Jargon Buster

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

A
Airwave
A secure TETRA communications system for the emergency services and other Public Safety Users.
Analogue
The first generation of mobile phone technology in which radio signals are modulated proportionally by the strength and frequency of audio sounds.
Attachable camera
Some camera phones have a camera that is a separate piece of equipment that can be clipped onto your phone. Once it is attached to your phone you can take photos.

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B             
Band
Mobile network providers operate on the standard GSM900 and GSM1800 frequencies. These frequencies are also called Bands. These standards are used all over the world in the many countries. In USA and Canada, the frequency used is GSM1900, so it's important to check that your phone is compatible before you go there. Dual-band phones are good for use in countries that have both GSM900 and GSM1800 mobile networks. Tri-band phones are good for use in countries that have GSM900, GSM1800, and GSM1900 mobile networks. So if you want to use your phone in Canada or the USA make sure it is a Tri-band phone.
Bluetooth ™
Bluetooth ™ is short range wireless technolgy that enables you to send and receive messages, pictures and video clips to other Bluetooth enabled handsets.
Built-in camera
A number of phones now have a camera as an integral part of the phone. This built-in capability allows you to take photos without having to carry an attachable camera in addition to your phone.

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C
Colour screen
The number of colours your phone has in it will be reflected in the quality of the image that you can see. More colours give you a better experience. Typically phones have either 4,000 or 65,000 colours.
Compatible phone
Any GSM phone that is not locked to another mobile phone network will work with another SIM Card. If your phone is locked or if you are not sure, call your current network service provider and they will be able to unlock it.

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D

F

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G
GPRS
General Packet Radio Service. A technology, sometimes referred to as 2.5G, that allows customers to remain connected to the network between calls for the receipt and transmission of data. When using GPRS, charges are based on the volume of data you send and receive. You can access around 1000 WAP pages for each megabyte (MB).
GSM
The Global System for Mobile communications. Originally defined as a pan-European standard for digital cellular telephone networks to support roaming, it is now one of the world's main digital mobile standards. When you use GSM, you're charged for the duration of the call you make to WAP. If your calling plan has inclusive minutes, your WAP call can be part of that call allowance when you're at home. When abroad, you'll be charged at the International rate for calls back to your country of origin.

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H
HSDPA
High Speed Downlink Packet Access, widely regarded as the next enhancement to 3G, also referred to as superfast 3G.

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I
ISP
Internet Service Provider.
IMEI code
The IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) is a unique 15-digit code used to identify individual GSM mobile phones. The IMEI can be displayed on most phones by dialling the code *#06#. Also, it is usually printed on your phone under the battery. An IMEI code is divided into four sections, with each section separated by a space or back slash, e.g. 490520 30 123456 0 or 490520/30/123456/0. When buying mobile phone insurance, you will need your IMEI code.
In-car charger
An in-car charger is attached to the phone and then plugged in to the car's cigarette lighter. This enables you to charge your phone while driving.

In-car kit
A full hands free car kit provides radio mute and voice dialling features. An alternative to a full hands free car kit is an easy-to-use mobile holder, which can be used with a mobile charger and a plug-in hands free car kit.

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J
Java™ games
Java™ is the technology that lets you download and store games on your phone.

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K

L

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M
Media messaging
Media messaging is also known as picture messaging and multi media messaging (MMS). It is the ability to send and receive messages including photos, text, sounds, and images from media messaging capable mobile phones and the Internet to other media messaging capable mobile phones and e-mail accounts. Messages sent to recipients using mobiles that are not media messaging enabled will result in a text message being sent inviting them to access the message via the O2 website.
Megabyte (MB)
GPRS data usage is measured in megabytes (MB). One megabyte is a million bytes, or a thousand Kilobytes.
Mobile web
Mobile web is a service that allows you to surf the net and stay in touch with emails while you're on the move. As long as you have compatible equipment and the right data-calling plan, you'll be able to stay in touch wherever you go subject to network coverage.
MVNO
Mobile Virtual Network Operators. Mobile operators that do not own spectrum and usually do not have their own network infrastructure.

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N

O

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P
PDA
Personal Digital Assistant.

Personal hands free
A standard personal hands free kit plugs into your phone and is easy and convenient to use. A personal hands free kit usually has a one-touch answer facility, a remote button for answering and terminating calls, a clip to hold headset in place, foam covers allow for a comfortable fit.
Polyphonic
Polyphonic ringtones are better quality than the standard ringtones available because they have several tone series, which allows you to give your phone a ringtone that sounds something close to 'CD quality'. While older phones usually do not support Polyphonic ringtones not all but most recently launched phones will have the capability to support polyphonic ringtones.
Predictive text input
For typing messages, predictive text input, also known as T9 Text Input, is twice as fast as multi-tapping, and it is the easiest way to type text using the limited keypad on a mobile phone.
By using the letters grouped on each phone key and a 'fast access' database, T9 software requires just one key press per letter to quickly recognise the most commonly used word for a specific key sequence.
For example, you can enter the word 'how' with only three keys: 4-6-9. You'd have to use twice as many keys using multi-tap. T9 knows that the most commonly used word with that key sequence in 'how'. If more than one word has the same sequence, T9 displays the most commonly used word first. If that's not the word you want, you can view the next word matching that key sequence by pressing the NEXT key (usually the down arrow or 0 key, but check your manufacturers user guide for your phone).
Premium-rate text messages
These may contain adult content or access to chat services. Customers wishing to bar these services should call their service provider to active the bars.

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Q

R

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S
SIM only
Your SIM Card is the brain of any mobile device. It stores all sorts of information for you and for network provider. Quite simply, if you don't have one you can't make or receive any calls at all. When your SIM Card is in place and your phone is switched on it helps your network provider identify what types of calls you can make from your mobile.
SMS
A service sometimes known as text messaging, which enables mobile telephone users to send and receive written messages on their handsets.
Stand-by Time
The amount of time you can leave your fully charged phone turned on before the phone battery becomes completely flat.

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T
Talk Time
The length of time you can talk on your phone without recharging the battery. The battery capacity of a phone is usually expressed in terms of so many hours of talk time or so many hours of standby time. When you're talking, the phone draws additional power from the battery.

TETRA
Terrestrial Trunked Radio. Radio technology used in networks that require a high level of security and availability.

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U
UMTS
Universal Mobile Telecommunications System. An international standard of third generation, or 3G, mobile telecommunications.

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Video calling
The ability of some 3G phones to make calls whilst showing a live video stream of the person you are speaking to so that you can see as well as hear them.

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W
WAP
"WAP" Wireless Application Protocol.  A global, open standard for accessing online services through mobile devices. WAP gives you text-based information from the web in a format that is easy for a mobile screen to display and quick to download.

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X

Y

Z

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