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Wireless Dictionary
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3G |
| 3G (third generation)mobile telephony gives you high-speed access (up to 2mb/s). This may enable live pictures, camera etc. on your phone. Preceding 3G is analogue (1G). Then came GSM (2G). Currently GSM is now tested with GPRS(a "light version" of 3G.)
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AIN |
| Advanced Intelligent Networks |
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AMPS (Advanced Mobile Phone System) |
| A standard for analogue mobile systems. Used in North America, Latin America, Australia and parts of Russia and Asia.
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ASP (Active Server Pages) |
| Server side scripting technology to make interactive web pages. Based on VBScript.
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ATDMA |
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Advanced Time Division Multiple Access
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AuC |
| Authentication Center |
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B (Byte) |
| 1 byte = 8 bits. A byte is the smallest directly addressable memory unit in modern computers.
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Bandwidth |
| Measures the data-carrying capacity of a communications channel. Usually measured in bits per second (bps).
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Base station |
| The central radio transmitter/receiver that maintains communications with a mobile telephone. Most countries require several hundred base stations, in order to give approximated full coverage for mobile subscribers.
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Base Transceiver Station |
| The network base station that talks to the mobile.
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Bluetooth |
| Bluetooth™ is an open standard for two-way, short-wave radio communications between different devices. It marks the end of cables and cords between mobile phones, palmtops, portable PCs and printers, for example.Furthermore, Bluetooth™ enables information between such devices to be synchronized. Diary information held on a PDA can be updated automatically when within range of a Bluetooth™-enabled PC.Bluetooth™ is also going to be important for machine-to-machine communications - one of the largest growth areas in telecommunications. |
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BPS
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| Bits per second
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BS |
| Base Station
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BSC |
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Base Station Controller
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CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) |
| A technology for digital transmission of radio signals between, for example, a mobile telephone and a base station. The system uses the same frequency to allow multiple conversations. Each conversation is cut into snippets and then remodulated in reassembled in the other end. |
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CLIP |
| Caller Line Identity Presentation
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CLIR |
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Caller Line Identity Restriction
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Control Channel |
| The channel the phone and cell base station first communicate on.
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D-AMPS (Digital Advanced Mobile Phone System) |
| Earlier designation of American standard for digital mobile telephony used primarily in America, Australia and parts of Russia and Asia
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Deck |
| A collection of WML cards.
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DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications) |
| A standard for cordless telephony. |
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DTD |
| Document Type Definition. A DTD defines the names and contents of all elements that are permissible in a certain document. A DTD is used to specify XML document structure. |
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Dual band |
| Dual band mobile phones can work on networks operating different frequency bands. Often urban areas operate on 1800, while suburbs use the 900-band. This is especially useful if you travel abroad. Some phones are able to switch between GSM 900, 1800, 1900 (tri-band) allowing you full coverage in Europe, America and Asia. |
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EIR |
| Equipment Identity Register |
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EMS |
| EMS standard for Enhanced Messaging Service. It is system that has evolved from the standard SMS messaging you my be used to, and allows standard ringtones and graphics to be sent to and between phones. |
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ESN |
| Electronic Serial Number |
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FDMA |
| Frequency Division Multiple Access |
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GHz |
| Gigahertz - A frequency measurement. One hertz equals one cycle per second. GHz = One Billion hertz. |
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GMSC |
| Gateway Mobile Switching Center |
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GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) |
| A packet-linked technology that may enable high-speed (up to 115 kilobit per second) access to wireless Internet in a GSM network. GPRS is IP-based, and may allow users to be online 24 hours. General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) is an enhancement to existing GSM and TDMA networks that introduces packet data transmission, enabling "always on" mobility. This means that users can choose to be permanently logged on to e-mail, Internet access and other services, but do not have to pay for these services unless sending or receiving information. When EDGE is added to GPRS, these data rates will increase up to 384kbit/s.GPRS will be implemented by adding new packet data nodes and upgrading existing nodes to provide a routing path for packet data between the mobile terminal and a gateway node. The gateway node will provide interworking with external packet data networks for access to the Internet and intranets.
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GPS |
| Global Position System. Based on US defense satellite system, enables tracking of individuals. This technology may prove helpful when navigating a car in the city, or help emergency rescue-team to locate the person in need of help. |
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GSM |
| Global System For Mobile Communication |
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GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) |
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The world’s most widely used mobile system. Used on the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz frequencies in Europe, Asia and Australia, and the MHz 1900 frequency in America.
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GSM Unlocked |
| Unlocked GSM phones are wireless phones which are not subsidized and locked by any service provider. This means that the phone will work with any GSM network in the world that carries the band/frequencies specified for a particular phone. Please contact your service provider if you are not sure about the frequencies they carry.Unlocked GSM Phones will only work on a GSM Platform. This means that your Wireless Service Provider has to be a GSM Service Provider. |
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HDML |
| Handheld Markup Language. Invented by phone.com, predecessor to WML. |
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HLR |
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Home Location Register
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HSCSD |
| (High Speed Circuit Switched Data). A circuit-linked technology for higher transmission speed by combining several GSM channels at the same time. This may allow speeds up to 58 bps, far faster than original GSM (9.6bps). For upload HSCSD is limited to half the speed. This technology is the predecessor of GPRS, which may deliver up to 115kbs. |
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Hz |
| Hertz - radio frequency measurement (one hertz = one cycle per second). |
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IEMI |
| International Equipment Mobile Identity |
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IMEI |
| The IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity)is a 15 digit Code used to identify the GSM/DCS/PCS phone to the network. |
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IrDA |
InfraRed Data Association.
- Some mobile devices incorporate IrDA® ports for cable free data transmission, it is not, however the same as Bluetooth as the ports need to be lined up during data transmission. Mobile phones with infrared can't connect handheld PC's or laptops to the Internet unless it has a built-in modem.
- A data port that uses infrared data association (irDA®) as the standard for wireless communications between computer and mobile phone devices. For example, to update the phone list on your irDA®-enabled PC, you would line up the infrared ports on each device and then transfer the phone information to your PC.
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IWF |
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Interworking Function (Modem) |
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JAVA |
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A high-level programming language developed by Sun Microsystems. Java was originally called OAK, and was designed for handheld devices and set-top boxes. Oak was unsuccessful so in 1995 Sun changed the name to Java and modified the language to take advantage of the burgeoning World Wide Web. Java is an object-oriented language similar to C++, but simplified to eliminate language features that cause common programming errors. Java source code files (files with a .java extension) are compiled into a format called bytecode (files with a .class extension), which can then be executed by a Java interpreter. Compiled Java code can run on most computers because Java interpreters and runtime environments, known as Java Virtual Machines (VMs), exist for most operating systems, including UNIX, the Macintosh OS, and Windows. Bytecode can also be converted directly into machine language instructions by a just-in-time compiler (JIT). Java is a general purpose programming language with a number of features that make the language well suited for use on the World Wide Web. Small Java applications are called Java applets and can be downloaded from a Web server and run on your computer by a Java-compatible Web browser, such as Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Internet Explorer. |
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Kbps (Kilobits per second) |
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A speed measurement for the transmitting of data (see BPS). |
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Ki |
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Individual subscriber authentication key |
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LAI |
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Location Area Identity
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MB (Megabyte) |
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1MB = 1024 kilobytes (KB) |
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MMS |
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MMS stands for Multimedia Messaging Service. A multimedia message can contain text, pictures, animations, melodies and sound. You can also send contacts, event entries and sound recordings as attachments.
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MO-SMS |
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Mobile-Originated Short Message Service
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MSC |
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Mobile Switching Centre - The computer that places the calls, and takes and receives data from the subscriber or from PSTN (Public switched Telephone Network) |
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OMS |
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Operation and Maintenance Subsystem of the GSM network. |
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PAN |
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Personal Area Networks. A personal network between your devices, for example between your computer and your mobile phone. Bluetooth is one related standard, enabling this. |
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PDA |
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Personal Digital Assistant. Usually a hand-held device, such as the Palm Pilot or Psion. |
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PDC (Personal Digital Cellular) |
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A Japanese standard for digital mobile telephony (800 MHz and 1500 MHz bands). |
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PE |
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Primary Exchange |
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PHS (Personal Handy phone System) |
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Digital mobile telephone system according to Japanese standard (1900Mhz). |
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Polyphonic Ring Tones |
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Polyphonic comes from the word polyphony, meaning "many sounds". Music that has many notes sounding together, either in a chordal, or countrapuntal setting. Polyphonic ringtones vary in specification from phone to phone, but all polyphonic phones support the playing of more than one note together, so your ringtone is generally more musical. On the downside, because the ringtones are played 'musically' they usually difficult to here in noisy environments.
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PIN |
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Personal Identity Number
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PUC |
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PIN Unblocking Code |
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Reverse Control Channel |
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The opposite frequency, 45 MHz lower than the control channel. Used by the mobile. |
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Roaming |
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Means that your mobile phone automatically sets up communication procedures with different radio base stations when you are on the move. International roaming means that you can use networks other than your own when traveling abroad. Some phones allow for example switching between 900/1800 in Europe to 1900 in US. |
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Router |
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A data switch that handles connections between different networks. A router identifies the addresses on data passing through the switch, determines which route the transmission should take and collects data in "packets" which are sent to their destinations. |
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SET |
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SET (Secure Electronic Transaction) is a system for ensuring the security of financial transactions over the Internet. SET, may authenticate both user and merchant in order to approve the transaction. |
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SGML |
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Standardized Generalized Markup Language. The mother of all markup languages. XML is "SGML light". HTML is a loose application of SGML. |
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SMD-PP |
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Short Message Delivery Point-to-Point |
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SMS |
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The short message service (SMS) enables you to send and receive text messages using your mobile phone or personal communicator. Depending on your network service provider and your plan, you can send messages to other mobile phones or to PCs, domestically or internationally. The cost is usually a low, flat rate or even free, depending on your contract. |
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SMS (Short Message Service) |
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A service for sending messages of up to 160 characters to mobile phones that use Global System for Mobile (GSM) communication. GSM and SMS services are primarily available in Europe. |
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SMSC |
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Short Message Service Centre |
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SMS-IWMSC |
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SMS Interworking Mobile Switching Center |
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SS7 |
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Signaling System 7 |
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SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) |
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Protocol for managing the security of message transmissions in a network. The idea is that the programming for keeping your messages confidential ought to be contained in a program layer between an application (such as your Web browser) and the Internet’s TCP/IP layers. The current rate of SSL encryption 128. |
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T9 Input Text |
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T9 Text Input is software that enables users to easily enter text into small devices with limited size keyboards, like mobile phones. T9 Text Input replaces the traditional "multi-tap" method of entering text providing the ability to enter text using only one keystroke per letter. T9 Text Input gives the phone's standard keypad the capabilities of a full keyboard requiring only one key press per letter. Using the letters on each phone key and a highly compressed database, the T9 software translates key press sequences into words. |
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TAP |
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Telocator Alphanumeric Protocol |
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TDMA |
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Time Division Multiple Access |
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UA |
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User Agent. Software that interprets WML, WMLScript, WTAI and other forms of code. Explorer, Netscape and Opera, are examples of UA’s) |
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UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) |
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The name for the third generation mobile telephone standard in Europe. Also described as 3G. |
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VLR |
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Visitor Location Register |
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Voice channels |
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The channel you are assigned by the switch to commence the call on after the exchange of subscriber data. |
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VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) |
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Describes the process of transmitting voice via data IP packages. |
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W3C |
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World Wide Web Consortium. |
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WAE |
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Wireless Application Environment. WAE specifies an environment that allows operators and service providers to build applications and services that can reach a wide variety of different platforms. WAE is part of the Wireless Application Protocol. |
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WAP |
The Wireless Application Protocol is a family of protocols allowing mobile devices to access wireless services. Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) is a global, open standard that gives mobile users access to Internet services through handheld devices. It enables users to easily access a whole range of Mobile Internet and other data services from mobile devices such as smartphones and communicators, and without the need to plug into a separate laptop or data-enabled device.
WAP enables this through a built-in "WAP microbrowser" that lets information be accessed direct from a phone, in the same way that web browsers provide access to on-line services via an Internet-ready PC. Typically, a WAP screen will display a number of hyperlinks to various services or information portals.
As well as WAP phones, Ericsson has also announced a WAP Service Developer's Kit (WapIDE) and the WAP Gateway/Proxy, which bridges WAP applications and services in Internet and intranet environments with mobile networks. In addition, Ericsson provides application enablers, such as Ericsson Localized Internet (ELI) for location-based services, and WAP Application Server (WAS) providing a run-time and development environment for WAP applications. |
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WAP Forum |
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WAP Forum, an organization of several big internet and telecom companies, develops the WAP protocol.
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WAP Gateway |
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WAP gateway is two-way software. Its main function is to offload the WAP mobile device from a lot of computational layers. |
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WAP Server |
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A WAP server is a web server. The computer programmers use WML instead of HTML.
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WCDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access) |
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Technology for wideband digital radio communications of Internet, multimedia, video and others - described as 3G. |
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WDP |
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Wireless Datagram Protocol |
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WML |
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A programming language that use for develop a WAP application. |
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WMLScript |
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Scripting language for WAP devices. Based on JavaScript, but less powerful. |
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WSP |
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Wireless Session Protocol. Provides the upper-level application layer of WAP with a consistent interface for two session services, a connection-mode service that operates above a transaction layer protocol, and a connectionless service that operates above a secure or non-secure datagram transport service. |
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WTLS |
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Wireless Transport Layer Security. The "equivalent" to SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) widely used in the HTML world - although not identical in functionality. |
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WTP |
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Wireless Transaction Protocol |
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XML |
