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Auto Answer |
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With this feature you can
answer an incoming call after a set number of rings
without pressing a single key.
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Auto redial |
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With this feature, you can
wait while the busy number that you have been dialing
gets automatically redialed.
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Band/Mode |
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Band and mode indicates
the kind of wireless systems on which your phone will
work.
Band reveals the specific digital frequency range (800MHz
digital or 1900MHz PCS) within which a handset can operate.
Mode helps you identify the type of network your phone
can operate on - analog, digital or both. For example,
a Tri-Mode phone is both Dual Mode and Dual Band. This
means it will work on analog, digital and PCS networks.
It will switch to analog when a digital signal is not
available.
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Bandwidth |
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Bandwidth describes what
range of frequencies a medium uses for transmission.
A greater bandwidth indicates the ability to transmit
a greater amount of data over a given period of time.
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Blue tooth |
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Blue tooth is a specification
for a small form-factor, low-cost radio solution providing
links between mobile computers, mobile phones, other
portable handheld devices, and connectivity to the Internet.
It enables users to connect to a wide range of computing
and telecommunications devices easily without cables.
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Built-in micro browser |
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A built-in micro browser
allows you to access certain specially modified web
sites with your handset. Though not all handsets have
this facility and surfing on the handset is rather different
from surfing on a computer, you can enjoy the benefit
of accessing information anytime, anywhere.
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Call
display |
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This feature displays a
caller's telephone number and/or name before the call
is answered.
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Call forwarding |
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With this feature you can
transfer incoming calls to a number of your choice.
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Call waiting |
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A call waiting facility
alerts you if a call comes in while you're on the phone.
Some carriers charge an additional fee for this service.
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Caller ID |
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A calling plan/phone feature
that displays the names and numbers of incoming callers
on your phone's LCD. Some carriers charge an additional
fee for this service.
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Carrier |
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A carrier is a company
that provides telecommunications services.
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CDMA (Code division
multiple access) |
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CDMA is a digital communication
technology to provide PCS service used by some carriers
in which an air interface assigns a code to each data
packet sent over the air. The name CDMA is often used
to refer to the IS-95 communications standard. Other
technologies used are TDMA and GSM.
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Cell |
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The area surrounding a
cell site, in which a particular cell site handles calls.
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Cell site |
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The transmission and reception
equipment, including the base station antenna, etc.
that connects a cellular phone to the network.
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Cellular |
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This is the type of wireless
communication that is most familiar to mobile phones
users. The system uses many base stations to divide
a service area into multiple 'cells'. Calls are transferred
from base station to base station as a user travels
from cell to cell.
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Conference calling |
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It is a calling plan feature
that lets you talk with two or more people at the same
time.
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Coverage area |
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The geographic area where
you can use your connection. It is also called the service
area.
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Dead
spot |
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This is a location within
the coverage area where the mobile telephone network
does not support cellular communication.
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Decibel (dB) |
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A unit of measure used
to express relative difference in power or intensity
of sound is called a decibel.
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Digital |
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The digital method is the
most prevalent method in today's wireless world and
encodes all information using a system of 0s and 1s.
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Dual band / Dual mode |
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This feature is available
on some wireless phones and allows the handset to operate
on both analog and digital systems with the 800 MHz
cellular or the1900 MHz PCS frequencies.
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Dual-tone multi frequency
(DTMF) |
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The keypad signaling technology
that generates two distinct tones when each key is pressed.
This system of ‘tone dialing’ allows navigation
of voice menus and other advanced calling services.
All wireless phones use DTMF dialing, also referred
to as TouchTone.
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Duplex |
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A characteristic wherein
simultaneous transmission and reception is possible.
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ESN
(Electronic serial number) |
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It is the unique serial
number of a cellular phone that identifies it to the
cellular system for the purpose of placing and receiving
calls.
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Frequency |
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The number of complete
electromagnetic wave cycles that pass a given point
in one second and are measured in Hertz.
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GPRS |
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GPRS is General Packet
Radio Service and is part of the GSM standard. It delivers
‘always-on’ wireless packet data services
to GSM customers. GPRS can provide packet data speeds
of up to 115 kb/s.
GPRS achieves faster connection speeds thanks to
two cutting-edge technologies. The first is the ‘general
packet’. Rather than sending information in
a steady stream through a single channel as current
phones do, a GPRS-enabled phone (or other device)
breaks the information down into ‘packets’
and sends them over multiple channels (up to eight).
Each packet travels by the quickest available route
to the recipient, where it is reassembled into the
original message. Sending packets by several different
channels increases the speed of transmission and cuts
down on signal errors.
The second big idea in GPRS is ‘radio service’.
Like a radio, a GPRS-enabled phone or data device
is ‘always on’. As long as you have your
Motorola GPRS phone switched on, you have an open
channel for sending and receiving text messages, updates
from the web and other data. You will be able to exchange
files and browse the web with your mobile phone as
easily as you do now with your PC at home or at work.
You won't even have to log on - with GPRS you will
always be on.
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GSM (Global System
for Mobile) |
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GSM is by far the most
broadly deployed digital wireless standard in the world.
It has over 400 million customers to date in over 150
countries, with service provided by over 400 operators.
Other technologies used are CDMA and TDMA.
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Handoff |
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The act of transferring
a cellular call from one tower to another during the
course of the call is called handoff. The handoff is
not usually noticed by the cellular user.
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Hands-free speakerphone |
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This feature allows you
to talk and listen to calls without holding the phone
against your ear, and is available with several new
handsets.
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Home carrier |
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It is the carrier that
the user signed up with.
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Home coverage area |
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In a calling plan, this
is like the "local" calls you place with your
landline. For this kind of area no long-distance or
roaming charges are levied.
When you dial a call outside your home coverage area,
it counts as a long-distance call.
When you travel outside your home coverage area and
place a call, you are utilizing a facility called
roaming. You will notice that your wireless home coverage
area is broader than your home phone's local calling
area. This type of coverage is also referred to as
the home calling area, home service area, local calling
area, local coverage area, local service area, primary
service area or primary coverage area.
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IMEI
(International Mobile Equipment Identity) |
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The IMEI number is a unique
15-digit serial number on each phone that can normally
be found behind the battery in the phone, or by keying
in *#06#.
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Interactive voice recognition
(IVR) |
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This is a telecommunications
system more prevalent with PBX and voice mail systems.
This system uses a prerecorded database of voice messages
to present options to you typically over telephone lines.
The input you give is retrieved via DTMF tone key presses.
When used in conjunction with voice mail, for example,
these systems typically allow you to store, retrieve,
and route messages.
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Landline |
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Traditional wired telephone
service.
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LCD (Liquid Crystal
Display) |
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A flat panel screen used
to display numbers and/or characters on a wireless handset.
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Li-ion (Lithium-ion)
battery |
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A newer type of rechargeable
battery used in wireless phones that is lightweight
and lasts longer than Ni-Cad and NiMH varieties. Li-Ion
batteries do not suffer from the "memory effect"
found in Ni-Cad batteries that would prevent these batteries
from accepting a full charge.
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Li-poly (Lithium-polymer)
battery |
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The newest type of rechargeable
battery used in wireless phones. Li-Poly batteries are
lighter, smaller and longer lasting than Li-Ion and
other varieties. Li-Poly batteries do not suffer from
the "memory effect" found in Ni-Cad batteries
that would prevent them from accepting a full charge.
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Mobile
Telephone Switching Office (MTSO) |
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Also called the switch,
the MTSO is the link between the cellular phone and
the landline phone system. It is the ‘brain’
of the cellular system.
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mAh (Milliampere-Hours) |
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The unit of measurement
for the capacity of a wireless phone battery is called
the mAh. A greater mAh number means longer battery life.
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Memory effect |
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A limitation of Ni-Cad
(Nickel-Cadmium) rechargeable batteries that causes
a reduction in battery life if you recharge your phone
before it is completely discharged, or use the phone
before it is completely recharged. The battery develops
a "memory" of the length of time between charging.
Shorter charging periods can reduce the call and standby
time you get from a single battery charge.
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MMS |
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One of the breakthrough
applications on GPRS is multimedia messaging service
(MMS), which provides the customer the ability to communicate
not just in voice or text but also in full colour images.
Now one can communicate emotions; with photographs,
voice clips and text to your near and dear ones. Just
in case the receiver does not have an MMS handset, the
photograph can be accessed from a dedicated website
designed. A subscriber can also access a library of
photo album and voice clips, from where one can choose
and send photographs. Subscribers can also compose their
own MMS message provided the website supports such features,
and send it across to a cellular phone or any e-mail
ID.
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Off
peak |
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There are certain hours
in a day when the communication traffic is low. The
carrier identifies these hours to offer lower airtime
rates to you - the user.
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Peak
Period(s) |
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These are those hours of
the day when the communication traffic is high.
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Personal identification
number (PIN) |
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This is a number that you
can set to insure your SIM card against unauthorized
use. If the PIN number is keyed incorrectly three times
in a row, the card becomes blocked. To unlock the card,
you need to employ a high access level code.
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PIN unblocking key
(PUK) |
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This is used in GSM/DCS
systems to reset the PIN number of a SIM card that has
become blocked. Keying the PUK ten times in a row will
result in the card becoming permanently blocked.
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Pre-paid cellular/Wireless |
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This is a service plan
offered by cellular service providers that allows subscribers
to pay in advance for their wireless service.
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PSTN (Public switched
telephone network) |
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It is a formal name for
the worldwide telephone network.
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RF
(radio frequency) |
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RF is a radio signal.
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Roaming |
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When you use your cellular
services from outside your home coverage area, you are
said to use roaming facilities. This elicits additional
charges.
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Roaming agreement |
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A agreement among wireless
carriers allowing users to use their phone on systems
other than their own home systems. Roaming fee is charged
for roaming.
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Service
area |
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This is the geographic
area covered by a wireless system and is also called
coverage area.
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Service plan |
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This is a contract between
the service provider and the subscriber and details
the terms of usage including fare details like rate
for activation, access and per minute usage.
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SMS |
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Short messaging service
(SMS) is the transmission of short text messages to
and from a mobile phone, fax machine and/or IP address.
Once a message is sent, it is received by a SMS centre
(SMSC), which re-routes it to the appropriate mobile
device.
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SIM |
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SIM is a subscriber identity
module card and is commonly used in a GSM phone. The
card holds a microchip that stores information and encrypts
voice and data transmissions. The SIM card also stores
data that identifies the caller to the network service
provider.
A pair of numbers that are unique within the entire
GSM system identify each SIM. These numbers, IMSI (international
mobile subscriber identity) and Ki (subscriber authentication
key) are the basis for user authentication on different
mobile networks throughout the world.
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Spectrum |
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The entire range of electromagnetic
frequencies is called the spectrum.
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Standby time |
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The time a phone is on,
but not actively transmitting or receiving a call.
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Subscriber |
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The cellular phone user
is also called the subscriber.
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Talk
time |
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The time a phone is on
and actively transmitting or receiving a call.
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TDMA (Time Division
Multiple Access) |
| |
This is a digital communication
technology used by some carriers to provide PCS service.
Other technologies used are CDMA and GSM.
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Toll-free calling area |
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An area in which calls
can be placed without incurring long distance charges.
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Unified
messaging |
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A service that stores all
of your voice, email and fax messages in one mailbox.
By combining the power of the Internet with the mobility
of cellular technology, it allows you to retrieve, compose
and manage your messages while remaining mobile. In
addition to traditional voice mail features, unified
messaging also allows you to:
» Listen
to emails on your wireless handset (through text to
speech translation).
» Listen to your voice
messages over your PC (with Internet connection and
speakers).
» Listen to an email over the
phone and reply to it with a voice message.
»
Receive your own 10-digit fax number and forward faxes
from your inbox to another email address.
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Vibrating
alert |
| |
Vibrating alert is a feature
of some phones that lets you know that you have a call
coming in, without a ring tone. Some phones allow you
to incorporate various combinations of ring tones and
vibrations depending on your preference.
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Voice mail |
| |
A system that answers calls
and allows users to reply to, save, delete or forward
messages.
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Voice-activated dialing |
| |
A feature that allows you
to dial pre-programmed telephone numbers without using
the buttons, but by speaking into a wireless phone.
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WAP
(Wireless Application Protocol) |
| |
It is a global standard
developed to make Internet services available to mobile
users. A company or a person that has an Internet site
can make the information available to mobile users by
transforming web pages into WAP pages. To access WAP
services you need a WAP compatible phone, which usually
has a large, full screen graphic display and includes
a micro browser.
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