| Glossary |  |
1xEV-DO
(EV-DO)
Part of a family of CDMA2000 1x digital
wireless standards. 1xEV-DO is a "3G" CDMA standard. EV-DO originally stood for
"EVolution, Data-Only", but recently is also referred to as "EVolution,
Data-Optimized".
EV-DO provides data rates over 10 times faster than 1xRTT, the previous data
technology for CDMA networks.
Unlike other "1x" standards, EV-DO only addresses data - not voice. It requires
a dedicated slice of spectrum, separate from voice networks using standards such
as 1xRTT.
There are currently two main versions of 1xEV-DO: "Release 0" and "Revision A".
Release 0 is the original version, and the first to be widely deployed. Rel. 0
offers data rates up to 2.4 mbps, averaging 300-600 kbps in the real world. This
is much faster than the 50-80 kbps typically offered by 1xRTT technology. Rel. 0
data rates are identical to 1xEV-DV Revision C.
Revision A integrates most of the faster data technology from 1xEV-DV Revision
D, and improves latency. These enhancements allow features such as VoIP and
video calling.
Although EV-DO does not include voice capability natively, Rev. A is fast enough
to support VoIP technology at service levels equal or better to 1xRTT voice
technology. This may be a future upgrade path for CDMA carriers if EV-DV
development remains stalled.
In terms of data speed and general technology evolution, the closest equivalent
to EVDO for GSM/WCDMA networks would be HSDPA.
1xEV-DO is based on a technology initially known as "HDR" (High Data Rate) or "HRPD"
(High Rate Packet Data), developed by Qualcomm. The international standard is
known as IS-856.
See: CDMA
See: GSM
See: WCDMA
See: HSDPA
2G indicates second
generation, referring to the generation of digital handsets that replaced the
original analogue setup.
2.5G is a way of showing a
handset has more data features than a 2G handset whilst not quite matching up to
the newer third generation of phones. A 2.5G handset will generally support
features such as EDGE and/or GPRS.
A small round connector for accepting the
pin-shaped plug from a standard phone headset. This jack can be also be used
with accessories such as a wired hands-free car kit with speakerphone.
While 2.5mm is the standard for phone headsets, the slightly larger 3.5mm size
is the standard for music headphones and devices other than phones.
Either size can support stereo sound and/or a microphone, depending on the
number of separate connector rings on the plug and jack.
3-Way Calling is also known as conference
calling and allows three or more people to be connected together on a phone
call, where they can all both talk and listen at the same time. Typically
additional people can call in or hang up at any time making this a very
convenient and flexible system for businesses where different parties may not be
in the same location or even in the same country.
3G Stands for 3rd-generation. Analog
cellular phones were the first generation. Digital phones marked the second
generation (2G).
3G is loosely defined, but generally includes high data speeds, always-on data
access, and greater voice capacity.
The high data speeds are possibly the most prominent feature, and certainly the
most hyped. They enable such advanced features as live, streaming video.
There are several different 3G technology standards. The most prevalent
worldwide is UMTS, which is based on WCDMA. (The terms WCDMA and UMTS are often
used interchangeably.) UMTS is the 3G technology of choice for most carriers
that used GSM as their 2G technology.
See: WCDMA
The other major standard is cdma2000, which is an evolution of CDMA 2G
technology. There are several types of cdma2000, each offering different data
rates and levels of compatibility with 2G CDMA. EV-DO Rev A is the most common
today.
See: EV-DO
(Assisted GPS)
A type of handset-based position location
technology. To determine location, the phone takes readings from both GPS
satellites and nearby cellular base stations (towers), with the help of a
location server on the network.
The location server on the network is required to tell the phone which
satellites to look for, and also to perform the complex calculations that
provide precise location information.
This technology generally provides better accuracy than GPS-only and
network-based technologies. A-GPS also works in places where GPS-only
technologies do not work well, such as dense urban areas, inside buildings, and
in moving cars.
AAC stands for Advanced Audio Coding. It is a
music format proposed as a successor to MP3, offering a higher sound quality but
taking up the same amount of memory. Ordinarily a higher quality would mean more
memory needs to be used.
An Accelerometer is generally used for measuring
acceleration. Within a mobile phone the accelerometer detects the motion of the
handset, and will auto rotate the display to show in landscape rather than
portrait mode when the phone is rotated 90 degrees. This is ideal for viewing
photos on the phone screen in full screen mode.
Alarm functions can work in a number of
ways.
If the phone has a Calendar feature, the Alarm feature may be integrated with
that, so an alarm is simply a Calendar event. Although some phones with a
Calendar feature also have a separate Alarm feature.
Phones with a standalone Alarm function may allow only one alarm to be set, or
may allow three or more. Most allow alarms to be set to go off once, or on a
recurring basis, such as daily or weekly.
Some phones require that the phone be turned on for the alarm to work, while
others will sound an alarm even while otherwise powered off.
Auto focus refers to a camera phone lens being
able to adjust to focus in on a particular object, often resulting in clearer
and sharper pictures than fixed focus camera phones
Advanced Wireless Services
A specific band of radio frequencies (spectrum) intended to be used for
next-generation wireless broadband services. Most of the spectrum will be used
for 3G mobile phone service, using technologies such as WCDMA+HSDPA or CDMA EV-DO.
The AWS bands were auctioned off by the FCC to private companies in August 2006.
AWS is actually a set of paired bands, meaning it consists of two bands: one for
base stations (towers) to transmit to mobile terminals (phones) and another band
for phones to transmit back to towers.
Those bands are sub-divided into smaller "blocks" that are owned by different
companies. The spectrum is also divided regionally, so one AWS license covers
one block, for one geographic area of the country.
The two initial AWS bands are 1710-1755 MHz and 2110-2155 MHz. Additional,
smaller bands have also been proposed as an add-on to AWS, but they have not yet
been finalized or auctioned off (as of August 2006.)
Bluetooth is a short-range wireless
technology used to create PANs (Personal Area Networks) among your devices, and
with other nearby devices.
Bluetooth allows you to leave your phone in your pocket, while talking on your
phone with a Bluetooth headset - with no wires. You can also exchange contact or
scheduling information with other Bluetooth-enabled phones nearby, or send such
information to a nearby Bluetooth-enabled printer.
Another common use is to give your laptop computer or PDA wireless high-speed
Internet access via Bluetooth and your phone.
Many newer automobiles also have Bluetooth, which can interface with a phone in
a pocket, to allow automatic hands-free phone capability.
More innovative uses include playing a game against someone with a similar phone
nearby, or using a special Bluetooth pen to send SMS messages by simply writing
them on paper.
Bluetooth functionality is divided into separate types of connections known as
"profiles". Each of the various scenarios outlined above involve a different
profile. Not all Bluetooth devices support all profiles.
For example, most phones support the Headset (HSP) and Handsfree (HFP) profiles,
for connecting the phones to headsets and car kits, respectively. But not all
phones support the Object Exchange (OBEX) profiles, which let you transfer files
(like photos) (FTP) and/or information (like contacts and events) (OPP) to and
from other devices. Another profile supported by only some phones is Dial-Up
Networking (DUN), which lets you connect a laptop or PDA to the Internet via the
phone. Other optional profiles support connecting to printers (BPP), keyboards
(HID), and stereo headphones (A2DP, AVRC).
Most Bluetooth phones are "class 2", which means the Bluetooth feature has a
range of up to 30 feet. Class 1 phones (which are rare) can have a range of up
to 300 feet.
Bluetooth is named for the 10th century Viking king Harald Bluetooth, who united
Norway and Denmark.
Bits per second indicate the speed of data
transfer a phone can operate at.
BREW (Binary Runtime Environment for
Wireless) is a solution developed by Qualcomm for downloading small applications
and content to mobile phones. BREW is found almost exclusively in CDMA phones.
The primary component lets users download and run small software applications on
wireless devices, including phones. Such applications might include games,
expense tracking software, or interactive map tools. This component of BREW
competes with J2ME, a Java technology from Sun Microsystems. BREW and Java are
generally not compatible.
See: J2ME
The BREW subsystem on a phone can also manage graphics and ringtones.
The BREW solution also includes a server component which resides on the network.
The BREW server manages the network side of BREW downloads, including billing,
and can also serve and bill for non-BREW applications and content.
Most in-phone calculators only perform
simple math, such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Some
also include special-purpose tools such as tip calculators or currency
converters.
Calendar functions, sometimes also
referred to as "PIM" (Personal Information Manager) functions, allow you to
store scheduling and event information in your phone. Some phones also offer the
ability to sound an alert (or vibrate) to remind you of upcoming events. These
alerts may serve as an integrated Alarm feature.
Some phones can also synchronize this information with a PC, PDA, or laptop. See
PC Sync and SyncML for more information.
Code-Division Multiple Access.
CDMA is a digital wireless technology. It is a general type of technology,
implemented in many specific technologies. But the term "CDMA" is also commonly
used to refer to one specific family of technologies (IS-95 and CDMA2000) used
in the US by Sprint and Verizon Wireless. This technology competes with GSM,
used by AT&T and T-Mobile.
CDMA is a "spread spectrum" technology, which means that it spreads the
information contained in a particular signal of interest over a much greater
bandwidth than the original signal.
Unlike many competing technologies, CDMA has no hard limit for the number of
users who may share one base station (tower). Instead, with CDMA, additional
users can connect until the base station determines that call quality would
suffer beyond a set limit.
CDMA (IS-95) systems have been in commercial operation since 1995. CDMA networks
operate in the 800 and 1900 MHz frequency bands with primary markets in the
Americas and Asia.
IS-95 CDMA technology has also been called cdmaOne and cdma2000.
Term used
to describe mobile phone communications. Each transmitter covers an area known
as a "cell"
Mobile
Phones generally cost $250 to $600,if you just want the phone on its own. Most
people take out a 12 to 24 month contract with the phone where in return
for committing to pay their bill every month they get the phone for free.
Contracts are subject to proofs of identification and credit check, calls are
billed monthly, as opposed to pre-pay phones
See:
Pre-Pay
A specific
area in which a mobile phone can make and receive calls
This means that the phone has selectable
ringtones that can be set to a custom melody (or "ringer") that you can change
to something other than the ringtones included with the phone.
Some phones include a built-in "composer" that let you enter the notes manually
and create your own ringtone right on the phone.
Others require that the ringtone be created elsewhere and downloaded to your
phone via special SMS, EMS, or MMS messages, or via Wireless Internet.
Ringtones can also sometimes be transferred in the form of a file from another
device, such as a phone, PDA, or PC, via a cable, infrared, or Bluetooth.
A feature of some digital cell phones that
makes them compatible with a special TTY text device for those who are deaf or
hard of hearing.
Without this feature, TTY devices were compatible only with analog cell phone
service (which is no longer available in the US.)
See: TTY
Digital zoom refers to a
digital camera phone that will enhance part of a picture, to give the impression
that you have 'zoomed in' on the object. What actually happens is a part of the
picture is cropped and then enhanced to full size. This does lead to a loss in
picture quality
Ability of a phone to work
on both 900MHz and 1800MHz networks, as radio airwaves became more congested all
networks started using both frequencies and all new mobile phones are now at
least dual-band.
Some phones include a full email client
that can connect directly to standard POP and/or IMAP email servers, via a
wireless data connection and the Internet.
Phones with Wireless Internet can also access sites offering email, but this
provides a more direct approach.
See: POP
See: IMAP
See: SMTP
See: Push
Enhanced Data for Global Evolution.
An upgrade for GSM/GPRS networks that triples data rates (speed) over standard
GPRS.
See: GPRS
EDGE is used automatically when both the phone and network support it. EDGE
phones will automatically revert to the slower GPRS standard when EDGE service
is not available.
Although many EDGE phones and devices are theoretically capable of up to 236
Kbps, most EDGE networks are only configured to allow up to 135 Kbps, to
conserve spectrum resources. Real-world data rates are usually lower than the
maximum.
Because it is based on existing GSM and GPRS technology, EDGE is a smooth
upgrade for GSM network operators.
Although EDGE works at a low level within the GSM standard that includes voice,
the main benefit is to increase GPRS data rates. GPRS operating over EDGE is
called EGPRS.
Although EDGE is faster than GPRS, it is not as fast as 3G technologies such as
HSDPA and EVDO.
Mobile phones come in several different physical
styles (form factors). While manufacturers are continually coming up with new
types of designs, there are several common categories used on this site to
describe form factors:
Bar: (AKA candy-bar or block) This is the most basic style. The entire
phone is one solid monolith, with no moving parts aside from the buttons and
possibly antenna. To prevent keys from being pressed accidentally while the
phone is in a pocket, etc., a "key guard" feature is usually provided, requiring
a special key sequence to "unlock" the keys.
Clamshell: (AKA folder) This type of phone consists of two halves,
connected by a hinge. The phone folds closed when not in use. The top half
usually contains the speaker and display, with the bottom half containing the
keypad and remaining components. The main display and keypad are protected when
closed, although many phones have a secondary display on the outside.
Flip: This type of phone is a cross between the Bar and Clamshell types.
Most of the components of the phone are in one part, but a thin "flip" part
covers the keypad and/or display when not in use. The flip may be all-plastic,
or it may contain one or two minor components such as a speaker or secondary
keys.
Slide: This type is usually designed similarly to a clamshell, with a
large main display and speaker in one half, and the keypad and battery in the
other half. But the two halves slide open instead of using a hinge. Slide
designs allow the main display to be seen when closed, and are generally easier
to open and close one-handed.
Swivel: This type is similar to the slide type, with a large main display
and speaker in the top half, and the keypad and battery in the lower half. But
the two halves pivot at one point instead of sliding.
Face recognition
technology in a digital camera will seek out and focus in on people's faces, so
that images are produced which are much clearer and sharper in focus and detail
Many phones include simple games for the
user to pass the time when waiting, travelling, etc. The games referred to here
are ones built into the phone, that do not require a connection and airtime to
play. (There are games available over the Wireless Internet that do require a
connection and thus airtime.)
Many phones also include the ability to download new games wirelessly. There are
several different technologies for downloadable games, including Java, BREW,
Mophun, and WGE. The technologies are incompatible, although some phones support
more than one technology.
GB is a measurement of
memory storage, an acronym for Gigabyte. One Gigabyte is equivalent to 1024 MB
(Megabyte)
General Packet Radio Service.
A packet-switched technology that enables data communications.
GPRS is used for various data applications on phones, including wireless
Internet (WAP), MMS, and software that connects to the Internet. Basically, any
network connection that is not voice or text messaging uses a data connection
like GPRS.
GPRS offers a tenfold increase in data speed over previous (circuit-switched)
technologies, up to 115kbit/s (in theory). Typical real-world speeds are around
30-40 Kbps.
Newer technologies like EDGE and 3G are much faster.
See: EDGE
Using a packet switching, subscribers are always connected and always on-line,
so services will be easy and quick to access.
GPRS is considered a "2.5G" technology, meaning it is more advanced than
standard 2G digital technology, but does not meet the requirements of a
full-fledged 3G technology.
GPS (Global Positioning System) is a
global satellite-based system for determining precise location on Earth.
In a phone, this will allow operators to immediately receive your location when
you call the emergency number (911 or 112).
When used with compatible Wireless Internet systems and services, and with the
user's permission, it can also transmit location information to those services.
This is called LBS. For example, a location-enabled phone book service might
tell you where the nearest Chinese restaurant is, without requiring manual entry
of a zip code, etc.
Most phones with "GPS" in fact use A-GPS technology. The "A" stands for
assisted, and means that the phone relies on the network for help in determining
location. Although the phone does receive GPS signals directly from the
satellites, it can't determine actual location without help from the cell
network.
See: LBS
See: A-GPS
Global System for Mobile Communication.
GSM is the dominant 2G digital mobile phone standard for most of the world. It
determines the way in which mobile phones communicate with the land-based
network of towers.
GSM is one of two major mobile phone technologies in the U.S. The other is CDMA.
AT&T and T-Mobile use GSM. Sprint and Verizon use CDMA. GSM is more prevalent in
most other parts of the world, and especially in Europe.
Although GSM and CDMA provide similar basic features and services to end-users,
(such as voice calling, text messaging, and data services,) they operate very
differently at many technical levels. This makes GSM phones completely
incompatible with CDMA networks, and vice-versa.
The most visible feature of GSM are SIM cards. SIM cards are removable,
thumbnail-sized smart cards which identify the user on the network, and can also
store information such as phone book entries. SIM cards allows users to switch
phones by simply moving their SIM card from one phone to the other.
For information about GSM-related 2.5G and 3G technology:
See: GPRS
See: EDGE
See: WCDMA
The ability to make and/or
receive a phone call without physically holding the mobile phone. Originally
this referred to hands-free car kits allowing drivers to use the phone while
driving by using a microphone that picked up the driver's voice and a
loudspeaker that played back the caller's voice. This progressed to a wired
personal hands-free which changed the loudspeaker into earphones and not long
after back to a loudspeaker but this time built into the phone allowing its use
as a hands-free conference call device. Eventually wireless Bluetooth headsets
arrived and almost all hands-free devices are now Bluetooth.
See:
Bluetooth
HAC
When wireless devices are used near hearing devices (such as hearing aids and
cochlear implants), users may detect a buzzing, humming, or whining noise. Some
hearing devices are more immune than others to this interference, and wireless
devices also vary in the amount of interference they generate.
The wireless telephone industry has developed ratings to assist hearing device
users in finding wireless devices that may be compatible with their hearing
devices. Not all wireless devices have been rated. Wireless devices that are
rated will have the rating displayed on their box together with other relevant
approval markings.
The ratings are not guarantees. Results will vary depending on the user's
hearing device and hearing loss. If your hearing device is vulnerable to
interference you may not be able to use a rated wireless device successfully.
M-Ratings: Wireless devices rated M3 or M4 meet FCC requirements and are likely
to generate less interference to hearing devices than wireless devices that are
not labeled. M4 is the better/higher of the two ratings.
T-Ratings: Wireless devices rated T3 or T4 meet FCC requirements and are likely
to be more usable with a hearing device's telecoil ("T Switch" or "Telephone
Switch") than unrated wireless devices. T4 is the better/higher of the two
ratings. (Note that not all hearing devices have telecoils in them).
Most phones that are rated T3 also have an M3 rating. Similarly, most phones
rated T4 also have an M4 rating.
Hearing devices may also be measured for immunity to this type of interference.
Your hearing device manufacturer or hearing health professional may help you
find results for your hearing device. The more immune your hearing aid is, the
less likely you are to experience interference noise from wireless devices.
High-Speed Downlink Packet Access
An upgrade for WCDMA / UMTS networks. It doubles network capacity and increases
download data speeds five-fold or more. Initial deployments and devices
were limited to a speed of 1.8 Mbit/s. Subsequent network upgrades and new
end-user devices boosted the rate to 3.6 Mbit/s, followed by 7.2 Mbit/s.
A related technology called HSUPA provides a similar speed boost for data in the
uplink (upload) direction. Together, HSDPA and HSUPA are somtimes referred to as
HSPA.
HSDPA is standardized by the 3GPP in UMTS Release 5. In terms of data
speed and general technology evolution, the closest equivalent to HSDPA for CDMA
networks would be EVDO Rel. 0.
See: WCDMA
See: HSUPA
High-Speed Uplink Packet Access
An upgrade for WCDMA / UMTS / HSDPA networks that applies HSDPA-like
enhancements to the uplink side of the connection, allowing peak upload data
rates of up to 5.8 Mbit/s (million bits per second).
HSUPA is both a compliment and a successor to HSDPA, which offers very fast data
rates, but only for the downlink / download side. Together, HSDPA and HSUPA are
sometimes referred to as HSPA. HSUPA devices and networks include WCDMA
and HSDPA technology and are backward-compatible with devices and networks
supporting only those technologies. HSUPA is expected to be standardized
by the 3GPP in UMTS Release 6.
See: HSDPA
In terms of data speed and general technology evolution, the closest equivalent
to HSUPA for CDMA networks would be EVDO Rev. A.
IM is an acronym for
Instant Messaging. Many new handsets support instant messaging of some kind or
another, with top of the range handset supporting access to services such as
Windows Live and Yahoo Messenger
Image stabilizer is used
on camera phone to cut out blur on a picture due to hand shaking.
(IMAP4)
Internet Message Access Protocol
An Internet protocol used to download messages from an email server to an email
client (usually email software running on a PC or mobile device).
IMAP is a newer alternative to the POP protocol. Compared to POP, IMAP offers
more intelligent handling of sent mail and organizing mail by folders, and also
better handling of email accounts that are checked from multiple clients, such
as checking your email from both your PC and a mobile device.
There are also proprietary alternatives to POP and IMAP, such as
Outlook/Exchange and BlackBerry.
See: POP
An IMEI (International
Mobile Equipment Identity) is a unique serial number that every mobile phone has
and is usually found printed under the phone battery; if a mobile is stolen,
networks can use the IMEI number to identify the phone and put a block on it
which make the stolen phone useless on all networks.
Internal memory will
indicate the capacity available for storing photos, messages and songs on the
phone memory.
The protocols that define
how data is exchanged between devices using infrared technology. Typically
infrared only has a range of between 20cm and 2m, much less than the newer
Bluetooth technology.
(J2ME)
J2ME (Java 2 Micro Edition) is a feature
that allows the device to run small, user-installable software applications
written especially for mobile devices such as phones.
J2ME is a specific version of Java designed for phones. There are other versions
designed for desktop and general-purpose applications. Some phones have a
version of Java that is not J2ME, and therefore is not directly compatible with
J2ME.
J2ME applications can provide specific functions such as a tip calulator, they
can be games, or they can be custom-written corporate applications. They can be
Internet-enabled, so that, for example, a J2ME game might let you play someone
else in real time over the Internet. They can be created by anyone - not just
the phone manufacturer or your carrier.
You can download new applications to your phone at any time. Most phones allow
you to download new applications directly to your phone using the phone's
Internet browser.
There are several alternatives to J2ME. In the US, a major directly competing
technology is BREW.
See: BREW
Kbps stands for kilobytes
per second and is a method used for indicating the speed data is transferred by
a mobile phone across the phone network
LCD stands for Liquid
Crystal Display, technology that can be found used for mobile phone screens
An LED is a Light Emitting
Diode, a small light found on many camera phones, used to illuminate objects in
dim lighting conditions to enhance the quality of the captured image. LED's are
common on mobile phones, but not as powerful as the less used Xenon Flash. The
main reason LED's are preferred to Xenon Flashes is due to the lower power
consumption needed by the LED
Lithium-ion is used in the
construction of many mobile phone batteries
(LBS)
Location-Based Services refers to a broad
range of services that are based on (or enhanced by) information about the
physical location of a user and/or device.
Typical location-based services for consumers might include real-time
turn-by-turn directions, the location of the nearest gas station or motel, or
social networking services.
What makes the service location-based is that it knows your location
automatically, without entering a zip code, for example.
Location-based services can also be business-oriented.
Location-based services are typically made available to the user via a WAP site,
or downloadable software (Java, BREW, Symbian, etc.). They can also be made
available in some cases via voice or text messaging.
Some location-based services report location to a third party, such as parents
tracking the location of children, or businesses tracking a fleet of vehicles.
Location-based services require several components.
First, the network must specifically support it. US carriers have generally been
required to do most of this work already to meet FCC requirements for E-911
Phase II.
Second, certain types of position-location technology, such as GPS and A-GPS,
require that technology to be built into the phone circuitry as well.
Those two requirements are generally enough for WAP- voice- or SMS-based
services. But for software-based solutions, the phone or other end-user device
must also support specific APIs that make location information available to the
software.
A standard that allows many newer phones
with USB connections to transfer files between the phone and a PC without any
special drivers or software on the PC.
See: USB
In mass storage mode, the phone appears as a disk on the computer when connected
via USB, just like a keychain USB flash drive. Files can be moved to and from
the phone simply by dragging and dropping files on the computer. Many phones
require that this mode be enabled using a settings menu.
MB is an acronym for
Megabyte. A megabyte is a measurement of memory storage. A typical MP3 music
track uses approximately 5MB of storage while a 3 minute video uses around 35MB
of storage.
A megapixel is equivalent
to one million pixels. The higher resolution a camera has the more pixels in the
image and the clearer the picture will be.
A memory expansion slot on
a phone allows you to increase the memory capacity on your phone by the addition
of a memory card. Common card formats used on a phone include Micro SD and M2.
A standard type of USB connector, often found on
phones, for connecting phones to computers and other devices.
The most common use is connecting a phone to a computer, although some phones
support charging via USB and/or connecting the phone directly to a printer.
See: USB
There is also a larger type of standard connector called Mini-USB, which is
older and less popular on newer phones.
See: Mini-USB
A standard type of USB connector, often found on
phones, for connecting phones to computers and other devices.
The most common use is connecting a phone to a computer, although some phones
support charging via USB and/or connecting the phone directly to a printer.
Some phones also have a proprietary way to support audio (for headsets) via this
connector as well.
Mini-USB is a larger type of connector. The smaller Micro-USB connector had
become more popular on newer phones.
See: USB
See: Micro-USB
Mobile Broadband is a
common term used to indicate high speed data access on a mobile phone. Normally
the use of mobile broadband indicates the presence of HSDPA on a phone or USB
modem
Modes
Many phones are advertised as being "tri-mode"
or "dual-band", etc. These refer to the combination of technologies and
frequency bands the phone supports.
Examples of modes include "CDMA 1900", "GSM 900", and "AMPS 850". There are many
other combinations. The first part is the technology, while the number
represents the frequency band.
For example, a phone that supports AMPS 850, CDMA 850, and CDMA 1900 is
"tri-mode". It could also be called "dual-band", although that's not common for
that specific type of phone.
Conversely, a phone that supports GSM 850, GSM 900, GSM 1800, and GSM 1900 could
be called "quad-mode", although the term "quad-band" is more common.
CDMA, GSM, and WCDMA are all current digital technologies. TDMA is an old
digital technology, and AMPS is an even older analog technology.
See: CDMA
See: GSM
See: WCDMA
Modes in the 850, 1900, or 1700 bands are used in the US. Modes in the 900,
1800, and 2100 bands are for use overseas.
MP3 is a shorter way of
saying MPEG Layer-3. MPEG stands for Moving Pictures Expert Group, and refers to
the experts who defined MPEG audio technology. MP3 allows digital audio files to
be highly compressed whilst retaining an acceptable level of audio quality
Languages other than US English that the
phone can be set to display its menus and text in.
This means that an individual entry in the
Phone Book can contain more than one phone number, such as Office, Home, Mobile,
Fax, etc.
This is different from grouping, which lets you create group entries in
the phone book, such as Office, Family, Food, etc.
(Operating System)
The "core" software that controls the
basic operation of an electronic device. Examples include Windows and Mac OS for
PCs, and Windows Mobile and S60 for mobile devices.
More advanced OS platforms for mobile devices, such as S60, Windows Mobile, and
Android, allow full software applications to run on top of the OS, such as
games, organizer applications, and communication applications.
Standardized OS platforms also provide a consistent user interface (UI) across
devices from different hardware manufacturers.
A method of transferring data by breaking
it up into small chunks called packets. Packet data is how most data travels
over the Internet, and, in recent years, over cell phone networks as well.
With packet-switched data, each user only consumes network resources when they
are actually transferring data. This is often superior to circuit-switched data,
where an open data connection must be maintained, which uses network resources
even when idle (like standard voice connections.)
Packet-switched is the more modern type, and usually faster.
In a mobile phone, data is used for functions involving the Internet, as well as
most kinds of streaming video and audio.
There are many different types of packet data for mobile phones, with different
maximum speeds.
PC Sync allows the user to connect the
phone to a computer with a cable and synchronize calendar and contact
information between the phone and a computer application such as Outlook.
Sync is short for synchronize.
(Personal Communications Services)
1. The FCC-licensed frequency band near
1900 MHz.
2. A marketing term used to describe a wide variety of two-way digital wireless
service offerings operating at 1900 MHz.
A technology that allows direct connection
from a digital camera or camera phone (camera device) to a printer for printing
photos, without the need for a PC.
The connection generally requires a USB cable between the camera device and the
printer.
Both the camera device and the printer must specifically support PictBridge. No
other software or hardware is required aside from the USB cable.
See: USB
(POP3)
Post Office Protocol
An Internet protocol used to download messages from an email server to an email
client (usually email software running on a PC or mobile device).
POP3 is the most common email-downloading protocol. IMAP is a newer alternative
to POP, and there are proprietary protocols as well, such as Outlook/Exchange
and BlackBerry.
See: IMAP
Mobile
phone service with no credit check, no contract and no monthly bills - all calls
must be paid for in advance, as opposed to contract phones.
See:
Contract
PUK stands for Pin
Unblocking Key and is the security code used by networks to protect their
customers SIM card if the wrong pin is entered three times. If your mobile phone
requests a PUK code then you need to contact your operator and answer some
security questions to unlock your phone. Repeatedly entering the wrong PUK will
permanently lock your SIM card requiring it to be returned to the network for
reactivation.
"Push" is a general term that refers to
technologies that allow a central system (such as the mobile phone network) to
send ("push") information spontaneously and quickly to an end-user (perhaps via
their mobile device), without action on the part of the user or mobile device.
Email is a good example of a technology that can be "push" - or not - on a
mobile device.
With push email, emails are "pushed" directly to the mobile device as soon as
the email server receives them.
Email is not "push" if the user has to manually check for new email, or if the
mobile device has to check the server for new email at regular intervals.
SMS (text messaging) is inherently a "push" technology.
Mobile web (WAP) content can also be pushed to mobile devices, although this is
not as common.
Quad band means four
bands, and refers to handsets that operate on all four of the GSM transmitting
frequencies.
QVGA is the common
resolution for mobile phone displays, and refers to a resolution size of 320 x
240 pixels. A VGA display is 640 x 480 pixels, and QVGA is a quarter of the
resolution, Quarter VGA. Confusion can set in as 320 x 240 is half the number of
640 x 480, the actual pixel count is gained by multiplying these numbers.
Therefore a QVGA display is 76,800 pixels, as opposed to a VGA display which is
307,200 pixels.
QWERTY is a standard layout for letter keys on
text keyboards and thumboards. Originally created for typewriters, it is
currently the layout found on most english-language computer keyboards. It is
named for the order of the first six keys on the top row, which happen to form a
pronounceable word.
On phones, the keys are usually much smaller and closer together. This means
they cannot be used with two full hands like full-size keyboard, but rather are
designed to be used with two thumbs while holding the phone. Even traditional
touch-typing is not possible on a phone's small QWERTY keyboard, the familiar
layout makes it easier to find the correct letter among a large number of keys.
Ringer Profiles allow the 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.
This feature is useful because many phones offer a very large array of
ringer options. Different ringer options, (including tones, melodies, vibrate,
flashing lights, or any combination thereof,) may be applied to incoming calls,
incoming SMS, service status, incoming Wireless Internet push messages, alarms,
etc. In addition, some phones allow different ringers to be used for incoming
roaming calls, calls from numbers in the phone book, and even different ringers
for individual numbers in the phone book.
With all of those options, profiles make it easy to create sets of settings that
are appropriate for various situations, including work, home, public, etc.
The ability to use a
mobile phone outside the carrier’s service area or abroad.
RSS (Really Simple
Syndication) is a standard file format used to publish frequently updated
content such as news, sports updates, and blogs. An RSS feed can contain either
just the headlines or the full content of a document or page, and is read using
either a browser such as Firefox or a dedicated RSS reader. An RSS reader
aggregates feeds from a variety of sites and regularly checks for new updates so
that the user does not have to visit each site individually to check for new
content.
S40 refers to the Series
40 software used in certain Nokia handsets
S60 refers to the Series
60 operating system used in Nokia Smartphone’s
SAR (Specific Absorption
Rate) measures how much radio frequency energy/ electromagnetic radiation is
absorbed by the body. Mobile phones emit low levels of electromagnetic
radiation, as do televisions, computers, microwaves etc. Each mobile phone has a
SAR rating which is the maximum amount of electromagnetic radiation it emits
which can absorbed by your body when you're using the phone; the higher the
phone's SAR rating, the higher the amount of radiation that could be absorbed.
All mobile phones on sale throughout the EU are designed to comply with the
International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection's recommendation
of a SAR limit of 2w/kg (watts per kilogram). You can check the SAR rating of
your mobile phone in your phone's instruction manual or on the manufacturer's
website.
Side Keys are simply buttons on the side
of the phone, designed to be used by your fingertips while holding the phone in
your hand - one-handed operation.
Many phones have up/down keys or switches that can be used to adjust volume and
scroll through menu options. Some also have a "Select" or "OK" button. Some also
have a dedicated Voice-Memo key on the side.
A Smartphone is generally
defined by a handset that has an 'open' operating system. This means the handset
can increase its functionality with the addition of third party software. A
Smartphone generally runs Symbian, UIQ or Windows Mobile operating systems
(Short Message Service)
SMS is a feature available with practically all modern mobile phone
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