Technology / Cell Phones Glossary

Spectrum Cap: A limit to the allocated spectrum designated for a specific service.

Spread Spectrum: Initially devised for military use, this radio transmission technology spreads information over greater bandwidth than necessary to resist jamming and other interference.

Standby Time: The amount of time you can leave your fully charged cellular portable or transportable phone turned on before the phone will completely discharge the batteries. See Talk Time.

Stratospheric Platform: Blimp-like platform for wireless telephone service in urban areas.

Strongest Signal: The concept that a wireless 911 call should be routed to the cell site with the strongest link to the phone, regardless of which carrier holds the caller as a customer. A shortcoming is that . . . View Full Definition

Subscriber Fraud: Securing wireless service with intent to avoid payment. This is different from bad debt, which occurs when a known person or company has a payment obligation overdue and the debt cannot be collected.

Subscriber Identity Module (SIM): A card inserted into a GSM-TDMA or GSM-only handset containing subscriber-related data. The card contains 18 digits for GSM markets and 20 digits for TDMA markets.

Subscriber Profiling: Compiling subscriber usage information (such as frequency of calls, locations called to or from and monthly airtime usage), to identify potentially fraudulent use or to identify customers li . . . View Full Definition

Switch: A mechanical, electrical or electronic device that opens or closes circuits, completes or breaks an electrical path, or selects paths or circuits.

Talk Time: The length of time you can talk on your portable or transportable cellular phone without recharging the battery. The battery capacity of a cellular portable or transportable is usually expre . . . View Full Definition

TD-CDMA: A 3G proposal combining elements of TDMA and CDMA.

Telecommunications: The transmission of words, sounds, or images, usually over great distances, in the form of electromagnetic energy, for example by telegraph, telephone, radio, or television.

Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA): The United States' telecommunications standards making body.

Telematics: The integration of wireless communications, vehicle monitoring systems and location devices.

Telematics Control Unit (TCU): The embedded vehicle control unit that communicates with the automobile controls, GPS satellite and customer service center to provide Telematics features to a driver.

Telephone Network: The system of wires, fiber-optic cables, satellites, and transmission towers that transmit telephone messages from caller to receiver.

Telephone Transmission Tower: A telephone base station located on top of a tall, free-standing structure.

Telephony: Originally meaning voice (analog) communication by telephone (land line), this term has come to encompass virtually all telecommunications, because virtually all telecommunications can be do . . . View Full Definition

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