Mobile Phone Glossary

The following is a glossary of terms that you will frequently find used in the discussion of mobile phones and mobile technology in general. Because it always pays to be educated about the products you use, it is our hope that you find this glossary useful.

1G

1G is shorthand for “first generation”, in other words, the first generation of mobile phone products. They tended to be analog rather than digital machines and to make use of circuit-switching. As a result, their quality was generally rather poor, their memories low, and security wasn’t even considered as being an important factor. They are no longer in active production.

2G

Much as 1G refers to the first generation of mobile phones, 2G refers to second generation products. They were the first to switch over from analog to digital operation, and include advanced features such as GSM, D-AMPS, TDMA, and CDMA. They supported the transfer of all kinds of data, not just voice, and had some rudimentary level of encryption, so it’s not uncommon to find them still in operation to this day.

2.5G

2.5G is a term used to refer to those mobile phone products that are more advanced than the products usually referred to as 2G, but not yet up to the standards of 3G. They are basically the same types of models as 2G, but with significantly advanced features such as packet-switching, and increased bandwidth for the transfer of data (HSCSD, EDGE).

3G

3G, like 1G and 2G before it, is a term which refers to the third generation of mobile phone products. These are phones which offer such a high bandwidth for data exchange that they begin to be measured in Mbps instead of simply bps. The implications are that, rather than just voice, large amounts of data such as video and music can be sent easily, and fully featured internet access is a possibility.

AMPS

An acronym for “Advanced Mobile Phone System”. This is a standard for operation frequencies that was established back during the days of 1G systems. The range of operation it specifies is 800-900 Mhz, which is still widely used.

Analog

Analog, being the opposite of digital, refers to a means in which speech is transferred. When speech is broken down into electronic signals and sorted according to frequency and amplitude, it is referred to as analog. Because it is older technology, the first mobile networks made use of analog broadcasting. In certain countries where analog has been in use for a long time, coverage from mobile networks using analog may be a bit better, but it will still suffer from the inherent weaknesses of the format: lower security and greater interference. See also AMPS, NMT, and ETACS.

API

An acronym for “application programming interface”, API refers to an interface which allows for specialized communication between two programs. Whenever one program requires the functionality that another can offer, it can be called upon by API and thus the two programs produce greater and more efficient results by working in tandem behind the scenes.

Bluetooth

Refers to a standard by which data (voice and otherwise) is sent between devices, wirelessly. The main draw of Bluetooth is that it allows for communication between mobile devices like phones and stationary ones like fax machines or computers that remain in an office. In other words, it can allow for simple feats like a computer wirelessly interfacing with a printer, but it can also allow a roaming mobile phone to access that same printer, within a certain range.

bps

An acronym for “bits per second”, bps is just a way of measuring the rate at which data is transferred. When data is sent from one place to another, it is broken up into many small pieces. Each piece is called a “bit” and the number of them that can be sent between one device and another in the span of a second is measured in bps to give some idea of the overall speed of those devices.

C++

C++ is a programming language that has become something of the industry standard. Many professional applications, particular those that can be classified as “systems” are written in C++. C++, unlike BASIC or other languages that came before it, is an object oriented programming language.

CDMA

An acronym for “Code Division Multiple Access”, CDMA refers to a digital technique for transmitting data between wireless devices. Developed by the military some time ago, CDMA allows for data to be sent along multiple frequencies simultaneously, resulting in faster transfers. It is used often in 2G mobile devices.

Cellular Radio

The underlying technology that supports all mobile communications. Cellular radio is the practice of reusing radio frequencies without interference by spacing the geographic areas (cells) in which they are employed a certain distance apart.

Circuit Switching

Circuit-switching is a means of communication in which a circuit is opened between one device and the other, and remains open for the entirety of that communication.

CLDC

An acronym for “Connected Limited Device Configuration”. CLDC is a configuration that covers mobile devices owned and operated by the private sector.

Communicator

A term which refers to devices that focus not only on mobile communications but also on providing information to the user in the style of a personal data assistant. It also does provide mobile phone functionality, however.

Content Provider

A content provider is a company that produces the kinds of services that you can access by newer mobile phones, such as web browsing, shipping, downloadable games, etc.

Crystal

A code name used in the Symbian OS that refers to a “half VGA reference”.

D-AMPS

An acronym for “Digital Advanced Mobile Phone Service”. Much like AMPS, this is a standard for frequency used by many wireless devices, that remains compatible with AMPS-using networks. D-AMPS uses the 800 and 1900 Mhz frequencies.

DCS 1800

The “DCS” part stands for Digital Communications System, which is really just another name for GSM. In short, this is a network operating at the frequency of 1800 Mhz, and is commonly in use through Europe and parts of Asia.

Digital

The inverse of analog, digital is a way of creating and sending information that doesn’t require the conversion of data into electronic signals. Instead it is merely directly coded similar to the way it’s written on computer discs. Because they offer significant improvements in quality over analog systems, digital systems are quickly becoming the new standard. See also GSM, D-AMPS, CDMA, TDMA, and UMTS.

Dual Band

Dual band refers to a type of mobile phone that can take advance of differing frequency bands. If you frequently move between networks that operate on different frequencies, for example, a dual band phone’s connection could remain intact during the switchover.

Dual Mode

Dual mode refers to mobile phones that can operate either on digital or analog standards. This can be useful for roaming into those places where analog is still the main standard being employed.

EDGE

An acronym standing for “Enhanced Data Rate for GSM Evolution”. EDGE is a technique for increasing the rate at which data can be sent across networks at speeds that approach those used by 3G networks, but can still be employed on 2G systems.

EPOC

An outdated term for the Symbian OS.

E-TACS

An acronym for “Extended Total Access Communications System”. This is simply the name for a 1G mobile network that is employed in Europe and Asia.

FCT

An acronym for “Fixed Cellular Terminal”. A Fixed Cellular Terminal is also known by many other names such as GSM gateway, GSM modem, GSM router, mobile gateway, channel bank, and GSM channel bank.

Fixed Cellular Terminal

A Fixed Cellular Terminal is a device that allows landline phones and stationary devices such as computers and fax machines to access and take advantage of the mobile network that many offices already employ. Because they use the same SIM card as mobile devices on the network, calls can be made at reduced rates. It can also allow those mobile devices to interface with the stationary devices on the network easily.

GPRS

An acronym for “General Packet Radio Service”, GPRS is a radio technology that allows packet-switching on GSM networks. In addition to advances such as a continuous connection, and higher data transmission speeds, GPRS also means that charges can be made by the amount of data sent rather than “time connected” to a network, potentially reducing costs.

GSM

An acronym for “Global System for Mobile Communications”, GSM is the standard used by the vast majority of the world for mobile communications. It supports the transmission of voice and other types of data by 2G standards and operations on a number of frequencies, including 800, 900, 1800, and 1900 MHz.

GSM Gateway

See Fixed Cellular Terminal.

HSCSD

An acronym for High Speed Circuit Switched Data, HSCSD is a somewhat old standard for wireless communications that allowed for data to be sent along multiple channels at once for a total speed of 57.6 Kbps. It could also allow for certain channels to be reserved for specific tasks, and first came into use with 1G systems.

IMT-2000

An acronym for International Mobile Telecommunications-2000. This term refers to the specifications that define the third generation of mobile devices.

i-mode

Mainly used in Japan, i-mode is a service for mobile phones that uses packet-switching to send lots of different types of data and allows for several different services such as online banking and e-mail.

IrDA

Stands for Infrared Data, IrDA is the means of exchanging data between two close-range devices via Infrared technology. Though their range is short, they offer high speed performance, in the neighborhood of 4 Mbps. The acronym can also refer to the organization that established this system of transfer.

Java

Like C++, Java is an object-oriented programming language that has recently become very popular. It is mainly used for writing applications that are meant to be accessed via networks rather than downloaded and run locally. It was developed by Sun Microsystems.

J2ME

Stands for Java 2, Micro Edition. This is a version of the Java language that is especially developed to run on small devices such as PDAs or communicators. It makes heavy use of API technology in order to be compatible across a broad range of such products.

JavaPhone

An API for Java systems that is intended to allow developers to more easily program applications for mobile phones.

JTAPI

Short for Java Telephony API, JTAPI refers to an aspect of the JavaPhone API that interfaces with call control services.

Kernel

A kernel is the core component of an operating system, and is the link between the system’s hardware and software, controlling the ways in which the latter can access and exploit the former. The kernel is an indispensable element of systems operations and as such, is given the highest priority of any aspect of a running system.

MExE

An acronym for “Mobile Station Application Execution Environment”, and also known as GSM 2.57. MExE is a framework used by third party developers of applications for mobile devices that ensures compatibility with those devices. It is divided into a number of different formats known as “classmarks” that differ depending on which system is being developed for. For instance, classmark 1 is for WAP, while classmark 2 is used on PersonalJava and JavaPhone systems.

MIDP

Stands for Mobile Information Device Profile. MIDP is an API framework intended to run on CLDC systems. It provides a basic setup for the running of Java based applications that appeal to this user base.

Network Operator

A distinctive title given to those companies that possess licenses to provide wireless telephone services by operating a network.

NMT

An acronym for Nordic Mobile Telephone, NMT was one of the first (1G) wireless networks in operation, and used the 450 MHz frequency in and around Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden.

OBEX

Stands for “Object Exchange”. OBEX is simply a standard by which objects (in the programming sense of the word) can be exchanged between two devices. It is seen a lot in conjunction with vCard and vCalendar applications to facilitate the exchange of info between those paradigms.

OS

Stands for “Operating System”. An OS is the most fundamental piece of software that a device can run. It provides the means for communication between the internal machinery of a device and the human user, and allows the later to control the former via various methods of input. The operating system most often seen on mobile phones is Symbian OS.

OPL

A programming language for the Symbian OS that is designed for the rapid development of applications. It is very easy to use, like BASIC, but lacks the full functionality of object oriented languages like C++ or Java.

Packet-Switching

A means for sending data in which that data is broken up into very small pieces called “packets” that are sent one at a time along the channels that are most accommodating to that particular type of data. This method has two advantages. For one, it optimizes the use of network resources for faster transfer speeds. For another, it enables a phone to be charged by the amount of data transferred rather than time spend connected to the network, so transfers can take place immediately instead of having to wait to connect first, as one would do with a circuit-switching system.

PCN

“Personal Communications Network”. This is simply another name for the GSM 1800, and is used through Europe and Asia.

PCS

An acronym for “Personal Communications Service”, this is a term used to refer to a mobile phone network that focuses on communication, regardless of what technology may be used to power that network. As such, it is a rather generic term rather than a specific one.

PDC

Stands for “Personal Digital Cellular”. PDC is a 2G standard used in Japan, and owned by NTT DoCoMo. It uses frequencies in the 800 and 1500 MHz areas.

PersonalJava

A version of Java optimized to meet the needs of mobile devices.

Platform

A piece of technology that acts as the basis for other applications to run upon. The API that an OS makes use of to facilitate communication between its applications is often called a “platform”.

Polyphonic Ringtones

Polyphonic ringtones are simply those ringtones which are capable of producing multiple tones at one time. They became common with 2G devices and are the standard today.

Quartz

A code word used to refer to the design of a quarter-VGA screen size that uses a pen or stylus for input.

Reference Design

A design for a user interface that is developed for the Symbian OS.

Service Provider

A company that sells access to mobile phone networks and other related services.

SIM

An acronym for “Subscriber Identity Module”, a SIM card is inserted into all mobile phones and is used to determine which user is making use of the network’s services at any given time. This is to ensure that individuals are billed for their own network usage, and not the usage of others.

Smartphone

A term used to describe mobile phones that also provide information services such as web-browsing or GPS features.

SMS

An acronym for “Short Message Service”, SMS is a service that allows for text messages to be sent over mobile phone networks. They are usually limited in length and cannot exceed 160 characters. Like voicemail, if they cannot be delivered to the end user immediately, they are stored in waiting until the opportunity to send them arises.

Symbian Connect

A system that allows the Symbian OS to interface with PCs and send data between them and mobile devices. In this way, it is possible to “synchronize data” so that data that is updated on one device becomes updated on the other, and vice versa.

Symbian Developer Network

A network for those individuals who develop applications for the Symbian OS. On the network, they interact with one another, and trade resources for the further development of Symbian applications.

Symbian OS

The most commonly used operating system for mobile phones. It offers advanced features such as multi-tasking, the sending of data, and the running of specialized applications, much like a regular computer.

SyncML

An acronym for “Synchronization Markup Language”. SyncML is an attempt by the mobile communications industry to establish a common standard for data synchronization. The goal is to provide synchronization services between all mobile devices, regardless of what standard they commonly use, such as HTTP, WAP, or OBEX. It can also deal with a huge number of data types, such as the personal data in vCard and vCalendar systems, and even documents. The standardization is sponsored by Symbian, IBM, Nokia, and Psion.

TACS

“Total Access Commnuication System”. TACS refers to a standard for 1G mobile networks that was used in Britain for a time and eventually spread to parts of Asia.

TDMA

An acronym that stands for “Time Division Multiple Access”, TDMA is a technique for transmitting data over wireless networks. It works by dividing up a frequency in such a way that each user is given an equal slot of usable time. Generally, this switch is so rapid it’s not even noticed by the users and seems to be a seamless connection. TDMA networks are popular in the US, Russia, and parts of Asia.

UMTS

Stands for Universal Mobile Telecommunications Service. UMTS is part of the IMT-2000 movement, which establishes the standards that a 3G device must adhere to in order to receive that specification.

Unicode

Unicode is an encoding standard that can support characters from a huge number of world languages, including English, Eastern and Western European languages, Cyrillic, Greek, Arabic, Hebrew, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Urdu, Hindi, and many others, all within a single character set. This offers an improvement over ASCII and allows the same character set to be used on the same model of phone all across the world. Symbian OS makes use of Unicode.

vCalendar

A standard by which calendar-related information such as schedule information can be sent between devices and applications and remain synchronized. If all members of a network are using vCalendar compliant applications, they can make changes to schedules via the usual communication standards that are already in place.

vCard

vCard is a standard that determines the formats that “electronic business cards” are to take. vCard-compliant devices can very quickly and easily exchange information with one another that would typically be found on business cards such as names and telephone numbers. By using this standard, it is ensured that the data remains compatible between as large a number of devices and models as possible.

VGA

An acronym for Video Graphics Array, this is mainly used in the mobile phone industry to refer to a screen sized 640 x 480 pixels.

WCDMA

An acronym meaning “Wideband CDMA”; this is a protocol created by NTT DoCoMo, and is now used throughout Europe. It is designed to exchange multimedia information such as video and Internet access at consistently high speeds.

WAP

An acronym for Wireless Application Protocol, WAP refers to a standard by which mobile devices access online services in a mutually compatible and synchronous fashion. It was simultaneously developed by four major companies: Ericsson, Motorola, Nokia, and Unwired Planet, and is sponsored by Symbian.

This page contains information pertaining to:
Mobile Phone Glossary, What is 3G, Bluetooth, CDMA, Dual Band, GPRS, GSM Gateway, i-mode, OS, SIM, Unicode, WAP