Call Blocking allows you to set your phone to prohibit incoming or outgoing phone calls from specific numbers. (network and subscription dependent feature — not available in all areas).

Call Forwarding allows users to redirect calls to an alternate telephone number. (network and subscription dependent feature — not available in all areas).

Call Log a feature which allows a user to display the numbers of the last incoming and outgoing calls.

Call Quality a measure of the total quality of a call including the ability to accurately reproduce a users voice, as well as the systems ability to limit impairments during the course of a conversation.

Call Restriction a feature which enables a user to prevent calls to certain numbers without the input of a code.

Call Timers enables the tracking of airtime usage to monitor phone expenses. The length of an individual call or a running total (cumulative) can be displayed.

Call Waiting a feature that will alert you of another incoming call and enables you to accept the call without disconnecting the first. (network and subscription dependent feature — not available in all areas).

Car Kit a kit that adapts a hand-held cell phone for handsfree use in the car.

Car Phone a phone which is permanently installed into a vehicle. They are considerably more powerful (3-watt output) than a handheld cell phone but considerably less flexible.

Carrier a wireless network operator is often referred to as a carrier. Carrier is also a technical radio term for the radio wave that carries voice or data.

CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) a type of digital wireless technology that allows large amounts of voice and data to be transmitted on the same frequency. CDMA is second-generation cellular technology (or 2G) and is currently available in Canada, the United States, Pacific Asia, and Latin America.

CDMA One the original CDMA (2G) that is in use today in all CDMA networks that have not been upgraded to cdma2000.

Cell a geographical area of a cellular system in which radio frequency coverage is

Cellular a wireless telephone service that provides two-way voice and data communications through handheld, portable, and car-mounted phones via geographic

CHTML (Compact Hyper Text Markup Language) a subset of HTML designed for small devices, such as smart phones and PDAs. cHTML is essentially a simpler form of HTML designed for small devices with small memory, low power CPUs, and limited or no storage capabilities.

Circuit Switched a communications method which establishes a dedicated channel and occupies a fixed amount of bandwidth for the duration of the transmission, regardless of whether any data is being transferred.

CLA (Cigarette Lighter Adapter) an adapter which supplies power and/or charges a wireless device from a car’s cigarette lighter or a 12 volt supply.

CLI (Calling Line Identification) a feature that allows a phone’s display to show you the number and sometimes the name of an incoming caller before you answer. Some carriers allow you to “block” your number when you are sending calls.

Cloning a crime whereby criminals with special equipment capture identity codes from analog phones and create “clone” IDs allowing them to charge calls to your cell phone account. Digital phones cannot be cloned in this way and are also less vulnerable to eavesdropping than analog phones.

Conference Calling a service feature that enables a user to connect with two other numbers for a three-way conversation. Also called three-way calling.
Cradle an accessory which holds a wireless device. Cradles may also have the capability to charge batteries.

Crosstalk a disturbance caused by EMF (Electro Magnetic Field) resulting in your hearing part of a voice conversation from another circuit.

Data information that a wireless device can process (numbers, letters and symbols).

Data Card allows a fax and data compatible phone to connect to a laptop or a handheld computer. You can then use this combination to access the Internet or send/receive faxes.

Data Compatible a wireless feature that enables devices to transmit data either from the handset or via a data card.

Data/Fax Capability the ability for a cell phone to send and receive fax and data files, access the Internet, and send e-mail when connected to mobile office equipment.

Data Interface/Link an accessory that allows the connection of wireless devices to computers, fax machines, etc. for data transmission.

Data Services enables users to access data, transmit data and communicate with computers and networks. (e-mail, Internet, fax, etc..)

Data Transmission the transmission of data between computers or over a telecommunications network.

Date and Time Stamp a feature that records the exact time and date a message was left.
Dead Spot an area within a wireless network where service is not available.

Desktop Charger a cradle-type device which allows you to charge your phone in an upright position and also lets you charge an additional battery at the same time.
Dimensions the size of a device

DragonBall a series of microprocessors (the brains of a computer) developed by Motorola specifically designed for PDAs, smartphones and Internet appliances.

DSP (Digital Signal Processing) refers to manipulating analog information, such as sound or photographs that has been converted into a digital form to improve accuracy and reliability of digital communications.

DTMF (Dual Tone Multi-Frequency) are tones that your phone transmits to communicate with tone activated phone systems like voice mail or bank by-phone.

Ear-to-Mouth Ratio the relative positions of the mouth and ear on an adult head. Manufacturers pay particular attention to this ergonomic factor when designing all phones.

Early Termination Fee see Cancellation Fee.

EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for Global Evolution) a technology that is capable of both voice and 3G data rates up to 384 Kbps.

EFR (Enhanced Full Rate) a feature that allows users with EFR compatible handsets to benefit from significantly better call quality through enhanced digital coding. (network and subscription dependent feature -not available in all areas).

E-Mail the electronic transfer and storage of written messages.

E-mail Capability the ability for a mobile phone or PDA to send and receive e-mail. With a modem and installed or optional third party software, you can send and receive e-mail with most mobile phone and PDAs. E-mail capability, however, is limited by the service or method you use to access the e-mail.

EMS (Enhanced Message Service) an extension of SMS that enables the sending of a combination of simple melodies, images, sounds, animations and formatted text as a message to another EMS-compatible phone.

ERI (Enhanced Roaming Indicator) a feature to indicate whether a mobile phone is on its home system, a partner network, or a foreign (roaming) network. ERI capable handsets, when loaded with the proper software and PRL, will illustrate the home or roam condition using a banner with text on the handset display. While many phones can indicate home vs. roaming via an icon, ERI phones can clearly indicate the third “partner network” status, which may carry a different rate schedule.

Enhanced Services services available from wireless carriers that provide consumers with value-added telephone services, such as voicemail and call waiting.

ESN (Electronic Serial Number) a unique unchangeable number that is embedded into the phone and is transmitted by the phone as a means of identifying itself within the system.

Face Plate a front housing or casing on some models of phones that can be detached and replaced with coloured designs.

Fascias see Face Plate.

FCC (Federal Communications Commission) an independent United States government agency charged with regulating interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable.

FCN (Function Key) a non-numeric key used on certain wireless phones to navigate menus and features.

FOMA (Freedom Of Mobile multimedia Access) the name of NTT DoCoMo’s WCDMA service.

Frequency the rate at which a wave alternates, usually measured in Hertz (Hz).

Fringe Area the outermost area of a cellular system where signals are weaker.

Full Duplex incoming and outgoing audio can occur simultaneously, so user can speak and listen at the same time.

GAIT (GSM ANSI-136 Interoperability Team) a technology that enables GSM and TDMA networks to interoperate.

GHz (Gigahertz) 1 billion hertz in the frequency spectrum.

Global Roaming the ability to make and receive calls and send and receive SMS while you travel overseas with your regular cell phone number.

GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) a next generation (2.5G) technology standard for high-speed data transmission over GSM networks. GPRS sends data over packets rather than via circuit switch connections on cellular networks which allows for “always on” wireless data connections and speeds up to 115Kbps.

GPS (Global Positioning System) a system of 24 satellites, computers, and receivers that is able to determine the latitude and longitude of a receiver on Earth. By triangulation of signals from three of the satellites, a receiving unit can pinpoint its current location anywhere on earth to within a few meters.

GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) a type of digital wireless network which has been widely deployed throughout the world. There are 4 primary frequencies in use today: 850MHz, 900MHz, 1800MHz and 1900MHz. In Canada and the United States, you will find support for the 850, 1800 and 1900MHz bands, while most countries in Europe and Asia support either 900, 1800 or 1900MHz.

GSM 900 GSM networks operating at 900 MHZ.

GSM 1800 GSM networks operating at 1.8 GHz.

GSM 1900 GSM networks operating at 1.9 GHz (primarily in North America).

Handheld Device Markup Language see HDML.

Handheld Computer a portable, handheld computing device that acts as an electronic organizer. Handheld computers are typically used for managing addresses, appointments, to-do lists and notes, but some newer models support wireless Internet access, e-mail, and other interactive applications. Also referred to as PDAs, Handhelds come in two major flavors - Palm and Pocket PC.

Hand-Off the transfer of a cellular phone conversation from one cell to another as a phone moves through the service area. It is performed so quickly that callers don’t notice.

Handset a mobile or cell phone is often referred to as a handset.

Hands-Free a feature that allows users to conduct a conversation without holding the phone.

HDML (Handheld Device Markup Language) a language that allows certain web pages to be presented on cellular telephones and personal digital assistants (PDA) via wireless access.

Headset Jack allows an external headset/microphone accessory to be used with a phone so hands-free conversations can take place.

Hearing Aid Compatible enables hearing impaired persons to use a wireless device through their t-coil compatible hearing aids. (T-coil must be activated, not compatible with all hearing aids)

High Speed Circuit Switched Data System see HSCSD.

Home Area the geographic area within which a wireless subscriber can call without incurring roaming or long distance charges.

Home Only a mode that can be selected on a cell phone so that it will only operate within range of your home cellular system.

HSCSD (High Speed Circuit Switched Data System) enables the transmission of data over current GSM networks at speeds up to 43.2 kbps. HSCSD enables such high speeds by using multiple channels.

Hyperlink a phrase or word on a WAP page which, once highlighted and selected, links the user to another WAP page.

Hz (Hertz) the unit for measuring frequency equal to one cycle per second.

Icons simple pictures which can be transmitted from one mobile phone to another, along with text using SMS text messaging.

Illuminated Keypad allows you to view a keypad in low lighting.
i-Mode a packet based information service for mobile phones and business model developed by Japan’s NTT DoCoMo for delivery of Web-type content to wireless handsets.

IM (Instant Messaging) a live chat and e-mail service that enables you to find your friends when they are online and send messages or talk via a private chat room.

IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identifier) a 15-digit number given to every single mobile phone, typically found behind the battery.

IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity) a unique number for every SIM, used with a key for authentication.

Integrated PDA a phone with built-in PDA functionality. Such phones are also referred to as “smart phones” and contain features such as handwriting recognition, large screens, and contact management software.

IrDA (Infared) allows cell phones, PDAs, and other devices to connect to each other for various purposes. For example, a laptop or PDA can exchange data with a desktop computer or use a printer without a cable connection. IrDA requires line-of-sight transmission like a TV remote control.

iTAP software developed by Motorola and built into some wireless phones and PDAs that makes typing words on a keypad easier. The competitor to iTAP is T9. See Predictive Text Entry.

ITU (International Telecommunication Union) an organization in Geneva, Switzerland established to promote standardized telecommunications on a worldwide basis.

J2ME (Java 2 Micro Edition) is a technology that allows programmers to use the Java programming language and related tools to develop programs for wireless and mobile devices such as cellular phones and personal digital assistants (PDAs). The J2ME platform can be used to implement a wide variety of applications, from wireless games to data portals into the Internet or corporate enterprise databases.

Jog-dial a single multi-function dial which allows single thumb scrolling up and down through menus and selection of items (by pressing the dial inwards).

KBps (Kilobytes Per Second) a measure of bandwidth (the amount of data that can flow in a given time) on a data transmission medium. One thousand bytes per second. About the size of one average e-mail message.

Kbps (Kilobits Per Second) a measure of bandwidth (the amount of data that can flow in a given time) on a data transmission medium. One thousand bits per second.

Key a button on a keyboard.

Keypad the set of buttons on a phone.

Keypad Lock/Key Guard a feature that allows a user to lock the keypad so that it will not respond if pressed.

LCD (Liquid crystal display) a type of display used on most cell phones, capable of displayingmonochrome characters and some pictures. The LCD has low energy requirements and uses dark segments against a lighter background for easy viewing in all lighting conditions. Color LCD displays use two basic techniques for producing color: Passive matrix is the less expensive of the two technologies. The other technology, called thin film transistor (TFT) or active-matrix, produces color images that are as sharp as traditional CRT displays, but the technology is expensive.

LED (Light emitting diode) a semiconductor device that illuminates when electricity passes through it. Often used as an indicator light, or to spell out words and numbers. LEDs come in many colors, and some LEDs contain multiple elements and are therefore capable of multiple colors. Provides good visibility in direct sunlight and in darkness.

Lithium Ion (LiIon) a type of rechargeable battery for cell phones which is generally lighter weight than earlier battery types, has a relatively longer cycle life, and generally does not suffer from “memory” effect.

Lithium Polymer a battery technology similar to lithium ion but allows the battery to be molded to any shape allowing greater flexibility for mobile phone designers.

Location Services services that deliver information about the geographic location of mobile telecommunications devices.

Lock a feature that prevents unauthorized use of a phone. When activated the phone will automatically lock each time it is turned off. When turned back on, the phone will prompt the user to enter a unlock code before it will allow a call to be placed. Calls, such as emergency or other specially-programmed numbers, may be placed without entering a lock code.

Long-distance a charge incurred when calling to a telephone number outside your local calling area.

Long-distance Saver a feature offered by some carriers designed to help reduce your long-distance charges.

Low Battery Warning a visual and/or audible indication that the battery is approaching discharge.

Macrocell describes a physically large communications coverage area (5-20 km in diameter). Macrocells can hold 60-120 channels (capacity) and can have either high or low power. Macrocells are used primarily to cover large areas that have high traffic.

MAh (Milliampere Hours) a measurement used to describe the energy charge that a battery will hold and how long a device will run before the battery needs recharging. The higher the mAh’s, the longer the battery will hold a charge. A milliampere hour (mAh) is 1000th of an ampere hour (Ah).
Master Clear changes all non-standard user settings in a mobile phone to standard plus clears all memory locations.

Master Reset same as a master clear, but it does not clear all a phone’s memory locations and call timers.

Memory Dialing a feature of a cell phone that allows frequently called numbers to be stored for quick dialing by pressing one or two buttons.

Memory Effect a battery problem caused by repeated charging before a battery is fully drained. This results in deterioration and prevents batteries from accepting a full charge. It occurs most often in NiCd batteries, is less of a problem with Nickel Hydride batteries and even less with Lithium Ion batteries.

Memory Locations a space in an internal phone book where you can store frequently dialed telephone numbers.

Memory Scroll allows sequential viewing of numbers and/or names stored in memory, starting at a chosen point. A fast and easy means of scanning memory locations.

Menu the list of options that allows you to navigate through a cell phone or handheld computer’s functions.

Message Key a dedicated key on a mobile phone that allows a user to retrieve voicemail or digital messages with the touch of a button.
MHz (Megahertz) a unit of frequency equal to one million cycles per second (Hertz). Wireless phone communications in Canada and the United States occur in the 800 MHZ and 1900 MHZ bands.

Micro-Browser (Mini-Browser) a web browser specialized for a cell phone or a PDA and optimized to run in the low-memory and small-screen environment of a handheld device. This allows a user to access and display specially-formatted Internet content (WAP pages) on the Internet in the wireless markup language (WML). Examples of specially-formatted content include stock reports, news, and sports scores.

Microcell describes a physically small communications coverage area (0.5 + 5 km in diameter) used in densely populated areas where wireless traffic volume is high. The microcell, which is linked to a host macrocell, has low power and a low channel count, making it ideal for high traffic city neighborhoods.

MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) a standard that allows digital musical instruments to communicate with one another. In cell phone terms, MIDI is what gives you polyphonic sounds; which means your ring tones can sound like real music instead of beeps.

MIN (Mobile Identification Number) a 24-bit number assigned by a wireless service provider (carrier) to each phone it sells or includes in a service plan that uniquely identifies a mobile device within a carrier’s network. Unlike an Electronic Serial Number (ESN), a MIN is changeable because wireless phones may change hands or phone owners may move to another coverage region, requiring a different service plan.

MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) a further extension of SMS and EMS. MMS is designed to make use of newer and quicker mobile transmission methods such as GPRS, HSCSD, EDGE and UMTS, involving the attachment of multimedia extensions to messages, such as video and sound. An e-mail function is also planned.

MO-SMS (Mobile-Originated Short Message Service) the ability to send short text messages from a phone. Both the phone and the carrier’s network must support this feature for it to work. Messages can be sent to other phones by phone number. Many phones also allow sending messages directly to e-mail addresses.

Mobile Commerce the use of radio-based wireless devices such as cell phones and personal digital assistants to conduct business-to-business and business-to-consumer transactions over wired, Web-based e-commerce systems.

Mobile Data a service which enables users to access data, transmit data and communicate with computers and networks. (e-mail, Internet, fax, etc..)

Mobile Internet access to specially designed Internet sites offering services such as news, travel, weather and entertainment using a WAP phone.

Mobile IP a protocol developed by the Internet Engineering Task Force to enable users to roam to parts of the network associated with a different IP address than what’s loaded in the user’s appliance.

Mobile Phone a wireless phone or cell phone is often referred to as a mobile phone. Initially, a mobile phone referred to a phone attached to a vehicle, which used the vehicle’s battery and had an external antenna.

Modem a device which converts digital data to analog data (tones) so that it can be sent over regular phone lines and wireless networks. The modem also converts data back from analog to digital.

MP3 Playback some cell phones feature a MP3 player (built-in or add-on accessory) that allow you to listen to music stored in the MP3 digital format. These files are much smaller than other formats such as wave files, yet can deliver CD quality sound.

MTSO (Mobile Telephone Switching Office) the central switch that controls the entire operation of a cellular system. It is a sophisticated computer that monitors all cellular calls, keeps track of the location of all cellular equipped vehicles traveling in the system, interconnects calls with the local and long distance land line telephone companies, arranges hand-offs, keeps track of billing information etc. Every cellular system has one or more MTSOs or switches.

Multi-Language Display a feature that allows you to select in which language (English, French, or Spanish) the phone will display messages and prompts.

Multi-mode a wireless device that can operate on either an analog or digital wireless network, allowing you to maintain a connection whether you’re in a digital service area or analog only service area.

Multiple Key Answer a feature that allows you to answer an incoming call by pressing any key. A faster, more convenient way to answer than searching for a specific key.

Mute mutes the handset or speaker to allow private conversations without the called party overhearing.

MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) functions as a wireless service operator in the marketplace though it does not own an actual wireless network. An examples of a MVNOs is Virgin Mobile.

Network(s) the companies that supply the transmitters and framework allowing calls to be made in. There are four major nation-wide networks in Canada: Bell Mobility, Microcell (Fido), Rogers AT&T, and Telus Mobility.

NiCd (Nickel Cadmium) an older type and the most basic type of rechargeable battery technology for cell phones which can be damaged if it is not fully drained before recharging (referred to as memory effect).

NiMH (Nickel Metal Hydride) a newer type and common from of rechargeable battery for cell phones which will is less sensitive to the memory effect.

No Answer/Busy Transfer forwards incoming calls to another number when your line is busy or cannot be answered.

Off Peak a designated time of the day or week when calling rates are cheaper or free.

OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) a next-generation display technology that consists of small dots of organic polymer that emit light when charged with electricity. OLED is beginning to replace LCD technology in handheld devices such as PDAs and cell phones because the technology is thinner, lighter, brighter, cheaper to manufacture and consumes less power than LED’s.

One-Touch Emergency Dialing a memory location reserved for storing an emergency number. This feature allows you to connect to an emergency number by pressing a single button and can be accessed and called even if the phone is locked.

OTA (Over The Air) the downloading of ring tones, picture messages, and other content to your mobile phone wirelessly.

P-Java (Personal Java) a Java API and specification for running Java applications on small devices.

Packet a piece of data transmitted over a packet-switching network such as the Internet or wireless Internet; a packet includes not just data but also its destination.

Packet Switching a type of communication that splits information into “packets” of data for transmission. This is efficient, as it only uses radio spectrum when it’s actually sending something, rather than keeping an open channel at all times (as is done in circuit switching). Packet switching is a core component to 3G technology.

Packet-switched network networks that transfer packets of data (see Packet). These networks are a more reliable method of transferring wireless data than a circuit-switched network. Packet-switched networks eliminate the need to dial in to send or receive information because they are “always on,” transferring data without the need to dial.

Pager a one-way or two-way radio receiver device that allows reception and display of a numeric or alphanumeric message. Most new cell phones have similar functionality built-in.

Palm a handheld computer or PDA that runs the Palm operating system. The Palm operating system which was originally created for Palm PDAs, has since become the OS of choice on PDAs from many different companies. Palm PDAs can usually synchronize with PCS or Apple computers using infrared, Bluetooth or wire connections.

Passive Matrix Display an LCD technology that uses a grid to supply the charge to each particular pixel on the display. An STN screen has a slower refresh rate than a TFT screen, but it’s cheaper. Also called a SuperTwist Nematic of STN display.

PC Card (PCMCIA) a removable, credit-card sized devices that may be plugged into slots in PCS and wireless communication devices to provide fax or modem functions or network cards.

PC Sync allows a user to connect a cell phone to a computer with a cable and transfer data. An example of this would be synchronizing a cell phone’s contact and calendar information with a computer application like Outlook.

PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) a group of hardware manufacturers and vendors responsible for developing standards for PC Cards (also called PCMCIA cards.)

PDA (personal digital assistant) a portable, handheld computing device that acts as an electronic organizer. PDAs are typically used for managing addresses, appointments, to-do lists and notes, but some newer models support wireless Internet access, e-mail, and other interactive applications. Also referred to as Handheld Computers. PDAs come in two major flavors - Palm and Pocket PC.

PDC (Personal Digital Communications) the digital cell phone system in Japan.

Peak Minutes / Period a designated time of the day or week when cellular calling rates are highest.

Personal Communications Service see PCS.

Personal Hands-Free Kit a device that allows you to use your phone hands-free by wearing a headset and microphone, rather than holding the phone to your ear.

Phone Book a feature that enables you to store a collection of telephone numbers and names into your phone’s internal memory or on its SIM card. Storing numbers in the phone book makes frequent calls easier.

Phone Lock a feature which prevents unauthorized use of a phone.

Photo ID allows a user to set custom graphics (can be pictures) with a phone book entry. When the person who is associated with that phone book entry calls, the corresponding graphic is shown. Graphics can be downloaded into the phone from a computer, or via the wireless Internet.

Picture Messaging a technology that allows you to send and receive picture messages as well as text on a mobile phone.

PIM (Personal Information Manager) a type of software application that allows the user to input and organize various types of information. Common features of a PIM application include a notepad, calculator, to-do list, calendar and scheduling tool.

PIN (Personal Identification Number) a numeric code or password that may be required by a service provider in order to make outgoing calls or obtain access to certain applications and data. This code is always associated to a SIM card, not a phone and is designed to help guard against cellular fraud.

Pocket PC a handheld Windows-based computer or PDA that runs the Pocket PC operating system (formerly Windows CE) by Microsoft. The Pocket PC operating system features Pocket Office applications (Internet Explorer, Word and Excel), handwriting recognition, an e-book reader, and wireless Internet capability. The main alternative to the Pocket PC is the Palm OS.

Polyphonic Ring Tones ring tones very much like regular ring tones except that they are capable of playing multiple notes at a time. This results in vastly improved sound quality with richer, more realistic sounds. Phones equipped with polyphonic ring tones generally have better sounding speakers.

Predictive Text Input software built into some cell phones and mobile devices that makes typing words on a keypad easier. Instead of pressing each key one, two or three times, just to press it once and a built-in vocabulary will attempt to guess the word that you are spelling. Using this system, SMS messages and sometimes e-mails are quicker and easier to write. Often referred to as T9, the most popular type of predictive text entry. The competitor to T9 is iTAP by Motorola.

Pre-Paid Card a card or voucher that represents advanced payment for wireless service.

Pre-Pay/Pay As You Go a system allowing subscribers to pay for wireless service usage in advance. There is no activation charge and instead of being billed for your calls, you simply buy a top-up card or voucher that pays for the calls in advance. Prepaid is generally used for credit-impaired customers, those who want to adhere to a budget, or those who do not want to sign a contract. Each network (Bell, Fido, Rogers, Telus, etc.) has its own pre-paid service.

Processor Speed/CPU the measure of the speed of the microprocessor of the handheld/PDA in megahertz (MHZ). In general, the higher this number gets the faster the handheld/PDA will execute tasks.

Profiles a group of phone settings (ringing tones, keypad tones, warning tones) that you can customize. With profiles you can create sets of combined tones and screensavers to suit different environments or times of day.

PTT (Push-To-Talk) a two-way communication service that works like a “walkie talkie”. This feature, found on Motorola iDEN phones from Nextel and Telus Mobility’s Mike, allow communication in only direction at a time unlike a cell phone that allows for simultaneous conversations. New PTT systems are now being introduced that use VoIP technology to provide PTT service digitally over 3G data networks. See VoIP.

PUK (Personal Unblocking Code) used to unblock a blocked SIM card, this code is given during the subscription of a phone.

PWR (Power) represents the on/off (power) key on some wireless devices.

Rapid Charger a cell phone battery charging accessory that is capable of fully charging a battery in less than four hours.

RBT (Ring-back Tone), or Audible Ringing Tone or Ring-back Signal, is the audible ringing that is heard on the telephone line by the calling party after dialing and prior to the call being answered at the receiving end.

Ringer ID allows a user to set custom ringtones with a phone book entry. When the person who is associated with that phone book entry calls, the corresponding ringtone will sound. Also called distinctive ringing or name ringer.

Ringer Options the ways in which a phone will notify a user of an incoming call. Most phones feature multiple ring tones, melodies, a silent ringer, and a vibration alert. Some handsets now have built-in ringtone composers and some can download ringtones using PC synchronization software or via the wireless Internet.

Ringer Profiles allow a user to create distinct “profiles”, each consisting of an array of detailed ringer settings. These profiles can be pre-set and stored in the phone by the user, then quickly selected and activated at any time.

Ringtone Composer software that allows a user to create their own ringtones by pressing key sequences on a cell phone or using external PC composer software.

Ringtones audible alerts on a cell phone or wireless communication device that notify a user of an incoming call.

Roaming a service offered by most cellular service providers that allows subscribers to use cellular service while traveling outside their home service area. The areas / countries you can roam in and the cost will depend on which service provider you use. Roaming requires an agreement between operators of technologically compatible systems in individual markets to permit customers of either operator to access the other’s systems. (If you require a phone that will operate in Europe, you will need a Tri-band phone).

Satellite Phone a phone that connect callers via satellite. Satellite phones give users a worldwide alternative to sometimes un-reliable digital and analog connections but the systems are costly.

Scratch Pad allows you to enter information into a phones keypad during a conversation without interrupting the call.

Screensaver a picture or animation which appears on a cell phone’s display when it is idle.

Scroll Keys a key or keys on a mobile phone’s keypad that allows a user to scroll forward and backward through menu options and lists.

SDK a Software Development Kit for wireless application developers.

Security Code a numeric code (password) used to prevent unauthorized or accidental alteration of data programmed into wireless phones. The security code can be used by the owner of a phone to change the lock code.

Service Area refers to the geographic area served by a wireless carrier, within which you can use your wireless device to send and receive calls or information. Service areas vary greatly from carrier to carrier. Often used to describe the strength of a service provider’s signal. Also referred to as coverage area.

Signal Strength Meter a visual indicator which displays the relative strength of the cellular signal to help ensure that quality calls can be placed.

Silent Keypad a feature that turns off the tones made by a cell phone when pressing a key.

Silent Ringer a feature that signals incoming calls by flashing an indicator light rather than ringing.

SIM (Subscriber Identification Module) a removable plastic card found in GSM phones that stores pertinent information about a phone such as your phone number, account information, phone book, PIM data, etc.. The card can be plugged into any GSM compatible phone and the phone is instantly personalized to the user. SIMs come in two sizes: large (credit card size) and small (thumbnail size).

SIM Lock software within a phone that can be enabled so that the phone will only work with a one nominated SIM card. Carriers usually block mobile phones to assure they are only used in their network.

Smartphone a term typically used to describe a next-generation device that combines the functionality of a mobile phone with the enhanced features found in a PDA. Functions such as calendar, telephone book, e-mail, to-do lists, spreadsheets, word processors, and wireless Internet access are typical.

SMS (Short Message Service) a service that enables subscribers to send short text messages (usually about 160 characters) to and from wireless handsets. These messages can be sent from a Web site or from one wireless phone to another and enhancements are being made to support rich text and graphics. See MMS and EMS. Also called Text Messaging. (network and subscription dependent feature - not available in all areas)

SMS Chat a feature available on some newer phones that allow a user to “chat” with other users via the sms protocol.

SND (Send) a key on cell phone that initiates the call typed on the keypad and answers incoming calls.

Soft handoff a procedure in which two base stations - one in the cell site where the phone is located and the other in the cell site to which the conversation is being passed - both hold onto the call until the handoff is completed. The first cell site does not cut off the conversation until it receives information that the second is maintaining the call.

Speakerphone enables conversation to take place hands-free. Enhances safety and convenience and can be used to conduct conference calls. There are two distinct types of two-way speaker-phone functionality: Half-Duplex and Full-Duplex. Half-Duplex allows only one person to speak at a time. When one person is speaking, the other person can not be heard at all until the first person has stopped speaking completely. With Full-Duplex, both parties can speak naturally and be heard at the same time, just like non-speakerphone usage.

Spectrum refers to a band of frequencies where wireless signals travel carrying voice and data information.

Speed Dialing a feature which allows a user to connect to a phone number by pressing one, two or three digits instead of dialing in an entire phone number.

Standby Time refers to the amount of time a battery lasts when a wireless device is turned on but is not in use. When the phone is switched on and waiting for a call it is on ’standby’. A cell phone will consume battery power when on standby but far less than when talking on the phone.

Stylus a pen like device usually used coupled with handwriting recognition software for writing on a PDA or mobile phone display. It also works to navigate trough sensitive menus.

Symbian the name given to a venture formed by Nokia, Ericsson, Motorola, and Psion to create easy to use operating systems for wireless devices and personal digital assistants (PDAs). The first operating system is called EPOC.

SyncML an open data synchronization protocol enabling data synchronization between mobile devices and networked services. SyncML is a transport, data type, and platform independent technology that is based on Extensible Markup Language (XML).

T9 software built into some wireless phones and PDAs that makes typing words on a keypad easier. The competitor to T9 is iTAP. See Predictive Text Entry.

Talk Time the amount of time a battery lasts when a wireless device is actively transmitting or receiving a call. Talking on your phone uses battery life much quicker than if the phone is on standby.

TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) a family of second-generation digital wireless technologies (GSM, TDMA, iDEN, PDC and PHS) that divides conversations into packets of data according to time. This allows large amounts of voice and data to be transmitted on the same frequency. TDMA runs on two bands: 800MHz and 1,900MHz. TDMA networks are used in North, Central, and South America. TDMA and GSM networks are similar in that they can both share the same migration path to high-speed data: GPRS (2.5G), then EDGE (3G). Also referred to as D-AMPS.

Terminal a device capable of sending, receiving, or sending and receiving information over a communications channel. Also referred to as a mobile terminal, mobile station, or wireless terminal.

TFD (Thin Film Diode) a type of LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) flat-panel display technology. TFD technology combines the excellent image quality and fast response times of TFT, with the low power consumption and low cost of STN.

TFT (Thin Film Transistor) an LCD technology that uses transistors to precisely control the voltage to each liquid crystal cell. This is also referred to as an “active matrix” display. TFT screens offer the best image quality and refresh rates, but at a higher cost.

Tri-Band a phone capable of operating on three different digital frequencies (example: 900MHz, 1800MHz and 1900MHz).

Tri-mode a wireless phone that can operate on both the 1900 and 800MHz digital networks, and on the 800MHz analog network.

Triangulation a lengthy process of pinning down a caller’s location using radio receivers, a compass and a map.

Tower a fixed cellular tower and radio antenna that handles communication with subscribers in a particular area or cell. A cellular network is made up of many towers, all connected back to the wired phone system.

Transceiver a radio transmitter and receiver combined into a single unit.

UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) a third-generation wireless communications technology and the next generation of GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications). UMTS is a wireless standard approved by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and is intended for advanced wireless communications. UMTS promises high-speed mobile data (up to 2 Mbps) and advanced multimedia capabilities such as streaming video.

Unlock Code the digits you enter to unlock a wireless device.
URL (Uniform Resource Locator) a unique name or number that specifies the location of a file on the Internet. A URL consists of a protocol, such as http:// that specifies a web page, followed by a server or path name. For example, the URL for the Cellucom’s web site is http://www.cellucom.com/

USB (Universal Serial Bus) a plug-and-play interface between a computer and add-on devices (such as keyboards, phones and PDAs). With USB, a new device can be added to a computer without having to add an adapter card or even having to turn the computer off. USB supports a data speed of 12 megabits per second and is now being incorporated in some cell phones which is useful for synchronizing information with a computer or downloading ringtones.

USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) is a capability of all GSM phones. It is generally associated with real-time or instant messaging type phone services. There is no store-and-forward capability that is typical of normal short messages (in other words, an SMSC is not present in the processing path). Response times for interactive USSD based services are generally quicker than those used for SMS.

VFD (Vacuum Fluorescent Display) a type of display used on some cell phones. This display retains visibility in direct sunlight and is highly visible in darkness. It can be seen without distortion over a wide range of viewing angles and remains fully operational over a broad temperature range.

Vibration Alert a feature that notifies you of an incoming call or message by vibrating rather than ringing.

Vocoder a device that encodes and decodes the sound of human voice into/from digital format for transmission.
Voice Activated Dialing a feature that allows a user to dial a phone number by spoken commands instead of punching the numbers in physically. The feature contributes to convenience as well as safe driving.

Voice Mail a service that answers calls and records incoming voice messages. Basically, an answering machine on your cell phone. This will take messages if your phone is switched off or you are engaged.

Voice Mail Indicator a feature that notifies you of messages in your voice mail box.

Voice Mail Key a key on the keypad of a cell phone or other communications device that allows you to retrieve voicemail or digital messages with the touch of a button.

Voice Memo a feature that allows you to record and store short voice messages that you can play back at any time. Many phones with this feature also let you record parts of phone conversations in progress. Some phones have a dedicated voice-memo button to activate the feature.

Voice Recognition the capability to control or control certain functions on cell phones and other communications devices by using voice commands.

VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) a technology for transmitting voice, such as ordinary telephone calls, over the Internet using packet-switched networks. Also called IP telephony.

Volume Control adjusts volume levels on a cell phone or mobile device for the earpiece, ringer, and speaker to personal preference.

VOX (Voice Operated Transmitter) a battery-saving feature that transmits only when talking is taking place.

W3C (World Wide Web Consortium) an international industry consortium founded in 1994 to develop common standards for the World Wide Web. It is hosted in the U.S. by the Laboratory for Computer Science at MIT.

W-CDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access) a third-generation (3G) wireless technology that supports high-speed data transmission (144 Kbps to 2 Mbps), always on data service, and improved network capacity (more people can use each tower at the same time) in GSM systems by using CDMA instead of TDMA. The version of WCDMA used by NTT DoCoMo in Japan is called FOMA or J-WCDMA; the European version is referred to as UMTS, E-WCDMA, or MT-2000 Direct Spread. W-CDMA is a competitor to cdma2000.

Wallet a cell phone software application that enables users to make Internet type payments via a WAP-browser, where card information is transferred from the customer to the Internet merchant. The application is capable of storing protected personal information inside the phone.

Wallpaper a background design on the screen of a cell phone or other mobile device. Some phones allow you to change the design of the wallpaper in much the same way as PC users can do.

WAN (Wide Area Network) a physical or logical network that provides data communications to a larger number of users than are usually served by a local area network (LAN) and is usually spread over a larger geographic area than that of a LAN.

WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) a set of standards that enables a wireless phone or other mobile device to browse Internet content optimized for wireless phones. The competitive technology to WAP is I-Mode by Japan’s NTT DoCoMo.

WAP gateway software that takes raw WML data and compiles it for a micro-browser and vice versa.

WASP (Wireless Application Service Provider) vendors that provide hosted wireless applications so that companies will not have to build their own sophisticated wireless infrastructures.

WBMP (Wireless Bitmap) a bitmap graphic format for integration of images in WAP pages. WBMP graphics are only black and white and have a 1 Bit size.

Web clipping an application that allows a user to extract relevant information from a web page for display on a smart phone or a PDA.

Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) the popular term for the 802.11b wireless Ethernet standard. See 802.11b.

WIM (WAP Identity Module) the security module implemented in a SIM card. The security module is needed for some WAP services, such as banking services or shopping on a WAP site.

Windows CE a streamlined version of Windows from Microsoft for handheld computers which has since been upgraded and renamed Pocket PC. Windows CE ran Pocket versions of Microsoft office applications such as Word and Excel as well as many applications that were geared specifically for the smaller platform.

Wireless a term used to describe the use of radio-frequency spectrum for transmitting and receiving voice, data and video signals for communications.

Wireless Internet a technology that enables a cell phone or other wireless device to access specially formatted Internet content via wireless networks. Several different standards exists: HDML, WML, cHTML, and xHTML. Also known as “Wireless Web” or “WAP”.

Wireless IP a packet data protocol standard for sending wireless data over the Internet.

Wireless Operator a general term that refers to either a wireless network operator, wireless service operator, or a carrier. The wireless network operator maintains the radio towers and infrastructure for a cellular system and sells wireless service to subscribers.

Wireless Portal a web site that supports a user with a smart phone or an alphanumeric pager. It may offer a variety of features, including providing a springboard to other wireless web sites, the ability to select content to be pushed to the user’s device as well as providing a point of entry for anyone to send the user a message.

Wireless Terminal any mobile phone, wireless handheld, or wireless personal device using non-fixed access to a network.

WISP (Wireless Internet Service Provider) vendors that specialize in providing wireless Internet access to subscribers.

WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) a network that transmits and receives data over the air using radio frequency technology, minimizing the need for wired connections. A wireless LAN can serve as a replacement for or extension to a wired LAN.

WML (Wireless Markup Language) a name given to the markup language for WAP. WML is based on XML (HTML’s more flexible cousin) and enables information to be displayed on a micro-browser. As a WAP phone cannot process an HTML web page, WML was developed to work within the constraints of narrowband devices.

WMLS (Wireless Markup Language Script) a subset of JavaScript, used to program mobile devices.

World Phone phones that operate on 900, 1800 and 1900 MHZ GSM networks. Because of this, world phones are able to operate in most parts of the world.

WPAN (Wireless Personal Area Network) a wireless network that serves an individual user.

WWW (World Wide Web) one of the primary applications in the Internet. It is a system in which information display is made through the use of hypertext (HTML), where it is possible to combine all Internet services and use text, images and sound simultaneously.