Third Generation (3G)
The next wave of multimedia mobiles. Facilitates high speed data transfer rates, enabling video calling, video downloads, fast web access and other sophisticated, high-tech services on a mobile. Uses WCDMA technology (see below). 3 was the UK’s first Third Generation mobile network.
RF
Radio Frequency. Terms used to describe the signal transmitted or received by a mobile.
Roaming
Using your mobile on networks other than the one to which you pay your line rental – usually abroad. All UK networks offer international roaming, which is available in over 140 countries – though number of roaming agreements vary between network operators.
SIM
Subscriber Identity Module. The smart card used in digital phones. It carries the user’s identity for accessing the network and receiving calls and stores personal information, such as a phonebook and received SMS messages.
SMS
Short Message Service. Two-way text messaging service which is offered on all UK networks. Messages of up to 160 characters can be sent between phones on any network. Longer messages can be sent on some handsets.
Bluetooth
Specification for short-range wireless connectivity that enables wire-free connections (via a radio link) between a wide range of communications devices including mobiles and laptops.
CDMA
Code Division Multiple Access. Digital cellular standard used in Japan and parts of the Far East and the USA. Uses coding of digital segments of calls to enable them to use vacant channels over a broad range of frequencies.
CLI
Calling Line Identification. Services in which the number of a caller can be accessed by the recipient. The 1471 service offered free to BT customers is one of these – as is the caller display service provided to mobile phone users.
Coverage
The area in which a mobile phone can make or receive calls. Coverage is usually expressed by networks as a percentage of the resident population who could use mobiles outside their own homes. Geographic coverage, therefore, is far inferior to this ‘by population’ figure.
Dual-band
All new UK phones are now duel band, able to switch between GSM 1800 and GSM900 frequencies. Vodafone and 02 utilise dual-band capabilities in the UK by using 1800MHz bandwidth to solve capacity problems on their 900MHz networks. Phones that can switch between GSM900 and GSM1900 operation, for use by travellers to America, are also available.
Dual-mode
Phone that can operate using two different standards. Dual-mode digital/analogue mobile phones are available in the US. Dual-mode 3G/GSM phones are now available.
SMTP
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol, used for sending email messages between servers. Used with both POP3 and IMAP Internet email retrieval protocols.
Softkey
Mobile phone button, which changes its function depending on what you’re doing with the phone. Its current function highlighted using a keyword immediately above the button on the phone’s LCD screen helps in simplifying the use of mobile phones and speeds up menu navigation.
Standby Time
The number of hours a fully charged battery will keep a mobile phone running without making or receiving any calls.
T9
Predictive text input system. Designed to make text message writing easier by ‘guessing’ what you’re writing as you go along, reducing the key presses required.
EMS
Enhanced Messaging Service. System evolved from simple SMS text messaging, allowing basic graphics and tunes to be sent to other EMS-equipped mobiles alongside text messages.
GPS
Global Positioning System. Satellite-based radio positioning system capable of providing specific location information to suitably equipped users anywhere on earth.
GPRS
General Packet Radio Service. A data communications upgrade for GSM networks, enabling a (theoretical) maximum data rate of up to 115Kbps.
GSM
Global System for Mobile communications. A digital cellular communications standard used in Europe and elsewhere around the world. The standard is used in four frequency bands 850M Hz, 900MHz, 1 800M Hz, and 1 900MHz.
Talktime
The number of minutes/hours of continuous speech (whether incoming or outgoing call) that a fully charged battery will last for.
TDMA
Time Division Multiple Access. A processing system used by digital mobiles that allows several handsets in the area to use the same frequency. Each conversation is allocated its own time slot – you actually only hear the conversation for a fraction of each second, but as the signal intervals are small, these gaps are imperceptible to the people having the conversation.
Telematics
Wireless communication systems designed for collection and dissemination of data, which can be used in mobile telephony, vehicle tracking, positioning, online navigation and information services and emergency assistance.
Tri-band
Triple-band phones can operate on three GSM frequency bands: the GSM900 and GSM1 800 frequencies used is over 150 countries worldwide, plus the GSM 1900 frequency band that’s increasingly being adopted in the USA, Canada and some parts of South America.
UMTS
Universal Mobile Telecommunications Systems. Third Generation mobile communications standard offering voice, data and multimedia applications. The eventual successor to GSM, the first UMTS network in the UK, 3, launched in 2003. See IMT-2000.
Voice recognition
A facility now offered by many handsets that enables call to be made by using voice commands rather than punching in numbers. Users can program the memory to store and identify names spoken into the handset and call numbers associated with them. Voice commands can now also be used to access menu options.
GSM900
GSM network operating in the 900MHz band – as used by O2 and Vodafone in the UK, and by more than 150 countries around the world.
GSM1800
GSM network operating in the 1800MHz band – as used by Orange and T-Mobile in the UK, and by a relatively small but growing number of countries around the world.
GSM1900
GSM network operating in the l 900MHz band. Used in parts of the USA, Canada and South America.
HSCSD
High Speed Circuit Switched Data. This enhancement to GSM networks enables data speeds to be boosted form 9.6Kbps up to 57.6Kbps, by combining timeslots. In the UK only offered by Orange.
IMEI
International Mobile Equipment Identity. A unique serial number for digital mobile phones used to identify them. Press *#06# on your mobile to display your phone’s IMEI.
IMT – 2000
International Mobile Telecommunications-2000. The ITU’s concept of a ‘family’ of compatible third generation mobile technologies. UMTS is the European member of the IMT-2000 ‘family’.
Java / J2ME
Java is an open standard programming language and software platform to run software applications on different devices. J2ME (Micro Edition) is the version of the Java 2 platform used for smaller devices with limited memory such as mobile phones and PDAs, which allows users to download the applications they want to customize their device. Potential applications are numerous and can include interactive games, browsers, travel information / maps, business management tools or stock tickers. Many mobiles with java onboard are now available. Users can download new applications into their mobiles over the air or via the web.
MMS
Multimedia Messaging Service. Latest development in mobile messaging, allowing colour images, graphics and audio files to be sent with text messages. MMS messages can be sent to other suitably equipped mobiles or via email addresses and can also be picked up by non-MMS phone users on the Internet. Some MMS mobiles have built-in cameras.
PC card/PCMCIA card
Small accessory that allows you to connect a suitable digital mobile phone with a laptop, for transmitting/receiving faxes and digital files.
PDA
Personal Digital Assistant. A personal organiser allowing you to store information and to use simple computer programs. Also known as a palmtop computer. The Nokia 9210 is a PDA with a built-in mobile phone.
POP3
Post Office Protocol 3. A standard protocol for receiving email, which is held for users on an Internet mail server run by the Internet service provider (lSP). An email client – built into some mobile phones – can check and download emails from this server. IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) is an alternative protocol.
Voicemail
Mobile service provided by all networks that records a message form a caller for you when you can’t or don’t want to answer a call.
WAP
Wireless Application Protocol. A standard that enables WAP-compatible mobile phones to access internet-type, text-based services such as email, news, travel, entertainment, finance, sport, etc. Also used as the bearer technology for advanced features such as MMS.
WCDMA
Wideband Code Division Multiple Access. An air interface standard, which enables Third Generation mobile phones to support new broadband, high-speed multimedia services such as video calling, downloadable video content and fast web access (see UMTS).
Pre-pay/Pay-as-you-go
Term used for no-contract, no rental charge services where you buy credit ‘vouchers’ in advance for calls.
Push-T0-Talk
An instant communication, walkie-talkie type service for mobile phones, growing in the US and expected to be launched in the UK soon. Allows users in registered groups to be contacted directly and instantly by other users via an ‘always-on’ connection, at the push of a button rather than having to dial up a number.
Quad-band
A quad-band phone can be used on four GSM frequency bands – the GSM900 GSM 1800 bands used in over 150 worldwide, plus the GSM 1900 and newer GSM850 bands used in the USA, Canada and parts of South America.
Third Generation (3G)
The next wave of multimedia mobiles. Facilitates high speed data transfer rates, enabling video calling, video downloads, fast web access and other sophisticated, high-tech services on a mobile. Uses WCDMA technology (see below). 3 was the UK’s first Third Generation mobile network.
RF
Radio Frequency. Terms used to describe the signal transmitted or received by a mobile.
Roaming
Using your mobile on networks other than the one to which you pay your line rental – usually abroad. All UK networks offer international roaming, which is available in over 140 countries – though number of roaming agreements vary between network operators.
SIM
Subscriber Identity Module. The smart card used in digital phones. It carries the user’s identity for accessing the network and receiving calls and stores personal information, such as a phonebook and received SMS messages.
SMS
Short Message Service. Two-way text messaging service which is offered on all UK networks. Messages of up to 160 characters can be sent between phones on any network. Longer messages can be sent on some handsets.
Bluetooth
Specification for short-range wireless connectivity that enables wire-free connections (via a radio link) between a wide range of communications devices including mobiles and laptops.
CDMA
Code Division Multiple Access. Digital cellular standard used in Japan and parts of the Far East and the USA. Uses coding of digital segments of calls to enable them to use vacant channels over a broad range of frequencies.
CLI
Calling Line Identification. Services in which the number of a caller can be accessed by the recipient. The 1471 service offered free to BT customers is one of these – as is the caller display service provided to mobile phone users.
Coverage
The area in which a mobile phone can make or receive calls. Coverage is usually expressed by networks as a percentage of the resident population who could use mobiles outside their own homes. Geographic coverage, therefore, is far inferior to this ‘by population’ figure.
Dual-band
All new UK phones are now duel band, able to switch between GSM 1800 and GSM900 frequencies. Vodafone and 02 utilise dual-band capabilities in the UK by using 1800MHz bandwidth to solve capacity problems on their 900MHz networks. Phones that can switch between GSM900 and GSM1900 operation, for use by travellers to America, are also available.
Dual-mode
Phone that can operate using two different standards. Dual-mode digital/analogue mobile phones are available in the US. Dual-mode 3G/GSM phones are now available.
SMTP
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol, used for sending email messages between servers. Used with both POP3 and IMAP Internet email retrieval protocols.
Softkey
Mobile phone button, which changes its function depending on what you’re doing with the phone. Its current function highlighted using a keyword immediately above the button on the phone’s LCD screen helps in simplifying the use of mobile phones and speeds up menu navigation.
Standby Time
The number of hours a fully charged battery will keep a mobile phone running without making or receiving any calls.
T9
Predictive text input system. Designed to make text message writing easier by ‘guessing’ what you’re writing as you go along, reducing the key presses required.
EMS
Enhanced Messaging Service. System evolved from simple SMS text messaging, allowing basic graphics and tunes to be sent to other EMS-equipped mobiles alongside text messages.
GPS
Global Positioning System. Satellite-based radio positioning system capable of providing specific location information to suitably equipped users anywhere on earth.
GPRS
General Packet Radio Service. A data communications upgrade for GSM networks, enabling a (theoretical) maximum data rate of up to 115Kbps.
GSM
Global System for Mobile communications. A digital cellular communications standard used in Europe and elsewhere around the world. The standard is used in four frequency bands 850M Hz, 900MHz, 1 800M Hz, and 1 900MHz.
Talktime
The number of minutes/hours of continuous speech (whether incoming or outgoing call) that a fully charged battery will last for.
TDMA
Time Division Multiple Access. A processing system used by digital mobiles that allows several handsets in the area to use the same frequency. Each conversation is allocated its own time slot – you actually only hear the conversation for a fraction of each second, but as the signal intervals are small, these gaps are imperceptible to the people having the conversation.
Telematics
Wireless communication systems designed for collection and dissemination of data, which can be used in mobile telephony, vehicle tracking, positioning, online navigation and information services and emergency assistance.
Tri-band
Triple-band phones can operate on three GSM frequency bands: the GSM900 and GSM1 800 frequencies used is over 150 countries worldwide, plus the GSM 1900 frequency band that’s increasingly being adopted in the USA, Canada and some parts of South America.
UMTS
Universal Mobile Telecommunications Systems. Third Generation mobile communications standard offering voice, data and multimedia applications. The eventual successor to GSM, the first UMTS network in the UK, 3, launched in 2003. See IMT-2000.
Voice recognition
A facility now offered by many handsets that enables call to be made by using voice commands rather than punching in numbers. Users can program the memory to store and identify names spoken into the handset and call numbers associated with them. Voice commands can now also be used to access menu options.
GSM900
GSM network operating in the 900MHz band – as used by O2 and Vodafone in the UK, and by more than 150 countries around the world.
GSM1800
GSM network operating in the 1800MHz band – as used by Orange and T-Mobile in the UK, and by a relatively small but growing number of countries around the world.
GSM1900
GSM network operating in the l 900MHz band. Used in parts of the USA, Canada and South America.
HSCSD
High Speed Circuit Switched Data. This enhancement to GSM networks enables data speeds to be boosted form 9.6Kbps up to 57.6Kbps, by combining timeslots. In the UK only offered by Orange.
IMEI
International Mobile Equipment Identity. A unique serial number for digital mobile phones used to identify them. Press *#06# on your mobile to display your phone’s IMEI.
IMT – 2000
International Mobile Telecommunications-2000. The ITU’s concept of a ‘family’ of compatible third generation mobile technologies. UMTS is the European member of the IMT-2000 ‘family’.
Java / J2ME
Java is an open standard programming language and software platform to run software applications on different devices. J2ME (Micro Edition) is the version of the Java 2 platform used for smaller devices with limited memory such as mobile phones and PDAs, which allows users to download the applications they want to customize their device. Potential applications are numerous and can include interactive games, browsers, travel information / maps, business management tools or stock tickers. Many mobiles with java onboard are now available. Users can download new applications into their mobiles over the air or via the web.
MMS
Multimedia Messaging Service. Latest development in mobile messaging, allowing colour images, graphics and audio files to be sent with text messages. MMS messages can be sent to other suitably equipped mobiles or via email addresses and can also be picked up by non-MMS phone users on the Internet. Some MMS mobiles have built-in cameras.
PC card/PCMCIA card
Small accessory that allows you to connect a suitable digital mobile phone with a laptop, for transmitting/receiving faxes and digital files.
PDA
Personal Digital Assistant. A personal organiser allowing you to store information and to use simple computer programs. Also known as a palmtop computer. The Nokia 9210 is a PDA with a built-in mobile phone.
POP3
Post Office Protocol 3. A standard protocol for receiving email, which is held for users on an Internet mail server run by the Internet service provider (lSP). An email client – built into some mobile phones – can check and download emails from this server. IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) is an alternative protocol.
Voicemail
Mobile service provided by all networks that records a message form a caller for you when you can’t or don’t want to answer a call.
WAP
Wireless Application Protocol. A standard that enables WAP-compatible mobile phones to access internet-type, text-based services such as email, news, travel, entertainment, finance, sport, etc. Also used as the bearer technology for advanced features such as MMS.
WCDMA
Wideband Code Division Multiple Access. An air interface standard, which enables Third Generation mobile phones to support new broadband, high-speed multimedia services such as video calling, downloadable video content and fast web access (see UMTS).
Pre-pay/Pay-as-you-go
Term used for no-contract, no rental charge services where you buy credit ‘vouchers’ in advance for calls.
Push-T0-Talk
An instant communication, walkie-talkie type service for mobile phones, growing in the US and expected to be launched in the UK soon. Allows users in registered groups to be contacted directly and instantly by other users via an ‘always-on’ connection, at the push of a button rather than having to dial up a number.
Quad-band
A quad-band phone can be used on four GSM frequency bands – the GSM900 GSM 1800 bands used in over 150 worldwide, plus the GSM 1900 and newer GSM850 bands used in the USA, Canada and parts of South America.