|
Term |
Description |
Source |
|
2G |
Second generation of mobile wireless, which utilizes various digital protocols, including GSM, CDMA, TDMA, iDEN, and PDC. |
Mobile Operations Association (MOA) |
|
3G |
Third generation of mobile technology used to describe the next generation of mobile technology. |
Mobile Operations Association (MOA) |
|
4G |
Fourth generation of technology that describes a future rollout of signals that will allow for IP based wireless networks,
allowing cell phones to use very high bandwidth networks for voice and data transmission |
Wikipedia |
|
Aircard |
An aircard is a device for a laptop, PDA or cell phone that allows the user to connect to wide area wireless Internet access |
About.com |
|
Analog |
When used in reference to data storage and transmission, analog format is that in which information is transmitted by modulating
a continuous transmission signal, such as amplifying a signal's strength or varying its frequency to add or take away data |
Webopedia |
|
Bandwidth |
The amount of data that can be transmitted in a fixed amount of time. For digital services, the bandwidth is usually expressed
in bits per second (bps) or bytes per second. |
Webopedia |
|
BlackBerry |
A mobile device from Research in Motion (RIM) that can receive and transmit email. |
Webopedia |
|
Carrier |
A company offering telephone and data communications between points in a state or in one or more countries. |
Webopedia |
|
CDMA |
Code Division Multiple Access; a digital means of dividing a cellular frequency by applying a certain encryption to each
conversation, instead of using just one channel per conversation, allowing a certain cell to service more customers |
Webopedia |
|
Cell |
A cell is a particular geographical area covered by cellular telephone transmitters within certain frequencies.
The transmitter facility itself is called the cell site |
Webopedia |
|
Cellular |
Refers to communication systems that divide a geographic region into sections, called cells. The purpose of this division is
to make the most use out of a limited number of transmission frequencies. Each connection, or conversation, requires its own
dedicated frequency |
Webopedia |
|
Channel |
A small division of a larger range of frequencies. Each channel can carry different information to for receivers tuning into a
specific channel without interference from other channels on the frequency range. |
Wikipedia |
|
CL - Corporate Liable |
Corporate Liable; a type of account that is in a corporation’s name that has certain benefits negotiated by the company. |
Amtel |
|
E911 |
Enhanced 911, a location technology advanced by the FCC that will enable mobile phones to process 911 emergency calls and enable
emergency services to locate the geographic position of the caller. |
Webopedia |
|
EDGE |
Acronym for Enhanced Data GSM Environment. EDGE is a faster version of GSM wireless service. EDGE enables data to be delivered at
rates up to 384 Kbps on a broadband. The standard is based on the GSM standard and uses TDMA multiplexing technology. |
Webopedia |
|
EVDO |
Evolution Data Optimized; a 3G technology used by CDMA carriers to increase data transfer speeds. |
Webopedia |
|
FCC |
Federal Communications Commission; a United States government agency in charge of regulating all non-federal government use of
radio frequencies for communications. |
Webopedia |
|
Full duplex |
Refers to the transmission of data in two directions simultaneously. In regards to cell phones, full duplex capabilities mean
that both ends of a conversation can transmit and receive at the same time. |
Webopedia |
|
GSM |
Global System for Mobile communications, a 2G technology used by AT&T and T-Mobile in the US. This is also the standard
mandated in Western Europe. |
Wikipedia |
|
HSPA |
High Speed Packet Access; a 3G technology used by GSM carriers to increase transfer speeds beyond was is currently possible
with EDGE. |
Wikipedia |
|
PDA |
Personal digital assistants (PDAs) are handheld computers, but have become much more versatile over
the years. PDAs are also known as pocket computers or palmtop computers. |
Wikipedia |
|
Roaming |
Roaming is a general term in wireless telecommunications that refers to the extending of connectivity service in a location that is
different from the home location where the service was registered. |
Wikipedia |
|
SIM |
Subscriber Identity Module; a small card that contains the cellular information for a cell phone line. The card inserted into a
GSM phone to provide the information for the phone to communicate with the wireless network. |
Webopedia |
|
SMS |
Abbreviated as SMS, the transmission of short text messages to and from a mobile phone, fax machine and/or IP address. Messages
must be no longer than 160 alpha-numeric characters and contain no images or graphics. |
Webopedia |
|
TDMA |
Short for Time Division Multiple Access, a technology for delivering digital wireless service using time-division multiplexing (TDM).
TDMA works by dividing a radio frequency into time slots and then allocating slots to multiple calls. In this way, a single
frequency can support multiple, simultaneous data channels. TDMA is used by the GSM digital cellular system |
Webopedia |
|
UMB |
Ultra Mobile Broadband; the brand name for the project to improve the CDMA mobile phone standard for next generation applications
and requirements using 4G tchnology. The system may provide peak rates of up to 280 Mbit/s. |
Wikipedia |
|
UMTS |
Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) is one of the third-generation (3G) cell phone technologies. Currently, the
most common form uses W-CDMA as the underlying air interface, is standardized by the 3GPP, and is the European answer to the ITU
IMT-2000 requirements for 3G cellular radio systems |
Wikipedia |
|
W-CDMA |
Wide-band CDMA; a 3G technology that increases data transmission rates in GSM systems by using the CDMA air interface instead of
TDMA. WCDMA is based on CDMA and is the technology used in UMTS |
Wikipedia |
|
WiMAX |
Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, is a telecommunications technology aimed at providing wireless data over long
distances in a variety of ways, from point-to-point links to full mobile cellular type access. |
Wikipedia |
