Bandwidth
The capacity of a telecom line to carry signals. The necessary bandwidth is the amount of spectrum required to transmit the signal without distortion or loss of information. FCC rules require suppression of the signal outside the band to prevent interference.

 

Bluetooth
The name for a technological standard (a communications protocol) that enables mobile devices equipped with a special chip to send and receive information wirelessly. Using Bluetooth, electronic devices such as desktop computers, wireless phones, electronic organizers and printers can communicate over short-ranges using the 2.4 GHz spectrum band.

 

Broadband
Broadband is a descriptive term for evolving digital technologies that provide consumers a signal switched facility offering integrated access to voice, high-speed data service, video-demand services, and interactive delivery services.

 

Carrier
Also known as service provider or operator, a carrier is the communications company that provides customers service (including air time) for their wireless phones.

 

Cell Site
The location where a wireless antenna and network communications equipment is placed in order to provide wireless service in a geographic area.

 

Channel / Circuit
A communications pathway that may take the form of a connection established over wireless, wired, or fiber optic facilities.

 

DSL (Digital Subscriber Line)
A digital line connecting the subscriber's terminal to the serving company's central office, providing multiple communications channels able to carry both voice and data communications simultaneously.

 

Edge
Enhanced Data Rate for Global Evolution is an evolutionary step in the GSM-development path for faster delivery of data, delivered at rates up to 384 Kbps. The standard is based on the GSM technology platform and uses the TDMA approach (see TDMA, below).

 

GPRS (General Packet Radio Service)
A packet technology approach that enables high-speed wireless Internet and other GSM-based data communications. It makes very efficient use of available radio spectrum for transmission of data.

 

GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications)
A technological approach also based on dividing wireless calls into time slots. GSM is most common in Europe, Australia and much of Asia and Africa. Generally, GSM phones from the United States are not compatible with international GSM networks because the U.S. and many other nations use different frequencies for mobile communications. However, some phones are equipped with a multi-band capability to operate on such other frequencies.

 

Handoff
The process when a wireless network automatically switches a mobile call to an adjacent cell site.

 

High Definition Television (HDTV)
An improved television system which provides approximately twice the vertical and horizontal resolution of existing television standards. It also provides audio quality approaching that of compact discs.

 

Interconnection
Connecting one wireless network to another, such as linking a wireless carrier's network with a local telephone company's network.

 

Interoperability
The ability of a network to coordinate and communicate with other networks, such as two systems based on different protocols or technologies.

 

LAN (Local Area Network)
Local Area Network (LAN) is a small data network covering a limited area, such as a building or group of buildings. Most LANs connect workstations or personal computers. This allows many users to share devices, such as laser printers, as well as data. The LAN also allows easy communication, by facilitating e-mail or supporting chat sessions.

MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area)
One of the 306 urban-centered cellular service areas based on the largest urban markets as designated by the U.S. government in 1980. Two "cellular” service operators are licensed in each MSA.

 

MTA (Major Trading Area)
A geographic area designed by Rand McNally to reflect business centers, and adopted by the FCC for the licensing of Personal Communications Services and some other wireless services. MTAs are composed of neighboring basic trading areas (BTAs) associated with major business centers. The U.S. is divided into 51 MTAs, which do not reflect state boundaries.

 

MTSO (Mobile Telephone Switching Office)
The central computer that connects wireless phone calls to the public telephone network. The MTSO controls the series of operations required to complete wireless calls, including verifying calls, billing and antenna handoffs.

 

Number Portability
The ability of a customer to retain their telephone number when changing service providers in a specific area, whether changing from one wireless company to another, one wireline company to another, or between wirelesss and wireline companies.

 

PDA (Personal Digital Assistant)
A portable computing device capable of transmitting data. These devices offer services such as paging, data messaging, e-mail, computing, faxes, date books and other information management capabilities.

 

PSD (Packet Switched Data)
A technological approach in which the communication "pipe” is shared by several users, thus making it very efficient. The data is sent to a specific address with a short delay. This delay depends on how many users are using the pipe at any one time as well as the level of priority requested for your information. PSD is the technology used for data communication across the Internet and makes more efficient use of the network.

 

Roaming
The use of a wireless phone 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.

 

RSA (Rural Service Area)
One of the 428 rural markets across the United States, as designated by the FCC for the delivery of cellular service outside of the initial 306 MSAs.

 

Smart Phone
Wireless phones with advanced data features and often keyboards. What makes the phone "smart" is its ability to manage and transmit data in addition to voice calls.

 

SMS
Short Messaging Service enables users to send and receive short text messages (usually about 160 characters) on wireless handsets. Sometimes referred to as "text messaging.”

 

Spectrum
The range of electromagnetic radio frequencies used in the transmission of sound, data and television.

 

Subscriber Line Charge (SLC)
A monthly fee paid by telephone subscribers that is used to compensate the local telephone company for part of the cost of installation and maintenance of the telephone wire, poles and other facilities that link your home to the telephone network. These wires, poles and other facilities are referred to as the "local loop." The SLC is one component of access charges.

 

Tariff
The documents filed by a carrier describing their services and the payments to be charged for such services.

 

3G
A general term that refers to technologies which offer increased capacity and capabilities delivered over digital wireless networks.

UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications Systems)
This is third generation technology generally based on W-CDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access). UMTS promises a communications speed between 384 kbps and up to about 2 Mbps.

 

The financial mechanism which helps compensate telephone companies or other communications entities for providing access to telecommunications services at reasonable and affordable rates throughout the country, including rural, insular and high costs areas, and to public institutions. Companies, not consumers, are required by law to contribute to this fund. The law does not prohibit companies from passing this charge on to customers.

 

VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)
VoIP is not simply capable of delivering voice over IP, but is also designed to accommodate two-way video conferencing and application sharing as well. Based on IP technology, VoIP is used to transfer a wide range of different type traffic.

 

WAN (Wide Area Network)
A general term referring to a large network spanning a country or around the world. The Internet is a WAN. A public mobile communication system such as a cellular or PCS network is a WAN.

 

WAP (Wireless Application Protocol)
Wireless Application Protocol is a set of standards that enables wireless devices, such as phones, pagers and palm devices, to browse content from specially-coded Web pages.

 

WiFi (Wireless Fidelity)
WiFi provides wireless connectivity over unlicensed spectrum (using the IEEE 802.11a or 802.11b standards), generally in the 2.4 and 5 GHz radio bands. Wi-Fi offers local area connectivity to WiFi-enabled computers.

 

Wireless Private Branch Exchange (PBX)
Equipment that allows employees or customers within a building or limited area to use wireless devices in place of traditional landline phones.