CellularOne : Glossary

' A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P R S T U V W

'A' Carrier
Refers to a cellular carrier that usually has no involvement in providing conventional telephone services. A non-wireline carrier is also known as a Block A carrier.

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A-Band Cellular
In the U.S. cellular duopoly, the alternative carrier to the regional Bell operating company's cellular subsidiary.

A/B Select
A feature found on cellular telephones permitting the user to select either the "A" (non-wireline) carrier or the "B" (wireline).

Access Fee
A special fee that local telephone companies are allowed to charge customers for the right to connect with the local phone network. Cellular subscribers contribute to access fees and pay a federal 3 percent telephone excise tax.

Air Interface
The standard operating system of a wireless network; technologies include AMPS, TDMA, CDMA and GSM.

Airtime
Actual time spent using a wireless telephone.

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 wireless 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.

AMPS
Advance Mobile Phone Service is the analog cellular standard decided upon and implemented by all cellular carriers infrastructure and handsets manufacturers in North America.

Analog
The traditional method of modulation radio signals so that they can carry information. AM (amplitude modulation) and FM (frequency modulation) are the two most common methods of analog modulation. Analog modulation techniques have been around for more than 50 years and offer a proven, known method of transmitting information. U.S. cellular systems today carry phone conversations using analog, but the industry has begun switching to digital. See also DIGITAL MODULATION.

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B-Band Cellular
In the U.S. cellular duopoly, the regional Bell operating company's cellular subsidiary.

Band
A portion of the radio frequency spectrum. Cellular communications take place in the 800- Mhz region of the UHF band. See also BLOCK,UHF.

Bandwidth
A relative range of frequencies that can carry a signal without distortion on a transmission medium. Sometimes referred to as the "pipe."

Block (of frequencies)
A group of radio frequencies within a band set aside for a particular purpose. Cellular telephony uses four blocks of frequencies within the 800-Mhz portion of the UHF band. Nonwireline and wireline carriers are assigned separate blocks of frequencies, as are cell sites, and cellular units. See also BAND.

Broadband
Using a wide-bandwidth channel for voice, data and/or video services.

Broadband PCS
Synonymous with personal communications services created in the A- through F- block auctions and used for voice and data.

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CALEA
Communications Assistance to Law Enforcement Act is a 1994 law granting law-enforcement agencies the ability to wiretap new digital networks and requiring wireless and wireline carriers to enable eavesdropping equipment use in digital networks.

Caller ID
An enhanced feature that displays a caller's phone number on the wireless handset.

Calling party pays
This service bills the originator of a call to a wireless device rather than the receiver and is more common in other countries than in the United States.

Carrier
A company that provides telephone (or another communication) service. Also, an unmodulated radio signal. See also NONWIRELINE, WIRELINE.

CDMA
Code Division Multiple Access is a spread spectrum air interface technology used in some digital cellular, PCS and other wireless networks. It translates human voice into code, attaches a second unique code to the conversation, and it send it through the system along with up to ten other uniquely-coded conversions.

CDPD
Cellular digital packet data is an enhanced system overlay for transmitting and receiving data over cellular networks.

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 or capacity demands. 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 Switching Center (MSC) monitors the movement and at the appropriate time, transfers or hands-off the phone call to the new cell and another radio frequency. The hand-off is performed so quickly that it's not perceptible to the caller.

Cell Site
The cellular transmitting and receiving station used to relay calls and information between the MSC and the wireless phone.

Cell Splitting
A means of increasing the capacity of a cellular system by subdividing or splitting cells into two or more smaller cells.

CellularOne
The nationally recognized "brand name" of a non-wireline cellular carrier.

CGSA
Cellular Geographic Service Area. The actual area in which a cellular company provides cellular service. This area may be somewhat smaller than the Metropolitan Statistical Area surrounding it.

Channel
A frequency pair. There are currently 832 channels (including those for control signals) assigned to cellular use. See also CONTROL SIGNAL, FREQUENCY PAIR.

Clear Key
The key you press to erase or clear erroneous information entered into a phone's memory. See also MEMORY.

CLEC
Competitive Local Exchange Carrier is a new entrant providing local wireline phone service.

Clone
A wireless phone programmed with stolen or duplicated electronic serial and mobile identification numbers.

CMRS
Commercial mobile radio service is 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.

Coaxial Cable
A type of cable used to carry signals in radio and other electronic communication. It consists of a center conductor surrounded by a cylindrical layer of insulation, which, in turn is covered by a tube of braided copper wire or of thin foil. The whole is encased in a layer of protective insulation. The cable in cable TV is coaxial cable. See also HARD LINE.

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. Collocation can be affected by competitive and interference factors. Some companies act as brokers, arranging for sites and coordinating several carriers' antennas at a single site.

Connect Time
The period your wireless phone is in radio contact with a cell site, not to be confused with the length of time your conversation lasts. Connect time is measured from the time your phone's IN USE indicator lights up until the time it goes off when you press the END key.

Control Head
The part of a wireless phone installation, generally located near the handset, that acts as the "go between" between the phone user and the transceiver/logic unit. In some phones, the control head is the handset.

Control Signal
A signal sent by a cell site to a wireless phone, or vise versa, carry information necessary to the operation (and cooperation) of the two but not including the audio portion of a conversation, or the channels used for control. The signals are separate from those used for voice. Control signals also flow between a wireless phone's handset and its transceiver/logic unit.

COW
Cell site on wheels. A mobile site placed at a location to fill in or increase coverage.

CPE
Consumer premise equipment. Telephones, private branch exchanges and other communications devices located in the home or office.

Cross Talk
The problem of hearing voices from one channel imposed on another channel.

CTIA
Cellular Telecommunications Internet Association is a trade group representing cellular, PCS and enhanced specialized mobile radio carriers.

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D-AMPS
Digital AMPS is used by Ericsson Inc. to describe IS-136 time division multiple access technology.

DCS 1800
Digital cellular system is a global system for mobile communications-based PCS network used outside of the United States.

Dead Spot
A location in a cellular system where for various reasons, signals do not operate. See also MULTIPATH.

Digital Channel
A radio channel that transmits voice in digital form. Voice data is encoded as a stream of information bits before being converted to a radio signal. After reception, the data is decoded back into sound.

Digital Modulation
A new method of encoding information for transmission that is replacing standard analog. The information, or in this case, voice conversation, is turned into series of digital bits - the 0s and 1s of computer binary language. At the receiving end, the information is converted back into recognizable speech. Digital transmission offers a cleaner signal, virtually immune to the problems that plague analog modulation such as fading and static. (To appreciate the difference, compare the fidelity of a standard LP record, complete with background noise caused by dust hiss, with that of one of the new digital compact discs.) Digital transmission also has been embraced by the cellular industry because it offers major gains in capacity compared to analog.

Directional Antenna
An antenna or array of antennas designed to concentrate a radio signal on a particular area.

Drive test
A method of taking signal strength measurements in a cellular coverage area.

Dropout
A momentary loss of signal. Brief dropouts interrupt a wireless phone conversation; longer ones can result in being disconnected by the system.

Dual band
Describes a handset that works on 800 Mhz cellular and 1900 Mhz PCS frequencies.

Dual mode
Describes a handset that works on both analog and digital networks.

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E911
Enhanced 911 is a 911 service that becomes E911 when automatic number identification and automatic location information is provided to the 911 operator.

Echo
A sound heard on a digital call which sends the sound of your voice back to you. Often turning down the volume on the phone minimizes this sound.

Electronic serial number
The unique identification number embedded in a wireless phone by the manufacturer. Each time a call is placed, the ESN is automatically transmitted to the base station so the wireless carrier's mobile switching office can check the call's validity. The ESN cannot be altered in the field.

Encryption
The process of "scrambling" a message such as a digital phone signal to prevent it from being read by unauthorized parties, thus adding an extra measure of security to prevent eavesdropping.

ESMR
Enhanced specialized mobile radio. Digital SMR networks, usually referring to Nextel Communications Inc. and Geotek Communications Inc., that provide dispatch, voice, messaging and data services.

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FCC
Federal Communications Commission is the federal agency responsible for commercial and private spectrum management.

Flash Memory
A component used for memory that can retain information without power.

Fraud Protection
Prevention of illegal access to the ESN number and additional means to identify the cellular caller.

Frequency Reuse
The ability to use the same frequencies repeatedly within a single system, made possible by the basic design approach for cellular.

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GPS
Global positioning system is a series of 24 geosynchronous satellites that continuously transmit their position. Used in personal tracking, navigation and automatic vehicle location technologies.

GSM
Global system for mobile communications is a digital cellular or PCS network used throughout the world.

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

Hands-free
A feature for mobile phones that allows the driver to use their car phones without lifting or holding the handset to their ear.

HDML
Handheld Device Markup Language is written to allow Internet access from wireless devices such as handheld personal computers and smart phones. Derived from hypertext markup language. One version of HDML is Unwired Planet Inc.'s UP.Link.

HLR
Home location register is a database residing in a local wireless network that checks the identity of a local subscriber.

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iDEN
Integrated digital enhanced network is a Motorola ESMR network technology that combines two-way radio, telephone, text messaging and data transmission into one network.

ILEC
Incumbent local exchange carrier is the historic local phone service provider in a market, often a former Bell company; distinct from CLECs.

Interconnection
The connecting of one network with another.

IS
Interim Standard is a designation of the American National Standards Institute-usually followed by a number-that refers to an accepted industry protocol; e.g. IS-95, IS-136, IS-54.

IS-136
The latest generation of the digital standard time division multiple access technology.

IS-41
The network standard that allows all switches to exchange information about subscribers.

IS-54
The first generation of the digital standard time division multiple access technology.

IS-95
The standard for code division multiple access.

ISDN
Integrated services digital network is an advanced, high-capacity wireline technology used for high-speed data transfer.

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Keyguard
Is a temporary function that a customer can activate to prevent accidental key presses. Menu* to toggle on and off.

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LAN
Local are network is a group of client computers connected to a server.

LEC
Local exchange carrier is a wireline phone company serving a local area.

Local Calling Area
The region across which the call is truly local, involving no toll charges.

Local Number Portability
The ability of subscribers to switch local or wireless carriers and still retain the same phone number, as they can now with long-distance carriers. Wireless carriers don't have to offer LNP until June 1999 and want the deadline postponed.

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Message Waiting
A light or other indicator announcing that a phone call Indicator came in.

Messaging
Synonymous with text paging, e-mail or short messages received on alphanumeric pagers and other wireless devices.

MIN
Mobile Identification Number uniquely identifies a mobile unit within a wireless carrier's network. The MIN often can be dialed from other wireless or wireline networks.

Mobile Assisted Handoff
A system that allows the wireless phone to inform the (MAHO) carrier of the signal quality it is currently experiencing and to suggest alternative channels. This information assists the handoff by allowing the carrier to determine which cell site channel is best suited for handoff.

Modem Pools
Racks of modem for more reliable cellular data communications.

MOU
Minutes of use is a measurement of wireless subscriber activity directly affecting revenue.

MSA
Metropolitan Statistical Area is the coverage of a city as in a cellular network. A U.S. Census Bureau term.

MTA
Major Trading Area is usually composed of several contiguous basic trading areas. A service area designed by Rand-McNally and adopted by the FCC. There are 51 MTAs in the United States.

Multiple Access
A digital technique allowing simultaneous access to a channel by multiple subscribers. Where each radio channel could accommodate one analog subscriber, each channel can now accommodate three digital channels. Emerging technology could allow each radio channel to carry from 6 to 15 digital channels.

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NAMPS
Narrowband Advanced Mobile Phone Systems combines cellular voice processing with digital signaling, increasing the capacity of AMPS systems.

Narrowband PCS
The next generation of paging networks, including two-way, acknowledgement and "wireless answering machine" paging.

Number Pooling
Increasingly popular tactic for conserving phone numbers. Numbers are returned by all carriers to a central authority and put in a pool, from which carriers receive numbers in lots of 1,000, not 10,000 as originally implemented. It relies on local number portability.

Numeric
A display, message or readout that contains numbers only, such as in paging.

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Off-peak
Part of the day that wireless subscribers can expect to pay reduced airtime rates.

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PCIA
Personal Communications Industry Association is a trade group representing PCS, SMR, private radio and other wireless users and carriers.

PCS
Personal Communications Services is a two-way, 1900 Mhz digital offering now being rolled out across the United States and previously available in other countries.

PDA
Personal Digital Assistant is a portable computing device capable of transmitting data.

Peak
A heavy-usage part of the day during which mobile phone customers can expect to pay full-service airtime rates.

Per Line Blocking
For customers with multiple lines, this feature allows for caller I.D. blocking on a per line basis.

Prepaid Cellular
A system allowing subscribers to pay in advance for wireless service. Prepaid is generally used for credit-impaired customers or those who want to adhere to a budget.

Private ID call
A caller has blocked his or her number from displaying, the display screen will say "private."

PSTN
Public-switched telephone network is the worldwide voice telephone system, also called the Bell system in the United States.

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Roaming
When a cellular subscriber travels to another city and uses a different service than the carrier the customer subscribes to.

RSA
Rural Service Area is a designation of a non-metropolitan area covered by a cellular licensee.

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Satellite Phone
A wireless phone that uses mobile satellite service to send voice and data.

SIM
Subscriber Identity Module is synonymous with smart card.

Sleep Mode
The phone receives signals from the system over the control channel intermittently, rather than constantly, as analog and IS-136 phones do. As a result, the phone battery is used less and therefore can be used for a longer time before recharging. It also increases the stand-by time.

Smart Card
A plastic card containing important information about a person's identity to allow access to a network or premises. Also, a card containing subscriber information, often inserted into GSM phones for roaming to different countries.

SMR
Specialized Mobile Radio is a dispatch radio and interconnect service for businesses. Covers frequencies in the 220 Mhz, 800 Mhz and 900 Mhz bands.

SMS
Short Message Service is electronic messages on a cellular network.

Soft Key
A key below the phone's display that performs whatever function is listed on the display.

SRAM
Static Random Access Memory is a memory technology used in pagers and handsets.

SS7
Signaling System 7 is an international high speed signaling backbone for the public switched telephone network.

Standby Time
The amount of time a subscriber can leave a fully charged handset turned on to receive incoming calls before the batteries must be charged.

Subscriber Fraud
A deception deliberately practiced by an imposter to secure wireless service with intent to avoid payment.

Swirling
A sound heard on a digital call which indicates that the phone is trying to make speech sounds out of background noise. Often reducing the phone volume or moving away from open windows and air vents can minimize this sound.

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TDMA
Time Division Multiple Access is a digital air interface technology used in cellular, PCS and ESMR networks.

Tele-Communications Reform Act
Allows for long distance companies to enter local telephone markets and local telephone companies to offer long distance. The Act gives telephone carriers permission to expand service offerings dramatically.

Termination Charges
Fees that wireless telephone companies pay to complete calls on wireline phone networks or vice versa.

Third Generation
A new standard that promises to offer increased capacity and high-speed data applications up to 2 megabits. It will also integrate pico-, micro- and macro- cellular technology and allow global roaming. (Also called "3G.")

Triple band
A network infrastructure or wireless phone designed to operate in three frequency bands.

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Universal Service
The government's aim, starting in the 1930's, of providing phone service to all, regardless of distance from the switch or ability to pay. Today, universal service encompasses those aims, plus a subsidy to public schools, libraries and rural health care facilities for telecom services.

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VLR
Visitor Location Register is a network database that holds information about roaming customers.

Voice Activation
A feature that allows a subscriber to dial a phone by spoken commands.

Voice coders
A device used in digital systems that encode and compress the human voice. The compressed signal does not require the use of the entire channel.

Voice Privacy
Digital transmissions are inherently private because scanning devices are not equipped to decode or time align with digital.

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W-CDMA
Wideband code division multiple access is considered the third or next generation of CDMA technology.

Warble
A distinctive sound heard on a digital call that indicates a low signal situation. It is typically described as it "sounds like talking under water."

Wireless Internet
An RF-based service that provides access to Internet e-mail and/or the World Wide Web.

Wireless LAN
Wireless or Wi-Fi local area network is the radio-frequency connection of an off-based computer network.

Wireless PBX
Wireless private branch exchange is an equipment that allows employees or customers within a building or limited area to use wireless handsets connected to an office's PBX system.

WLL
Wireless local loop is a fixed service that competes with or substitutes for local wireline phone service.

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