Cellularcatalogg.com Glossary
The listing below contains the meanings for commonly used, but not neccessarily understood, wireless terms.

Aftermarket

An accessory for a brand-name product. Aftermarket accessories are made by a company other than the manufacturer of the original product. For example, many companies besides Nokia make accessories for Nokia wireless phones.

Analog phone

The original type of wireless phone, still manufactured, that transmits and receives analog (rather than digital) radio signals.

Antenna

A device for receiving electromagnetic signals and making them strong enough to be used by a wireless phone or other radio equipment.

Antenna gain

Relative increase in strength of a signal by an antenna, expressed in dB (decibels).

Bag phone

Slang for transportable wireless phone; bag phones are five times as powerful as handheld phones but weigh much more.

Battery

Two or more cells connected together to provide electrical current.

Battery backup

A battery that maintains data in memory even after an external power source has been disconnected. Most wireless phones do not require battery backup to maintain stored names and phone numbers.

Battery capacity

The amount of energy a battery can deliver under normal working conditions. The capacity of wireless phone batteries is measured in milliampere-hours (mAh).

Battery cycle

Using a battery until it is fully discharged and then recharging it completely.

Battery eliminator

A device that can temporarily replace the battery pack on your phone. See cigarette lighter adapter.

Broadband PCS

Synonym for PCS voice and data networks. Narrowband PCS refers to paging services.

Button Antenna

A small, hard, 1-2 in. antenna found on many phones

CDMA

Code division multiple access: also known as spread spectrum. CDMA is a digital wireless format that allows many users to share the same radio frequencies. Each call is assigned a unique number, which allows the phone to lock out unwanted signals.

Cell (battery)

The smallest unit of a battery.

Cellular

The wireless telephone system originally developed by Bell Laboratories; uses low-powered analog radio equipment serving geographic areas called cells. Cellular is sometimes used to refer to all wireless phones, regardless of the technology they use.

Charging cradle or cradle

A cradle for holding a wireless phone while its battery is charging. Some cradles can simultaneously charge a second battery.

Cigarette lighter adapter (CLA

An adapter for powering a wireless phone from a car or boat cigarette lighter.

dB

Decibel: measure of relative loudness. A difference of 1dB is the minimum change in volume that humans can hear. The weakest sound humans can hear is 1dB.

Digital

Technology used by most newer wireless phones and carriers that encodes voices and data for transmission using a binary code of zeroes and ones.

Digital Cellular System (DCS)

A GSM (global system for mobile communications)-based system that operates at a higher frequency with increased capacity.

Digital phone

A newer type of wireless phone that transmits and receives digital (rather than analog) signals. Personal communications service (PCS) phones are a type of digital phone.

Dual-band phone

A digital wireless phone that operates on both 800 MHz and 1900 MHz (personal communications service, or PCS) networks.

Dual-mode phone

A digital wireless phone capable of operating on analog networks when digital service is not available.

Faceplate

A removable housing that enables the owner to alter the look of their phone. Some faceplates require installation by an authorized dealer.

Flashing Antenna

See Lighted Antenna

Gain

Increase in signal strength by amplification, measured in decibels (dB).

GHz

Gigahertz: a frequency of 1 billion cycles per second.

Glass mount

A type of mobile antenna that mounts on a window without drilling holes in the glass.

Global positioning system (GPS)

U.S. satellite system that allows users on the ground or water with GPS receivers to determine their positions with extreme accuracy.

Global system for mobile communications (GSM)

A digital wireless radio standard throughout the world that uses time division multiple access (TDMA) to allow several calls to go through one channel or set of frequencies.

GPS

Global positioning system: U.S. satellite system that allows users on the ground or water with GPS receivers to determine their positions with extreme accuracy.

GSM

Global system for mobile communications: a digital wireless radio standard throughout the world that uses time division multiple access (TDMA) to allow several calls to go through one channel or set of frequencies.

GSM 1800

GSM networks operating at 1.8 GHz

GSM 1900

GSM networks operating at 1.9 GHz primarily in North America (see PCS).

GSM 900

GSM networks operating at 900 MHz.

Hands-free kit

Also called a car kit. An accessory kit for mounting a phone cradle inside your car so you can make wireless calls without holding the phone to your ear. The kit may include a power amplifier, glass mount antenna, microphone and wired handset.

Handset

A small wireless phone designed to fit comfortably in the hand.

Hardwired

A type of phone connection that does not use modular connectors, which makes it difficult to separate the phone from its wired connection.

Headphone jack

An output for headphones or an earpiece.

Headset

An earpiece and microphone that fit over the user's head. The unit is plugged into a wireless phone to allow hands-free phone conversations.

Hertz (Hz)

A measure of frequency that equals one cycle per second.

Keypad

The set of buttons on a phone.

LCD

Liquid crystal display: small screen on a wireless handset that displays numbers and characters.

LED

Light Emitting Diode: series of lights to indicate progress or status, as in a charger full-charge alert.

Lighted Antenna

A button-style antenna (see Button Antenna) that lights for an incoming call, silently alerting the user that a call has come in.

Lithium ion

A type of light and powerful rechargeable battery for wireless phones; more expensive than nickel cadmium batteries, but longer lasting.

mAh

Milliampere hours: the standard measurement for the energy storage capacity of a wireless phone battery. The higher the mAh rating, the longer the battery will hold a charge.

Memory effect

A limitation of some rechargeable batteries, such as nickel cadmium batteries, which prevents them from accepting a full charge.

MHz

Megahertz. Equal to 1 million cycles per second.

Mic/Microphone

An electronic device used to sense sound frequencies for recording or transmission.

Mode change

A wireless phone feature that allows you to change from digital to analog operation either before or during a call.

Modem

A device that can be connected to a wireless phone in order to link a portable computer or other personal digital assistant to the Internet or to a corporate intranet.

Nickel cadmium battery

Also known as NiCads, these are the earliest rechargeable batteries found in wireless phones. They are being replaced by lithium ion, nickel metal hydride and zinc air batteries.

Nickel metal hydride (NiMH)

A newer battery technology for wireless phones.

NiMH

See nickel metal hydride.

OEM (Original equipment manufacturer)

Original equipment manufacturer: the company that produces the equipment that bears another company's label.

PCS

Personal communications service: a two-way, 1900-MHz digital wireless service typically packaged with calling features such as call waiting, voice mail and caller ID.

PCS-1900

A 1,900MHz personal communications service (PCS) standard based on the GSM (global system for mobile communications) digital wireless standard.

Personal digital assistant (PDA)

A handheld computing device that most often can transmit data for paging, data messaging, e-mail, faxing and other functions.

Pigtail antenna

A standard cellular antenna for a vehicle, with a springlike section in the lower third of the antenna known as the phasing coil.

Quick/Rapid charger

A rapid method of fully charging a battery in one hour or less.

Recondition

To restore, for a period of time, a rechargeable battery's ability to hold an electrical charge.

Retractable Antenna

An antenna that closes completely flush with the phone.

RF

Radio frequency: part of the electromagnetic spectrum between 10 kHz and 3,000 GHz.

Rubber Duck Antenna

A longer (3-7 in.) flexible, non-retractable antenna.

Secondary battery

A type of battery, such as nickel cadmium, nickel metal hydride or lithium ion, designed to be recharged many times.

Slim battery

An extra-power, slim wireless phone battery. Includes extended life and high-capacity models.

Smart battery

A battery with a built-in microchip that can measure and communicate battery data (voltage, current, temperature, etc.) to the phone it's in.

Speakerphone/hands-free operation

A headphone and speaker for in-car use that permits phone conversations without using a handset.

Standby time

The length of time a battery lasts when a wireless phone is turned on but is not in use. In this mode, the phone does not incur airtime charges.

Talk time

How long a battery lasts while a wireless phone is in continuous use.

TDMA

Time division multiple access: a digital wireless phone transmission method that allows multiple users to share the same radio frequency spectrum.

Trickle charging

A method of slow battery charging that takes 8 to 15 hours to fully charge a battery.

Unidirectional antenna

An antenna that radiates most of its power in one direction.

Vibrating alert

A wireless phone feature that notifies you of an incoming call with a vibrating mechanism built into the battery pack.

Wireless

Radio-based systems for transmitting voices and data without any physical connections between the sender and the receiver.