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.
O
|
Off-Peak |
Periods of time during which carriers offer discounted airtime charges. Each carrier designates its own off-peak hours, usually after normal business hours during the week, and weekends. |
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 (OBRA 93) |
The first legislation authorizing the FCC to auction spectrum. |
Operators Harmonization Group (OHG) |
A worldwide organization of operators and manufacturers dedicated to achieving a uniform standard for third-generation wireless systems. |
Over-The-Air Service Provisioning (OTASP) |
The ability of carriers to add new types of services to a customer's handset by using the wireless network instead of requiring the customer to bring the phone to a carrier's location for reprogramming. |
Overlay Area Code |
A solution to the scarcity of new phone numbers, overlays involve issuance of new 10-digit phone numbers for use alongside an area's existing seven-digit numbers, which have a different area code. |
P
|
Partitioning |
Dividing a spectrum license into two or more geographic areas. |
PCS Phone |
A wireless telephone that uses radiofrequency signals in the 1850-1990 megahertz (MHz) portion of the radiofrequency (RF) spectrum. PCS stands for portable communication system. |
Peak |
Highest-usage period of the business day when a cellular system carries the most calling traffic. |
Penetration |
The total number of subscribers for a carrier divided by the population that it serves expressed as a percentage. |
Personal Communications Industry Association (PCIA) |
A trade group representing PCS, SMR, private radio and other wireless users and carriers. |
Personal Communications Service (PCS) |
A second-generation digital voice, messaging and data cell phone system in the 2GHz range. PCS is supported mostly by GSM. PCS systems use a different radio frequency (1.9 GHz band) than cellular phones and generally use all digital technology for transmission and reception. "Digital PCS" is a redundancy, as all PCS are digital, but the phrase is used in marketing to distinguish PCS from cellular. |
Personal Digital Cellular (PDC) |
The Japanese cellular standard. |
Personal Identification Number (PIN) |
A code used by a mobile telephone number in conjunction with an SIM card to complete a call. |
PIN Unblocking Key (PUK) |
If a GSM or GAIT subscriber enters the wrong PIN three times in a row, then the wireless mobile phone is locked until the PUK is entered. |
Project 25 |
A joint government/industry standard setting effort to develop technical standards for the next generation of two-way communications equipment. |
Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) |
Traditional landline network that mobile wireless systems connect with to complete calls. |
Public Utility Commission (PUC) |
The state regulatory body charged with regulating utilities, including telecommunications. |
Public-Safety Answering Point (PSAP) |
The dispatch office that receives 911 calls from the public. A PSAP may be local fire or police department, an ambulance service or a regional office covering all services. |
Pull SMS |
The ability to request services (e.g. ringtones or games) from a wireless handset via Wireless Internet. The service requested is sent back to the handset via SMS. |
Push SMS |
The ability to request services (e.g. ringtones or games) from a wireless handset via sending a preset SMS code to a predetermined number. The service requested is sent back to the handset via SMS. |
R
|
Radiation |
The emission and transmission of energy through space or through a material medium. |
Radio Frequency (RF) |
The spectrum of electromagnetic energy between audio and light: 500 KHz to 300 GHz. |
Radio Waves |
Electromagnetic energy with frequencies in the 3000 hertz (3 kHz) to 300 billion Hertz (300 GHz) portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. |
Radio-Frequency Fingerprinting |
A process that identifies a cellular phone by the unique "fingerprint" that characterizes its signal transmission. RF fingerprinting is one process used to prevent cloning fraud, because a cloned phone will not have the same fingerprint as the legal phone with the same electronic identification numbers. |
Rate Center |
The geographic area used by local exchange carriers to set rate boundaries for billing and for issuing phone numbers. |
Repeater |
Device that receives a radio signal, amplifies it and retransmits it in a new direction. Used in wireless networks to extend the range of base station signals, expanding coverage more economically than building additional base stations. Repeaters typically are used for buildings, tunnels or difficult terrain. |
Roaming |
The ability to use your cellular phone outside your usual service area – when traveling outside of the "home" service area defined by a service provider. Higher per-minute rates are usually charged for calls made or received while roaming. Long distance rates and a daily access fee may also apply. |
Roaming Agreement |
An agreement between two or more wireless telephone companies outlining the terms and conditions under which the participating companies will provide wireless service to each others subscribers. Roaming agreements commonly are used where no one company can offer complete national and international coverage. |
Round-Up Calls/Billing |
When calls are billed by the minute, any call that uses a portion of a minute is rounded up and billed for the whole minute. For example, if you make a call that lasts 3 minutes and 2 seconds, you are billed for a 4-minute call. |
