Ever been stuck for an answer when the customer you are talking to asks “What does this mean?”

Our quick reference glossary is here to help. We’ve included a brief description of the main technical terms currently ‘in use’ in the mobile world, listed in alphabetical order.

As mobile technology continues to advance, we’ll update the glossary to keep pace with the changes. But if there’s a term or phrase you’ve read or heard that isn’t in the glossary and you’re not sure what it means, let us know. Send an email to glossary@motovate.com.au highlighting the term or phrase in the subject line.

Of course, most customers aren’t in the slightest bit interested in how something works. They want to know what it does, and why that makes the product a better choice for them. So while the technical stuff sounds impressive, don’t get too caught up in all the jargon. Help demystify it for the customer. Explain the feature – then sell the benefit!

For example, if you’re selling a Motorola C350, you may want to explain to the customer about its EMS feature, an Enhanced Messaging Service that goes beyond the standard SMS feature, enabling the user to send animations, pictures or sounds rather than just plain text messages. The benefit is that they can have a lot more fun with any of their friends who also have EMS! Give them an example of what they can do!

Glossary of Terms:

1G: First generation wireless: analogue wireless phones.

2G: Second generation wireless: digital wireless phones on circuit switched networks.

2.5G: Second generation wireless system with the integration of GPRS

2.75G: A 2.5G wireless system with the integration of EDGE

3G: Third generation wireless: digital wireless devices on packet switched networks. Supporting simultaneous Voice and Data calls. Also supporting live video streaming.

AU,au: Format for audio files

AVI: Audio Video Interleaved. Multimedia file format for storing sound and pictures.

Backlit: Device is illuminated from behind and will be underexposed unless a fill flash or exposure compensation is used.

Bandwidth: The information capacity of a communications resource, usually measured in bits per second.

Bluetooth: A new short-range wireless initiative for connecting wireless phones to computing devices etc.

BMP: Microsoft Windows Bitmap. A graphics file format.

Bookmark: A URL and header/title stored in the phone, enabling the user to go directly to a Web or WAP page.

BPS: Bits Per Second. A measurement of data rate.

Broadband: A classification of the information capacity or bandwidth of a communication channel. Broadband is generally taken to mean bandwidth higher than 2 Mbps.

Browser: Software used to view and interact with Internet websites.

Byte: A string of eight bits. 1024 bytes make a kilobyte (KB), and 1024KB make a megabyte (MB).

Call Congestion: Failure by a telecommunications network to establish a call. Mobile phone caters usually receive a record voice announcement indicating the call could not be connected.

Call Drop: Unintended disconnection of a call by a telecommunications network usually caused by a fall in the radio signal strength.

CDMA: Code Division Multiple Access. The code division technology was originally developed for military use more than 30 years ago. CDMA is a multiple access technique, which uses code sequences as traffic channels within common radio.

CDMA2000: 3G evolved from CDMAone. The CDMA community’s proposal fro a system standard for 3G services.

1xRTT CDMA: Specifically, 1xRTT (otherwise known as 3G 1x) represents one times radio transmission technology with 1.25 MHz channels. This technology supports peak data speeds up to 144 kbps, with average speeds of 50 to 70 kbps, and up to a doubling of voice capacity.

Cell: The basic geographical unit of a cellular communications system. Service coverage of a given area is based on an interlocking network of cells, each with a radio base station (transmitter/receiver) at its center. The size of each cell is determined by the terrain and forecasted number of users.

Cell Broadcast: Location based service on your handset that shows you which mobile phone tower your handset is receiving coverage from.

Churn: Transfer of a customers telecommunication service from one provider to another.

Circuit switching: A core network transmission technique in which an entire channel or circuit is taken up to deliver a data transmission. During a data session, a circuit is left open through the whole session, even when no information (voice, data) is being transmitted. Circuit switching is being succeeded by packet switching. Standard transmission speed on CSD is 9.6kps

CLI: Calling Line Identification. A feature that shows the number of the person calling you on your mobile phone screen.

Compactflash: Type of memory card

Com Port: Serial/RS-232 port within the Microsoft Windows environment.

Coverage Area: Geographic area within which mobile phone calls can be made.

Data Rate: The volume of data transmitted over a period of time. Usually measured in bits per second.

Digital Image: A picture made up of pixels and recorded as data.

Digital Zoom: A process that simulates the effect of a camera lens zoom by cropping photos and enlarging the remaining image. Image quality is usually reduced.

Download: The process of transferring data from one source to another, e.g. transferring ringtones over-the-air via SMS from a website to your phone’s memory.

DPI: Dots Per Inch. A measurement of image resolution.

DTMF: Dual Tone Multi-Frequency. A method of coding digits as a combination of two audible tones.

Dual-Band: Refers to mobile phones that can switch between two different bands of frequencies (GSM 900 and GSM 1800).

EDGE: Enhanced Data rates for Global Evolution, an enhanced radio modulation technique for GSM and TDMA (ANSI-136) networks, is a technology that that increases available time slots and data rates over existing wireless networks. EDGE expands radio timeslots to 48 kbps. When combined with GPRS, it gives a maximum bandwidth of 384 kbps.

E-GPRS: Enhanced GPRS, another term for EDGE.

EMS: (Enhanced Messaging Service) Enables you to send preloaded animations, pictures and sounds from one EMS enabled handset to another.

Fixed wireless (or fixed cellular) network: This apparent contradiction in terms signifies a cellular network that is set up to support fixed rather than mobile subscribers. Fixed wireless is increasingly being used as a fast and economic way to roll out modern telephone services, since it avoids the need for fixed wires.

FPS: Frames Per Second. A measure of the rate at which pictures are shown for a motion video image.

GB: Gigabyte. Unit of computer memory equal to 1024 megabytes.

GHz: Gigahertz. Unit of audio frequency equal to one billion

GIF: Graphics Interchange Format. A graphics file format that also supports animated images.

GPRS: General Packet Radio Service. A GSM data transmission technique that transmits and receives data in packets rather than setting up a continuous channel from a portable terminal for the transmission and reception of data.

GSM: Global System for Mobile communications. Originally defined as a pan-European standard for a digital cellular telephone network, to support cross-border roaming, GSM is now one of the world's main digital wireless standards. It can be implemented in 850 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz or 1900 MHz frequency bands.

Greyscale: A range of tones between pure black and white.

GUI: Graphical User Interface. A computer display that uses menus, icons and folders to represent computer functions.

Handoff: A handoff occurs when a user moves from one cell to another and a frequency channel changes without the user's intervention.

Handsfree Speakerphone: Built-in speakerphone ability that allows you to hold a conversation without holding the phone to your ear.

HSCSD: A handoff occurs when a user moves from one cell to another and a frequency channel changes without the user's intervention.

HTML: Hypertext Markup Language. A set of markup symbols or codes inserted for display on a World Wide Web browser page.

Hz: Hertz. The unit measurement of audio frequency equal to one cycle of electromagnetic radiation per second,

IMAP: Internet Message Access Protocol. Used to collect e-mail from a mail service

IMEI: International Mobile Equipment Identity Number Unique electronic serial number of GSM mobile phone handsets, which can be used by mobile carriers to block calls to and from stolen handsets.

iMode: iMode is NTT DoCoMo's mobile internet access system. "iMode" is also a trademark and/or service mark owned by NTT DoCoMo. Technically iMode is an overlay over NTT-DoCoMo's ordinary mobile voice system. While the voice system is "circuit-switched" (i.e. you need to dial-up), iMode is "packet-switched".

Infrared: Wirefree communication and data transfer via an infrared port. Infrared devices have to be lined-up (requires line-of-sight) before data transmission can commence.

IrDA: The Infrared Data Association, Dedicated to developing standards for wireless. Infrared transmission systems between devices.

ISDN: Integrated Services Digital Network. A switched network providing end-to-end digital connectivity for the simultaneous transmission of voice, data, video, imaging and fax over several multiplexed communications channels. ISDN employs high-speed, out-of-band signaling protocols that conform to international standards.

JAVA: A technology that is both a programming language and a selection of specialised platforms. It enables almost any application - including games, tools, and information programs and services - to run on any computer PDA’s and mobile phones.

JPEG: Joint Photographic Experts Group. Graphics file format for still image compression.

KB: Kilobyte. Unit of computer memory equal to 1024 bytes.

kbps, kbit/s: Kilobits Per Second. One thousand bits per second. kbps is the standard measure of data rate and transmission capacity.

KHz: Kilohertz, Unit of audio frequency equal to one thousand Hertz.

LCD: Liquid Crystal Display. Small light display lit by running a current through an electrically reactive substance held between two electrodes.

Lithium-ion. Li-ion: Powerful rechargeable batteries. Usually provides more energy capacity than Nickel Metal Hydride batteries of the same weight. Not affected by the memory effect.

MaH: Milliamp hours. Unit of measurement to describe a battery’s performance.

MB: Megabyte. Unit of computer memory equals to 1 million bytes.

Mbps, Mbit/s: Megabits Per Second. Million bits per second.

Megapixel: 1 million pixels

Memory: Refers to a computer’s storage capacity.

Memory effect: The decrease of a rechargeable battery’s power capacity over time.

Memory stick: Type of transportable data storage device.

MHz: Megahertz. One million hertz. One million cycles per second. Used to measure band and bandwidth.

Micro browser: A Web browser optimized to run in the low-memory and small-screen environment of a Net device.

MIDI: Musical Instrument Digital Interface, A protocol for recording and playing back music on digital synthesizers.

MIME: Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions, A protocol defining how messages are sent on the Internet.

MMC: Multimedia Card, Type of transportable storage media.

MMS: (Multimedia Service) This feature enables you to take and send messages that may contain photographs, text, sounds and video recordings. You are then able to send these messages to other MMS handsets or an email address. (This is dependent upon the capabilities of the handset)

MP3: MPEG Audio Layer-3, A standard technology and format for compressing a sound sequence into a very small file while almost preserving the original level of sound quality when it is played. Commonly used to distribute music on the Internet and on portable players.

MPEG: Moving Picture Experts Group. A working group in charge of the development of standards for the coded

MPEG4: A standard for digital video and digital audio compression.

Multimedia: In the context of mobile communications, a service that may combine voice, data, graphics and video information.

Narrowband: A classification of the information capacity or bandwidth of a communication channel. Narrowband is generally taken to mean a bandwidth of 64 kbps or below.

NiMh: Nickel Metal Hydride. Commonly used rechargeable batteries. Not affected by the memory effect.

OS: Operating System, such as Symbian OS, Linux, and Windows

OTA: Over-The-Air. A standard for the transmission and reception of application-related information in a wireless communications system.

Packet Switching: A core network transmission technique that involves splitting information into "packets" of data that are organized in a specific way that includes control information (destination, origin length, etc.), the data, and error correction and detection bits. It is attractive for mobile access because radio spectrum is used only when data is actually being transmitted. It is a progression forward from today's circuit switched data.

PCS: Personal Communications Services. Broad range of telecommunications services that enable people and devices to communicate independent of location. PCS networks and devices operate over a wide range of frequencies assigned and authorized by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

PIM: Public Switched Telephone Network. The traditional, wired telephone network.

Pixel: Tiny square of digital data. The basis of all digital images.

Polyphonic Ringtone: A polyphonic ringtone plays multiple instruments from a MIDI file at the same time, making the ringtone sound like music.

POP3: Post Office Protocol 3. Most recent version of a standard protocol for collecting e-mail from a mail server.

Predictive text: A mobile phone feature that predicts the word you are typing. Reducing the number of keystrokes required.

Protocol: In information technology, a protocol is the special set of rules that end points in a telecommunication connection use when they communicate,

PSTN: Public Switched Telephone Network. The traditional, wired telephone network.

PTT / PoC:Push-To-Talk / Push over Cellular. A service that allows you to use a mobile phone like a traditional radio-based walkie-talkie.

PUK: Personal Unblocking Code. A code used to unblock a blocked SIM card, obtained from your network or service provider.

Resolution: Number of pixels stored in a digital image.

Roaming: Ability of a mobile phone user to travel from one cell to another, with complete communications continuity. Roaming is supported by a cellular network of radio base stations. It also is roaming is also the term given for inter-network operability, i.e. moving from one network provider to another (internationally).

SAR rating:Specific Absorption Rate. Standard unit for measuring the amount of radiation that is absorbed into the body (usually the head) when using a mobile phone. The higher the SAR rating. the more radiation is emitted by the mobile phone.

Service Provider: A company that provides services and subscriptions.

SIM Card: Subscriber Identity Module card. A smart card that is inserted into GSM phones. Contains your phone account information.

Smart phone: A cellular phone that can connect to the Internet for tasks like Web browsing and sending and receiving e-mail. Smart phones typically include a personal digital assistant.

SMS: Short Message Service. Allows messages of up to 160 characters to be sent and received via the network operator’s message centre to a mobile phone.

SMTP: Simple Mail Transfer Protocol. Protocol used to send e-mail from an e-mail client via an SMTP server.

Standby time: The number of hours that a freshly charged battery will keep a mobile phone running without making or receiving a call.

SyncML: Universal protocol for data synchronisation. developed by the SynchML Initiative Ltd.

Talk time: The number of minutes that a freshly-charged battery allow you to make or take calls on a mobile phone.

TDMA: Time Division Multiple Access. A digital transmission technique used for GSM, D-AMPS (IS-136) and PDC air interfaces. D-AMPS in North America is often called just TDMA.

TFT display: Thin-Film Transistor display. An LCD that has a transistor for each pixel. The current that triggers pixel illumination is smaller, brighter and can be switched on and off more quickly compared to other methods of LCD’s.

TIFF: Lossless graphics file format used to store high quality images.

Tri-band: Refers to mobile phones that can switch between three different bands of frequencies (GSM 900, 1800 and 1900).

UFB display: Ultra Fine and Bright display. An LCD that has lower energy-consuming features compared to TE displays, and brighter image capabilities than STN displays. Allows up to 65k colour for mobile handset displays.

UMTS: Universal Mobile Telephone Service. Another term for a 3G service and handset.

URL: Uniform Resource Locator. Points to a service or information on the Internet, e.g. http://moto-zone.com.au

USB: Universal Serial Bus. A plug-and-play interface between a computer and add-on devices (such as mobile phones, audio players. scanners and printers).

VGA: Video Graphics Array. Graphics standard introduced by IBM, with a resolution of 640 x 480 pixels.

WAP: Wireless Application Protocol. A global, open standard for on-line service access from small-screen mobile phones.

WAV: Waveform audio. An audio file format.

WCDMA: For wideband wireless access to support third-generation services. This technology is optimised to allow very high-speed multimedia services such as full-motion video, Internet access and video-conferencing.

WiFi: (short for "wireless fidelity") is the popular term for a high-frequency wireless local area network (WLAN).

WML: Wireless Markup Language. Used for authoring services, fulfilling the same

xHTML: Extensible Hypertext Markup Language. A reformulation of HTML 4.0 in XML. xHTML can be viewed, edited and validated with standard XML tools.

xHTML browser: Used to view web pages written in xHTML. Newer mobile handsets have xHTML browsers installed to view pages from the Internet using WAP or GPRS.

XML: Extensible Markup Language, A flexible way to create common information formats and share both the format and the data on the World Wide Web, intranets, and elsewhere.