Glossary

GLOSSARY

Term	Description
3G	3G refers to the third-generation of mobile phone networks that allow high-speed data access as well as voice communication.
4G	4G search for term 4G stands for fourth generation and refers to mobile networks with superfast data download speeds - up to 10x faster than current 3G networks.
A-GPS	(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.
A2DP	Advanced Audio Distribution Profile A Bluetooth profile (mode) for streaming audio, such as from a music phone to headphones. Compared to profiles such as Headset and Handsfree, A2DP supports stereo audio, and is one-way instead of two-way.
AAC	Short for Advanced Audio Coding. AAC is a file format for music and other audio content. It is commonly used on the Internet, on PCs, and on portable devices, including dedicated music players and phones with music player functionality. AAC is a newer alternative to MP3. Compared to MP3, AAC is designed to have better sound quality with smaller file sizes (requiring less memory). AAC is also designed to work with DRM technologies that control how the music files can be played and/or shared to enforce copyrights. Newer and better versions include AAC+ and AAC++.
Accelerometer	An electronic component that measures tilt and motion. A device with an accelerometer knows what angle it is being held at. It can also measure movements such as rotation, and motion gestures such as swinging, shaking, and flicking. One common use in phones it to detect whether the phone is upright or sideways, and automatically rotate the graphics on the screen accordingly. Another common use is controlling games and other applications (such as music player) by moving or shaking the phone.
Activation	Activation is making a phone active on a cell phone network. It is the process that links a specific cell phone to a specific customer account and phone number. It requires configuration on the network side, for the network to recognize that specific phone as belonging to that customer. It may also require configuration on the phone itself. This may be automated to some extent, or it may require following special instructions to enter specific codes into menus that are normally hidden. Activating a phone is generally specific to CDMA phones. GSM phones do not need to be activated.
Adjustable Text Size	The ability to adjust the size of text displayed on the screen. Larger text is easier to read from a distance, at a glance, and without glasses (for those that wear them.) Smaller text may allow more text fit on the screen at one time (although this depends on the phone and is not always the case.) Not all phones have an option to adjust text size. Of those that do, many only allow it to be changed for certain functions. For example, a phone might allow you to set the text to be larger on the dialing screen, in messaging, and in the browser, but not for caller-ID, the contact list, or other menus. Only some phones allow all or most of the text to be made larger.
AFLT	Advanced Forward Link Trilateration. A type of handset-based position location technology. Unlike A-GPS, AFLT does not use GPS satellites to determine location. To determine location, the phone takes measurements of signals from nearby cellular base stations (towers) and reports the time/distance readings back to the network, which are then used to triangulate an approximate location of the handset. In general, at least three surrounding base stations are required to get an optimal position fix.
Airtime	Time spent communicating using a mobile phone. The time is tracked by wireless carriers (service providers) to determine billing charges. Usage includes sending or receiving calls and other wireless transmission such as faxes, e-mail or data files. Most carriers charge for a whole minute even if only part of a minute is used.
Alarm Clock	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.
Alphanumeric	A string of characters containing both letters (A-Z) and numbers (0-9), or a text entry field that will accept both letters and numbers.
AMOLED	AMOLED is one of two types of OLED display. The AM (active-matrix) type has a transistor next to each pixel, allowing faster response time. This makes AMOLED suitable for displaying video, and is therefore the most common type of OLED display for a main phone display.
AMPS	The analog wireless transmission standard (technology) deployed in the 1980s in the United States. AMPS operated only in the Cellular frequency band (800 / 850 MHz). AMPS used more battery power and emitted more radiation than newer digital technology. Digital technologies also have generally better sound quality, and provide many more features, from messaging to high-speed data.
AMR	AMR is an advanced voice codec for GSM. A voice codec translates sound (voice) into digital data and vice-versa. AMR is more efficient than older codecs such as FR, EFR, and HR. Increased efficiency provides increased network capacity as more phones with AMR are deployed. Increased network capacity means more people can use each tower at the same time, reducing failed/dropped calls. AMR gains efficiency by being "adaptive". Unlike older standards, AMR automatically operates in different modes depending on signal conditions, and continuously adjusts to match the sounds being transmitted. AMR is used automatically whenever both the phone and the base station (tower) support it. Nearly all new GSM phones support AMR.
Analog Roaming	Many current digital (2G & 3G) phones also feature the ability to roam on older analog (1G) networks. Analog networks typically have greater coverage than digital networks. Therefore, phones with analog roaming can use analog networks in many rural areas where digital service is not available. Analog roaming, while useful in urgent situations, has several drawbacks compared to digital service: it is often more expensive, emits more radiation, sound quality is far less than digital, and certain features, such as caller-ID and data services, do not work with analog.
Android	Android is the name of a smartphone operating system (OS) developed by Google and used in a variety of handsets.
Bluetooth	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 sc
Bandwidth	Bandwidth is the width or capacity of a communications channel that determines your internet connection speed.
CDMA	CDMA s a digital radio system that underpins a mobile phone network standard developed by Qualcomm.
CTIA	The Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association is an international trade body representing the mobile wireless industry.
Dual-band	A dual-band mobile phone operates across two separate radio frequencies.
Dual-mode	Dual-mode refers to a handset that can send and receive voice and data using two different cellular radio standards.
EDGE	EDGE is a faster version of the GSM mobile phone radio standard.
EDR	EDR is a part of the Bluetooth wireless networking standard.
FCC	FCC stands for the Federal Communications Commission, which is an independent agency of the US government.
Flight Mode	Flight Mode is a setting for mobile phones and other portable devices that switches off all wireless activity.
Frequency	Measured in Megahertz (MHz), frequency refers to the number of times per second at which an electromagnetic wave oscillates.
GSM	GSM stands for Global System for Mobile Communication and is the most popular 2G mobile phone standard in the world.
GPRS	GPRS stands for General Packet Radio Service and was the first popular data standard for mobile phones.
Handsfree	A handsfree device allow you to use a mobile phone without holding it.
Haptic	Haptic feedback allows users to feel a response to their inputs e.g. a mild vibration when you touch a letter while texting.
Headset	Headsets are headphones combined with a microphone, providing the ability to talk handsfree.
HSDPA	HSDPA stands for High Speed Downlink Packet Access and refers to a standard for downloading data quickly on a mobile phone.
HSUPA	HSUPA stands for for High Speed Uplink Packet Access.
IMAP	IMAP is one of the most popular email formats currently in use, it stands for stands for Internet Message Access Protocol.
IMEI	IMEI stands for International Mobile Equipment Identity number, it is the unique ID number assigned to every modern mobile phone.
Iris recognition	Iris recognition is an automated method of biometric identification that uses mathematical pattern-recognition techniques on video images of one or both of the irises of an individuals eyes, whose complex random patterns are unique, stable, and can be seen from some distance
Java	Java is a programming language.
J2ME	J2ME is a stripped-down version of the Java programming language, designed to work on mobile phones.
KB	KB (Kilobyte) is a measure of digital storage.
KBPS	Kbps means kilobits per second. It is a unit and measure of speed of data transfer
Lithium Ion	Lithium Ion is a type of rechargeable battery used in mobile phones.
LTE	A 4G mobile communications standard. Users of the LTE network should see data speeds that are up to 10 times faster than the 3G network.
mAh	mAh is a unit of electric charge used in measurements of electrochemical systems such as batteries.
MB	MB stands for Mega Byte and is a measurement of electronic data.
Mbps	Mbps is a measure of data transfer, it stands for Megabit per second.
MHz	MHz is the acronym for Megahertz. This measures the speed of microprocessors.
MicroSD	MicroSD is a type of removable flash memory card often used in mobile phones.
MIDP	MIDP stands for Mobile Information Device Profile, which allows an individual to write downloadable applications and services for mobile devices.
MiniUSB	Used for charging power, the MiniUSB is a hybrid electrical connector found on mobile phones.
Network	A network is a telephone company that provides services for mobile phone subscribers e.g. 3, Vodafone etc.
OLED	A type of display, OLED stands for Organic Light Emitting Diodes.
OS	OS stands for Operating System - software on a mobile phone that manages the way different programs use its hardware.
OTG	(USB On-The-Go) An enhancement to the Universal Serial Bus (USB) that enables portable devices to be cabled together via USB without a computer in between.
Platform	A mobile platform is also described as an OS or operating system.
Polyphonic ringtone	Polyphonic ringtones are different sounds you can set as ringtones.
Roaming	Roaming is when a mobile phone moves out of its network region and attaches to different networks in order to resume service.
SMS	SMS is the process of sending a text message over a wireless network from one mobile device to another.
Symbian OS	Symbian OS is an open source operating system designed for smartphones.
Smartphone	A smartphone is a wireless device that runs an operating system so you can install apps and games just as you would with a PC
VoIP	VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol- a technology that allows phone calls to be made over networks, such as the internet.
Voice Recognition	Voice recognition is when verbal commands can be used to make a mobile device carry out certain functions.
Voice Activation	Voice activation is when you use your voice to command your mobile phone to make a call.
WLAN	WLAN stands for Wireless Local Area Network and is when a mobile user connects to a local area network via a wireless connection.
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi is a way of wirelessly connecting to the internet over a broadband connection.