Technology / Cell Phones Glossary

North American Cellular Network (NACN): An organization of cellular providers that facilitates cellular calls across the country to be linked for seamless roaming.

North American Numbering Council (NANC): The FCC advisory group formerly responsible for administering the North American Numbering Plan that oversees assignment of area codes, central office codes and other numbering issues in the . . . View Full Definition

Number Assignment Module (NAM): The NAM is the electronic memory in the cellular phone that stores the telephone number and an electronic serial number. Phones with dual- or multi-NAM features offer users the option of reg . . . View Full Definition

Number Pooling: Increasingly popular tactic for conserving phone numbers. Numbers are returned by all carriers to a central authority, which puts them in a pool, from which carriers receive numbers in lots . . . View Full Definition

Number Portability: A term used to describe the capability of individuals, businesses and organizations to retain their existing telephone number(s) –– and the same quality of service –– when switching to a new . . . View Full Definition

Off-Peak: Periods of time during which carriers offer discounted airtime charges. Each carrier designates its own off-peak hours, usually after normal business hours during the week, and weekends.

Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 (OBRA 93): The first legislation authorizing the FCC to auction spectrum.

Operators Harmonization Group (OHG): A worldwide organization of operators and manufacturers dedicated to achieving a uniform standard for third-generation wireless systems.

Over-The-Air Service Provisioning (OTASP): The ability of carriers to add new types of services to a customer's handset by using the wireless network instead of requiring the customer to bring the phone to a carrier's location for re . . . View Full Definition

Overlay Area Code: A solution to the scarcity of new phone numbers, overlays involve issuance of new 10-digit phone numbers for use alongside an area's existing seven-digit numbers, which have a different area code.

Partitioning: Dividing a spectrum license into two or more geographic areas.

PCS Phone: A wireless telephone that uses radiofrequency signals in the 1850-1990 megahertz (MHz) portion of the radiofrequency (RF) spectrum. PCS stands for portable communication system.

Peak: Highest-usage period of the business day when a cellular system carries the most calling traffic.

Penetration: The total number of subscribers for a carrier divided by the population that it serves expressed as a percentage.

Personal Communications Industry Association (PCIA): A trade group representing PCS, SMR, private radio and other wireless users and carriers.

Personal Communications Service (PCS): A second-generation digital voice, messaging and data cell phone system in the 2GHz range. PCS is supported mostly by GSM. PCS systems use a different radio frequency (1.9 GHz band) than cel . . . View Full Definition

Personal Digital Cellular (PDC): The Japanese cellular standard.

Personal Identification Number (PIN): A code used by a mobile telephone number in conjunction with an SIM card to complete a call.

Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16