|
Word |
Description |
|
1G |
In mobile telephony, first-generation systems
were analog, circuit-switched. Voice links were poor, handoff
unreliable, capacity low, and security non-existent. 1G systems
are not now under active development – indeed, in some areas 1G
spectrum is being auctioned for 2G and 3G use. |
|
2G |
In mobile telephony, second-generation protocols
use digital encoding and include GSM, D-AMPS (TDMA) and CDMA. 2G
networks are in current use around the world. These protocols
support high bit rate voice and limited data communications.
They offer auxiliary services such as data, fax and SMS. Most 2G
protocols offer different levels of encryption. |
|
2.5G |
In mobile telephony, 2.5G protocols extend 2G
systems to provide additional features such as packet-switched
connection (GPRS) and enhanced data rates (HSCSD, EDGE). |
|
3G |
In mobile telephony, third-generation protocols
support much higher data rates, measured in Mbps, intended for
applications other than voice. 3G networks trials started in
Japan in 2001. 3G networks are expected to be starting in Europe
and part of Asia/Pacific by 2002, and in the US later. 3G will
support bandwidth-hungry applications such as full-motion video,
video-conferencing and full Internet access. www.3gpp.org |
|
Air Time |
Actual time spent talking on the cellular telephone. Most
carriers bill customers based on how many minutes of airtime
they used each month. |
|
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) cellphones are slowly being
replaced by GSM phones which use digital transmission. The
analgoue cellphone networks are due to be phoased out in
Australia by the year 2000. |
|
ACA |
Australian Communications Authority. The government body
responsible for overseeing the telecommunications and radio
communications industries. |
|
Access Period |
The amount of time that you have access to a network. |
|
Area of screen Display |
The screen length multiplied by its width. |
|
ACCC |
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. |
|
ACIF |
The Australian Communications Industry Forum. |
|
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. |
|
Access Point |
A stationary device that acts as a base station
for wireless LAN users. Unlike a network interface card that
connects to a mobile device, the access point connects directly
to a wired network. |
|
Adaptive Frequency Hopping |
A method whereby a Bluetooth radio would first
check that a band was clear before it attempted a transmission.
This would allow Bluetooth radios to better peacefully exist
with other radios such as 802.11b. |
|
ANSI |
American National Standards Institute |
|
Antenna Diversity |
The use of two or more antennas to improve signal
quality. In most designs, the base band processor automatically
selects the antenna that is providing the best quality signal. |
|
API |
Historically, "application programming
interface". Practically, an API is any interface that enables
one program to use facilities provided by another, whether by
calling that program, or by being called by it. At a higher
level still, an API is a set of functionality delivered by a
programming system, and as such the mix of APIs in a particular
system tells you what that system can do. |
|
APAC |
Asian Pacific |
|
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. |
|
Bps |
Bits per second: a way of quantifying data
transmission throughput. It is the number of pieces of
information (bits) transmitted or received per second. |
|
BFWA |
Broadband Fixed Wireless Access. |
|
Billing Increment |
The time frame by which calls are charged |
|
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 multicircuit 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 wireline. |
|
Baud Rate |
Speed of transmission - number of pieces of information per
second |
|
BTS |
Base Transceiver Station |
|
BREW |
Binary Runtime Environment for Wireless - A
technology developed by Qualcomm. |
|
Call Barring |
Allows you to set your phone to prohbit 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 fibre
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 seperates communications by
code. Voice is encoded into digitised bits, and groups of bits
are tagged with a code. |
|
Calculator |
Calculator built into a handset. |
|
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
differetn 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 handdset. |
|
Cellular Phone |
Another name fo ra 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. |
|
Cellular Radio |
The technology that has made large scale mobile
telephony possible. Current cellular networks reuse the same
radio frequencies by assigning them to cells far enough apart to
reduce interference. A cell is the geographical area covered by
one radio base station transmitting/receiving in the center. The
size of each cell is determined by the terrain, transmission
power, and forecasted number of users. Service coverage of a
given area is based on an interlocking network of cells, called
a cell system. |
|
Communicator |
A generic name for information centric mobile
phones. In effect a fully featured personal digital assistant
and mobile phone in one unit. The Nokia 9210 Communicator is an
example of such a Symbian OS phone. |
Content Provider
|
A company that provides services to mobile phone
users or network operators. These services could be shopping,
web surfing, chat rooms, playing games, accessing data such as
music and books through a server. |
