< Prev | Next >     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. Peak Highest-usage period of the business day when a cellular system carries the most calling traffic. 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 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. 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. 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. 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/MP3 Many models have a built-in FM radio and/or an MP3 player which you can listen to using a headset. Radio Waves Electromagnetic energy with frequencies in the 3000 hertz (3 kHz) to 300 billion Hertz (300 GHz) portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. Ringtones Part of the fashion element of the mobile phone, polyphonic ringtones can be downloaded straight to your phone and even linked to specific callers. 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. 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. Services As speeds of transmission increase and video quality improves providers are increasing the number and types of service available to subscribe to. The latest news, weather, and sporting results can all be accessed via the latest mobiles. Short Message Service (SMS) The transmission of short alphanumeric text-messages to and from a mobile phone, fax machine and/or IP address. Messages must be no longer than 160 alphanumeric characters and contain no images or graphics. Once a message is sent, it is received by a Short Message Service Center (SMSC), which must then get it to the appropriate mobile device. Short Message Service Center (SMSC) The hardware device submitting the messages. Currently, SMSC devices support binary formats. SIM Card A small printed circuit board that must be inserted in any GSM-based mobile phone when signing on as a subscriber. It contains subscriber details, security information and memory for a personal directory of numbers. The card can be a small plug-in type or sized as a credit-card but has the same functionality. The SIM card also stores data that identifies the caller to the network service provider. Simple Network Paging Protocol (SNPP) A sequence of commands and replies where pages are delivered to individual paging terminals. The most obvious benefit is the elimination of the need for modems and phone lines to produce alphanumeric pages, and the ease of delivery of pages to terminals in other cities or countries. Simulcast A signaling technique that broadcasts the same signal over multiple sites in a network. Sleep Mode Designed to conserve battery life, this mode automatically turns off a terminal after it has been unused for a specified period of time. The unit is reactivated when the keypad is touched. Smart Antenna An antenna system that focuses its beam on a desired signal to reduce interference. A wireless network employs smart antennas at its base stations in an effort to reduce the number of dropped calls, improve call quality and improve channel capacity. Smart Card A plastic card containing important data 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 in different countries. Smart Phone A class of wireless phone handsets with many features, and often a keyboard. What makes the phone "smart" is its ability to handle data, not only voice calls. Space Division Multiple Access (SDMA) A variation of TDMA and CDMA that potentially will be used in high-bandwidth, third-generation wireless products.     < Prev | Next >