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.
C
|
C Block |
The third PCS license that was auctioned by the FCC in May 1996. Each contains 30 MHz of spectrum in the 1900 MHz band and is based on BTA geographic partitions. The licenses were reserved for small businesses and entrepreneurs. |
Call Barring |
Enables you to restrict or bar certain or all types of calls to and from your mobile phone, i.e. outgoing calls, outgoing international calls, incoming calls. Barring is activated with a personal code. |
Call Divert |
Enables you to divert incoming calls to another phone or answering service. |
Call Hold |
Enables you to put a caller on hold while a second call is answered or made. |
Call Restriction |
Enables you to restrict or bar certain or all types of calls to and from your mobile phone, i.e. outgoing calls, outgoing international calls, incoming calls. |
Call Transfer |
Enables you to transfer a caller to another number. |
Call Waiting |
If your line is busy, callers are asked to wait while you are alerted to their incoming call. |
Caller ID |
An enhanced feature that displays a caller's phone number on the wireless handset receiving the call. Many systems are adding the caller's name to the caller ID. |
Calling Plan |
A rate plan selected by subscribers when they start up cellular service, usually consisting of a base rate for system access and a per-minute rate for usage. Service plans are designed to provide the most cost-effective rates for different types and amounts of usage by the cellular subscriber. |
Cap Code |
A pager's unique electronic identification number. |
cdma2000 |
A 3G technology that is an evolutionary outgrowth of cdmaOne. It offers operators who have deployed a 2G cdmaOne system a seamless migration path to 3G. cdma2000 supports the 2G network aspect of all existing operators regardless of technology (cdmaOne IS-136 TDMA, or GSM). This standard is also known by its ITU name IMT-CDMA Multi-Carrier (1X/3X). cdma2000 has been divided into 2 phases. The first phase capabilities are defined in a standard known as 1X, which introduces 144 kbps packet data in a mobile environment and speeds beyond this in a fixed environment. cdma2000 phase two, known as 3X, incorporates the capabilities of 1X. It also supports all channel sizes (5 MHz, 10 MHz, etc.), provides circuit and packet data rates up to 2 Mbps, incorporates advance multimedia capabilities, and includes a framework for advanced 3G voice services and vocoders, including voice over packet and circuit data. |
cdmaOne |
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-powered radio transmitter/receiver. The cells can vary in size depending upon terrain, capacity demands, etc. By controlling the transmission power, the radio frequencies assigned to one cell can be limited to the boundaries of that cell. When a wireless phone moves from one cell toward another, a computer at the Mobile Telephone Switching Office (MTSO) monitors the movement and at the proper time, transfers or hands off the phone call to the new cell and another radio frequency. The handoff is performed so quickly that it is not noticeable to the callers. |
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 controllers. A cell site is operated by a Wireless Service Provider (WSP). |
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 lower power MHz and thus offers the ability to reuse frequencies more times in a larger geographic coverage area, such as a city or MTA. |
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 switching office, and ultimately to the public wireline telephone system. Called 'cellular' because the system uses many base stations to divide a service area into multiple 'cells'. Cellular calls are transferred from base station to base station as a user travels from cell to cell. |
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 channels of existing cellular voice networks. CDPD provides 19.2 Kbps and is deployed by AT&T among several other carriers. |
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 service and usage. The FCC governs the usage of CPNI. Generally, information about a customer's account is considered proprietary until the customer authorizes its use. |
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 Internet via their wireless handset (handset must be WAP compatible). |
ClassLink |
A program of the CTIA Foundation providing wireless phones to schools for teacher use and student Internet access. |
Clone/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 knowingly using, producing, trafficking in, having control or custody of, or possessing hardware or software knowing that it has been configured to insert or modify telecommunication identifying information associated with or contained in a telecommunications instrument so that such instrument may be used to obtain telecommunications service without authorization. |
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 the encoded speech over the air and reassembles the speech to its original form at the other end. CDMA supports SMS with a message length of 120 characters. With CDMA, each conversation is digitized and then tagged with a code. The mobile phone receives a signal to locate that particular code and it then deciphers the conversation off the airwaves. It codes each conversation expanding it 128 times, making it easy to decipher at the receiving end. |
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. |
Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC) |
Any telephone company that offers service in a specific area. Now that the industry has been deregulated, several companies may offer service in a single area. New ones entering a market are Competitive Local Exchange Carriers. The original telephone company at the time of deregulation is known as the Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier (See also "ILEC"). |
Content Services |
Paging service, beyond telephone number alerts, that include news and sports headlines, personalized stock quotes, driving directions, restaurant reviews and information contained on Internet sites. |
Control Channel |
A logic channel carrying network information rather than the actual voice or data messages transmitted over the network. |
Coverage |
Refers to the region within which a paging receiver can reliably receive the transmission of the paging signals. |
Crosstalk |
Interference in a wireless communications system from other conversations in nearby cells using the same channel. |
Customer Acquisition Cost |
The average cost to a carrier of signing up an individual subscriber. Some of the factors included in the cost are handset subsidies, marketing, advertising and promotions. |
D
|
D and E PCS Blocks |
The fourth and fifth PCS licenses that were auctioned by the FCC in January 1997. Each contains MHz of spectrum in the 1900 MHz band and is based on BTA geographical partitions. The licenses were reserved for smaller businesses and entrepreneurs. |
Decibel (dB) |
A unit of measure used to express relative difference in power or intensity of sound. |
Digital |
A method of encoding information using a binary code of 0s and 1s from electrical pulses. Because digital signals are made up only of binary streams, less information is needed to transmit a message. Digital encoding therefore increases the capacity of a given radio frequency. Furthermore, only digitized information can be transported through a noisy channel without degradation. Digital technology reproduces sound exactly, and can even filter out background and electronic "noise." Even if corruption occurs, as long as the one zero patterns are recognizable, the original information content can be perfectly replicated at the receiving end. Most new wireless phones and networks use digital technology. |
Digital Cellular System (DCS 1800) |
A global system for mobile communications-based PCS network used outside of the U.S. |
Digital Signal Processor (DSP) |
A microprocessor that digitizes analog signals. |
Disaggregation |
The splitting of a spectrum license into two or more licenses of fewer frequencies. |
Downlink |
The portion of a telecommunications path from a satellite to the ground. Also referred to as the reverse link. |
Drive Test |
A method of taking signal strength measurements in a cellular coverage area. |
Dual Band |
A feature on some wireless phones that allows the handset to operate using either the 800 MHz cellular or the 1900 MHz PCS frequencies. |
Dual Mode |
A feature on some wireless phones that allows the handset to operate on both analog and digital networks. |
