Cell Phones Glossary
Technology / Cell Phones Glossary
1.5-Way Paging: Refers to guaranteed message receipt or advanced messaging, ensuring subscribers receive messages sent when they're out of range, but users cannot send text pages. Two-way paging allows user . . . View Full Definition
1.7-Way Paging: A paging service that offers more than guaranteed messaging but not as much as full two-way paging. The subscriber has limited response messaging, such as canned messages, rather than the ab . . . View Full Definition
1G: First generation of mobile wireless that utilizes analog air interface technology. This technology was discontinued by most cellular users in 2004.
2.5G: Interim step building up to 3G involving overlay of higher-capacity data transmission capability to existing 2G digital wireless networks. One of the most used 2.5G data transmission types w . . . View Full Definition
2G: Second generation of mobile wireless, which utilizes various digital protocols, including GSM, CDMA, TDMA, iDEN, and PDC.
711: The nationwide number to reach the telecommunications relay service (TRS). TRS enables telephone conversations between people with speech or hearing disabilities and people without speech or . . . View Full Definition
802.11: IEEE standards for wireless LANs with specs for 1mbps, 2mbps, 11mbps, and 24mbps.
A Block: In early 1981, the FCC announced that it would approve two licenses in each wireless market: a non-wireline company (which became known as the A side carrier), and a wireline company (the B . . . View Full Definition
A-B PCS Blocks: The first two PCS licenses that were auctioned by the FCC in March 1995. Each contains 30 MHz of spectrum in the 1900 MHz band and is based on MTA geographic partitions.
A-B Switch: A feature found on cellular telephones permitting the user (when roaming away from home) to select either the A (non-wireline) carrier or the B (wireline) carrier.
A-Key: A secret number issued to a cellular phone that is used in conjunction with a subscriber's shared secret data information for authentication.
Access Fee: A special fee that local telephone companies are allowed to charge all telephone customers for the right to connect with the local phone network. Cellular subscribers pay this fee along with . . . View Full Definition
Access Line: A telephone line reaching from the telephone company central office to a point on a private premise. Usually equates to one customer line.
Adjacent Channel Interference: Signal impairment to one frequency due to presence of another signal on a nearby frequency.
Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN): A system that allows a wireless user to make and receive phone calls while roaming in areas outside the user's home network. AINs enable service providers to define, test and introduce new m . . . View Full Definition
Advanced Mobile Phone Service (AMPS): An analog cellular radio standard that serves as the foundation for the U.S. cellular industry. AMPS represents the first generation of wireless networks.
Affiliate: Companies that assist carriers with building a wireless network. The affiliate may use the primary carrier's brand name, network operations, customer service or other facilities.
Air Interface: The standard operating system of a wireless network. Technologies include AMPS, TDMA, CDMA and GSM.
Airtime: Actual time spent talking on the cellular telephone. Most carriers bill customers based on how many minutes of airtime they use each month. Airtime charges during peak periods of the day var . . . View Full Definition
Alphanumeric: A message or other type of readout containing both letters (alphas) and numbers (numerics). In cellular, alphanumeric memory dial is a special type of dial-from-memory option that displays b . . . View Full Definition
American Mobile Telecommunications Association (AMTA): A Washington, D.C.-based trade group representing specialized mobile radio operators.
American National Standards Institute (ANSI): A private, non-profit organization that oversees the U.S. voluntary standardization and conformity assessment system. The Institute's mission is to enhance both the global competitiveness of . . . View Full Definition
Analog: A signaling method that uses continuous changes in the amplitude or frequency of a radio transmission to convey information. It relies on a continuous (rather than pulsed as in digital) elec . . . View Full Definition
Antenna: A wire or set of wires used to send and receive radio waves.
Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC): An integrated circuit tailored for a particular piece of electronic equipment.
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Click-Through: When a link is included in an email, a click-through occurs when a recipient clicks on the link. Click-through tracking refers to the data collected a . . . Full Definition