
Broadband: Using a wide-bandwidth channel for voice, data and/or video services.
Broadcast: Delivery of a transmission to two or more stations at the same time such as over a bus-type local network or by satellite; or b) Protocol mechanism whereby group and universal addressing are supported.
BTA (Basic Trading Area): A geographic region defined by a group of counties that surround a city, which is the area's basic trading center. The boundaries of each BTA were formulated by Rand McNally & Co. and are used by the FCC determine service areas for PCS wireless licenses. The entire US and some of its territories is divided into 493 non-overlapping BTAs.
Call Forwarding: This feature allows a station user to program at any time any internal station number (or the attendant) and, when activated by the station user, all incoming calls to his station will be automatically rerouted to that preprogrammed number.
Call Setup: Activity that occurs in order to establish a call connection between a wireless handset and the wireless system.
Encryption: The process of "scrambling" a message such as a digital phone signal to prevent it from being read by unauthorized parties.
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FCC: Federal Communications Commission. The Government agency responsible for regulating telecommunications in the United States, located in Washington, D.C.
Follow-Me Roaming: The ability of a wireless system to forward incoming calls to a cellphone that is roaming outside its home service area without any pre-notification to the carrier.
Frequency: The number of times a wave-like radio signal changes from the very positive to the very negative charge per second.
Frequency reuse: The ability to use the same frequencies repeatedly across a cellular system, made possible by the basic design approach for cellular. Since each cell is designed to use radio frequencies only within its boundaries, the same frequencies can be reused in other cells not far away with little potential for interference. The reuse of frequencies is what enables a cellular system to handle a huge number of calls with a limited number of channels.
GHZ: GigaHertz - One GigaHertz is equal to a billion hertz.
GPRS (General Packet Radio Service): An emerging technology standard for high speed data transmission over GSM networks.
GSM (global system for mobile communications): A digital cellular or PCS network used in over 60 countries. Other cellphone technology are CDMA and TDMA.