Technology / Cell Phones Glossary

CDMA One: The name used by the CDMA Development Group (CDG) for CDMA networks (IS-95) using 2nd-generation digital technology.

Cell: The basic geographic unit of a cellular system. Also, the basis for the generic industry term: cellular. A city or county is divided into smaller cells, each of which is equipped with a low- . . . View Full Definition

Cell Phone: A wireless telephone that sends and receives messages using radiofrequency energy in the 800-900 megahertz portion of the radiofrequency (RF) spectrum.

Cell Site: The location where the wireless antenna and network communications equipment is placed. A cell site consists of a transmitter-receiver, antenna tower, transmission radios and radio controlle . . . View Full Definition

Cell Splitting: The process of creating more coverage and capacity in a wireless system by having more than one cell site cover a particular amount of geography. Each cell site covers a smaller area, with l . . . View Full Definition

Cellular: A wireless telephone network that connects radio frequencies from a mobile phone to a system of multiple cell sites, each consisting of an antenna and a base station, to a mobile telephone s . . . View Full Definition

Cellular Base Station: The transmission and reception equipment, including the base station antenna, which connects a cellular phone to the network. Also called a cell site.

Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD): An enhanced packet overlay on analog cell phone networks used to transmit and receive data. This technology allows data files to be broken into a number of packets and sent along idle channe . . . View Full Definition

Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association (CTIA): A trade group representing cellular, PCS and enhanced specialized mobile radio carriers. Customer Proprietary Network Information (CPNI): The carrier's data about a specific customer's servi . . . View Full Definition

Channel: An electrical, electromagnetic, or optical path for communication between two points.

Churn: In any industry, a measure of the number of customers who leave or switch to another service provider, usually stated as a percentage.

Circuit Switch Data (CSD): Allows a user to use their wireless handset as a modem for laptops, PDAs and other electronic devices via infrared ports or designated data cables. CSD also allows a user to access Wireless . . . View Full Definition

ClassLink: A program of the CTIA Foundation providing wireless phones to schools for teacher use and student Internet access.

Clone or Cloning: A wireless phone programmed with stolen or duplicated electronic serial and mobile identification numbers. The Wireless Telephone Protection Act of 1998 outlawed cloning. The Act prohibits k . . . View Full Definition

Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA): An air interface technology that was developed by the U.S. military and commercialized by the U.S. company Qualcomm. CDMA assigns a code to all speech bits, sends a scrambled transmission of . . . View Full Definition

Collocation: Placement of multiple antennas at a common physical site to reduce environmental impact and real estate costs and speed zoning approvals and network deployment.

Commercial Mobile Radio Service (CMRS): An FCC designation for any carrier or licensee whose wireless network is connected to the public switched telephone network and-or is operated for profit.

Communications Assistance to Law Enforcement Act (CALEA): A 1994 law granting law enforcement agencies the ability to wiretap new digital networks and requiring wireless and wireline carriers to enable surveillance equipment use in digital networks.

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