Mobile Phone Jargon Buster!

Bluetooth® – Wireless data communication for compatible devices such as mobile phones, PDA or laptops. It has a range of 10m. Unlike infrared, devices do not require to be lined-up.

Coverage – The strength of radio signals.

Dual-band - Refers to the capability of handsets to operate across two frequency bands. Dual-band technology enables a network operator with spectrum at both 900 MHz and 1800 MHz to support the seamless use of dual-band handsets across both frequencies.

EMS – Enhanced message service, is an evolution of SMS. An EMS-enabled phone can send and receive messages that include formatted text, pixel pictures, animations, sound effects and ring signals.

Fascias – Interchangeable covers for mobile phones.

Gbps – Gigabits per second. (1 Gbps = 1,000,000,000 bits per seconds)

GPRS – General Packet Radio Service. A mobile with GPRS capacity offers an ‘always on’ connection at faster rates, sending & receiving internet-based content and packet-based data services. It has a maximum of 28.8 Kbps speed.

GSM – Global system for mobile communications. Second generation network delivering high quality and secure mobile voice and data service with full roaming capabilities across the world. Data connection rate is up to 9.6 Kbps.

HSCSD – High-speed, circuit-switched data. It is an enhancement of circuit-switched data of all current GSM (link) networks. It allows mobile users to access data services at data rates of up to 28.8 Kbps (link) or four times faster than GSM’s standard data rates. At the time of this press, HSCSD only works on Orange network.

HTML – Hypertext markup language. Some mobile phones, especially o2 XDA, offer HTML web browser capacity.

Infrared – Wireless data transfer via an infrared port. For example, between two mobile phones or via other devices such as PC with IrDa port.

In-Fusio – A mobile games service provider. (http://www.in-fusio.com/)
Instant Messaging – Send and receive a message with a friend who is online.

IVR – Interactive voice response.

J2ME - A technology to implement java support for various devices such as mobile phone, PDA and digital television.

Java™ - This technology allows you to download games, applications, ring tones and logos from web sites.

Kbps – Kilobits per second (1 Kbps = 1,000 bits per second).

Mbps – Megabits per seconds (1 Mbps = 1,000,000 bits per second)

M-commerce – mobile commerce like e-commerce. M-commerce enables you to buy goods/service via your mobile phone. WAP 1.2.1 and upward versions are m-commerce compatible.

Mobile Java™ – See Java.

MMS - Multimedia messaging service. With a MMS compatible handset, you can send and receive a combination of text, images, sound and video. It's a more advanced feature than SMS and EMS.

MP3 - Digital music files.

PDA – Personal digital assistant is a handheld device that works like a mini personal computer. Some especially modern PDAs contain some mobile phone features.

PIM – Personal Information Management.

Picture messaging – See MMS. Although EMS is picture messaging, MMS offers much more features.

Quadband - Allows you to roam almost anywhere globally. It covers 850Mhz, 900MHz, 1800MHz and 1900MHz frequency ranges. Many countries in South America only have 850 MHz GSM service while both 1900MHZ and 850MHz GSM services are supported in the USA.

Ring tones - Some modern mobile phones contain complex ring tones such as polyphonic, where several sounds are heard instead of a single ring. Some phones are capable of downloading new ring tones. Or you can even record your own ring tone, such as your dog barking! “Link caller” ring tone, gives you the option of assigning certain callers in your phone book, with their own unique ring tone.

Roaming - Taking your mobile phone abroad.

SAR – Specific absorption rate. A standard unit for measuring the level of exposure to radio frequency energy from mobile phones, measured in watts per kilograms (W/kg). EC’s recommended upper limit is 2.0 W/kg.

Service Provider – The company who owns your mobile phone’s signature on a contract and bills you for your calls.

SMS – Short messaging service. A text message can be sent, containing up to 160 characters per message. Some handsets have a concentrated SMS facility, enabling you to send more than one message at a time.

Tri-band - Different mobile phone networks operate at different frequencies, which means that if you wish to use your mobile phone outside your home country, you generally need a handset that supports multiple frequency bands. A tri-band phone operates on three frequency bands, GSM900, GSM1800 and GSM1900, allowing you to use it in Europe, Africa, Asia, nearly all of North America and Australia. See also dual-band

T9 – T9 stands for “Text on 9 keys”, one of predictive text input’s algorithms. Visit http://www.t9.com/ for more information.

UMTS – Universal mobile telecommunication service is also known as ‘third-generation’ (3G). UTMS allows you to transmit text, digitised voice, video and multimedia at data rate of up to 2 Mbps. UMTS service in UK will be launched around Autumn 2003.

Virtual Wallet – Storing credit card details in your mobile phone for m-commerce use.

Voice dial - Allows you to call someone in your phonebook by saying his or her name. You will need to store a previous recording of yourself saying the name, for it to work.

Voicemail – A mobile phone’s answerphone system.

WAP - Wireless application protocol is a technology that connects your mobile phone to the internet using cut-down, text-based sites. The latest WAP version is 2, but you can use mobile commerce with WAP 1.2.1 version.

WAP Push - WAP push allows SMS messages to be received and sent with direct WAP links embedded. It is ideal for subscribing to information services such as entertainment, news & sport, so you receive the message which contains a link to a WAP page. You could launch the link to browse for more information if you wish.

WML - Wireless markup language is used to produce WAP content. It makes optimum use of the limited size of the displays on handheld devices.