Cell Phone Glossary

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We've compiled a list of key words that we figure people might have questions on. This is just a preliminary list of terms. If you run across cell phone terminology that you think would benefit others, please contact us.

0-9
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 users to send and receive.
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 ability to create responses.
1G	First generation of mobile wireless that utilizes analog air interface technology.
2.5G	Interim step building up to 3G involving overlay of higher-capacity data transmission capability to existing 2G digital wireless networks.
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 hearing disabilities.
802.11	IEEE standards for wireless LANs with specs for 1mbps, 2mbps, 11mbps, and 24mbps.
A
A and 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 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" side 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.
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.
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 a 3 percent federal telephone excise tax.
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 multimedia messaging, PCS and cell routing.
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 vary from about 20 cents to more than 40 cents per minute, depending on the service plan selected. Most carriers offer reduced rates for off-peak usage.
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 both the name of the individual and that individual's phone number on the cellular phone handset. The name also can be recalled by using the letters on the phone keypad. By contrast, standard memory dial recalls numbers from number-only locations.
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 U.S. business and the U.S. quality of life by promoting and facilitating voluntary consensus standards and conformity assessment systems, and safeguarding their integrity.
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) electrical signal that varies in amplitude or frequency in response to changes of sound, light, position, etc., impressed on a transducer in the sending device; opposite of digital.
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.
Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials-International (APCO)	Trade group headquartered in South Daytona, Fla., representing law enforcement, fire, emergency services and other public-safety agency dispatchers and communications employees.
Attenuation	The loss of signal energy due to absorption, reflection, or diffusion during transmission.
Authentication	The verification process to assure that a wireless device and its user are compatible with and authorized to access a wireless network. This process is accomplished through transmission of identifying data at the time of connection. Used for fraud prevention.
Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL)	Combining a location-sensing device (such as a GPS receiver) with a wireless communications link to provide a home office or dispatcher with the location of a vehicle or mobile asset (such as a trailer or heavy machinery).
Average Revenue Per Unit (ARPU)	Measures the average monthly revenue generated for each customer unit, such as a cellular phone or pager, that a carrier has in operation.
B
B Block	In early 1981, the FCC announced that it would approve two licenses in each market- a non-wireline company (which became known as the "A" side carrier), and a wireline company (the "B" side carrier).
B Carrier	Most areas of the US have two cellular carriers, each of which operates on a different frequency band. One is designated the "A" carrier and the other is designated the "B" carrier. In some markets there may be only one carrier which may be "A" or "B".
Bandwidth	The capacity of a telecom line to carry signals. A greater bandwidth indicates the ability to transmit a greater amount of data over a given period of time.
Base Station	The central radio transmitter/receiver that maintains communications with mobile radiotelephone sets within a given range (typically a cell site).
Base Station Controller (BSC)	The part of the wireless system's infrastructure that controls one or multiple cell sites' radio signals, thus reducing the load on the switch. Performs radio signal management functions for base transceiver stations, managing functions such as frequency assignment and handoff.
Base Transceiver Station (BTS)	The name for the antenna and radio equipment necessary to provide wireless service in an area. Also called a base station or cell site.
Basic Trading Area (BTA)	A geographic region defined by a group of counties that surround a city, which is the area's basic trading center. The boundaries of each BTA were formulated by Rand McNally & Co. and are used by the FCC determine service areas for PCS wireless licenses. The entire US and some of its territories is divided into 493 non-overlapping BTAs.
Bent Pipe Technology	Satellite technology to transmit calls from one point on Earth to a satellite and back down to another point.
Big LEO	Low-earth orbit satellite systems that will offer voice and data services, including Iridium and Globalstar.
Bluetooth	Wireless personal area network (PAN) standard that enables data connections between electronic devices such as desktop computers, wireless phones, electronic organizers and printers in the 2.4 GHz range at 720kbps within a 30-foot range. Bluetooth depends on mobile devices equipped with a chip for sending and receiving information.
Broadband	Describes a communications medium capable of transmitting a relatively large amount of data over a given period of time. A descriptive term for evolving digital technologies that offers integrated access to voice, high-speed data service, video-demand services, and interactive delivery services.
Broadband PCS	Personal communications services created in the A- through F-Block auctions and used for voice and data. Broadband PCS is allocated 140 MHz of spectrum with 20 MHz currently unassigned. Frequency blocks A, B, and C were each assigned 30 MHz of spectrum, while frequency blocks D, E, and F were each assigned 10 MHz of spectrum.
Bundling	Grouping various telecommunications services -- wireline and/or wireless -- as a package to increase the appeal to potential customers and reduce advertising, marketing and other expenses associated with delivering multiple services. For example, a bundled package could include long distance, cellular, Internet and paging services.