Glossary of mobile phone jargon

Like most industries, the mobile phone business is full of jargon. Although this geek-speak can sometimes be handy as a form of shorthand, it does tend to exclude anyone who is not a techie (i.e. most people). So here’s a handy guide to the most frequently used jargon. It won’t help you to get on the same wavelength as the geeks, but it might enable you to understand some of the unfamiliar words they use.

 

3.5mm headphone jack

The cylindrical connector at the end of your earpiece or headphone cable is a jack plug. It fits into a jack socket on your mobile phone or MP3 player. The standard size used for most portable stereos and MP3 players and many mobiles is 3.5mm. However, some mobiles and other devices have a 2.5mm jack.

3G

This is the latest and most up-to-date telecommunications technology. It is the 3rd Generation (hence 3G) of hardware standards and general technology for mobile networks. 3G networks enable network operators to achieve greater network capacity and offer a wider range of advanced services.

Battery time (talk/standby)

Battery time is the total length of time that a battery can power a phone while it is being used to make or receive a call, or is on standby. Talk time is much shorter than standby time because it uses more power.

Bluetooth

Bluetooth wireless technology is a short-range communications technology intended to replace the cables connecting portable and/or fixed devices while maintaining high levels of security. Any Bluetooth-enabled device, almost everywhere in the world, can connect to other nearby Bluetooth-enabled devices. And as Bluetooth can handle data and voice transmissions simultaneously, it’s possible, for example, to use a hands-free headset for voice calls, to wirelessly synchronize your PDA with your desktop computer, and to use your mobile hands-free in your car.

Camera

Most mobiles now have a built-in camera that enables the user to take a photograph that can be saved on the phone, downloaded onto a computer, or emailed directly from the phone. Many of the camera lenses on mobiles are of fairly low resolution, so they produce photos that are adequate when viewed on a small screen, but appear very grainy when enlarged.

Camera Flash

Some mobiles with a built-in camera also have a built-in camera flash. This automatically produces an instantaneous flash of artificial light to help illuminate a scene that is particularly dark, such as a dimly lit restaurant.

Dimensions

Usually, manufacturers use the ‘hwd’ (height, width, depth) format for the dimensions of phones. So dimensions of 97 x 52 x 15mm, for example, mean that the phone is 97mm high, 52mm wide and 15mm thick.

Dual-band

Your phone will only work in the countries that use the transmission frequencies it can access. A dual-band phone can access two frequencies. In the UK and throughout Europe, two frequencies (900/1800 MHz) are used to improve coverage, and to enable calls to be made and received between different countries (roaming). Other regions may also use dual-bands, but on different frequencies (e.g. USA - 850/1900 MHz). So if your phone supports 900 and1800 MHz, it won’t work in a region that requires 850 or 1900 MHz. See also tri-band and quad-band.

EDGE

EDGE (Enhanced Data GSM Environment) is a faster version of the GSM (Global System for Mobile) wireless service. It enables the delivery of multimedia and other broadband applications to mobile phone and computer users.

FM radio

FM radio is made possible by a broadcast technology that uses frequency modulation (FM) to provide high-fidelity sound.

GPRS

GPRS is short for General Packet Radio Services, a method of wireless communication that enables continuous connection to the internet for mobile phone and computer users. GPRS offers data rates up to 114 Kbps, which enables users to participate in videoconferences and interact with multimedia websites using a mobile.

GPS

The GPS (Global Positioning System) consists of 24 satellites orbiting 10,600 miles above the Earth. The system is owned by the U.S. Department of Defense. It allows GPS-enabled receivers on earth to pinpoint the exact geographical location of the receiver. The system is used for transmitting messages between wireless mobiles that are equipped with GPS locators.

HSDPA

HSDPA (High-Speed Downlink Packet Access) is a mobile telephone protocol used in certain types of 3G radio networks to speed transfer rates and increase data capacity. This means that videos and music can be downloaded faster.

Internal memory

A mobile phone can normally store data in internal memory, a removable SIM card, and external flash memory. The internal memory is built into the phone and used for storing functional information such as menus, together with items you download, such as music, videos and emails. If you’re going to do a lot of downloading, it’s worth getting a lot of internal memory when you choose your phone.

Java

Java is a programming language that enables you to do a variety of cool things such as playing games and viewing 3D images. Sony Ericsson’s feature-rich C902 Java mobile phone, for example, combines your phone, high quality digital camera, music management, GPS and high-speed web-based access into a single device.

microSD card slot

A MicroSD card slot is an expansion slot on a mobile that allows you to increase its memory. microSD is a format for removable flash memory cards. SD is short for Secure Digital. At about the size of a fingernail, a microSD card is the smallest commercially available memory card. There is also a microSDHC card that offers a Higher Capacity than an SD card. The various SD and SDHC cards are not always mutually compatible, so it’s important to get the right one for your particular device.

MMS

This is short for Multimedia Messaging Service, which is a telecommunications standard for sending messages that include multimedia items such as photos, sound, video and formatted text (rich text).

MP3 player

This is a device for playing MP3 digital audio music files. Many smartphones incorporate an MP3 player, but you can also get higher capacity standalone MP3 players such as an Apple iPod or a Microsoft Zune.

MP3 ringtones

These are free or paid for digital audio files, such as sound effects or extracts from music tracks that can be downloaded from the internet onto an MP3 compatible mobile phone and used to identify specific callers or simply to make your normal ringtone more interesting or amusing.

MPEG4 player

MPEG-4 is the latest audio and video compression method. It was designed specifically for low-bandwidth encoding purposes and is used on various products such as iPods and the PlayStation Portable.

PDA

A personal digital assistant is a small handheld device that combines computing, personal organiser, telephone, email, internet and networking features. PDAs are normally operated by using a stylus or a keyboard.

Phone style (bar, flip, twist, touch, slide)

A bar (or candy bar) phone is a solid device with no moving parts except the keys.

A flip (or clamshell) phone is divided into two equal halves connected by a hinge. One half is usually the display screen and the other is the keyboard. You open it to use it, and fold it in half to close when it’s not in use.

• A twist (or swivel) phone can be twisted into various shapes to make it easier to access and use features such as a camera or even a full-size QWERTY keyboard.
• A touch phone can be physically similar to a bar phone, but instead of using keys, it is mainly operated by using fingertips on a touch screen.
• A slide (or slider) phone is similar to a flip phone, with the display screen and keys in two halves, but rather than unfolding, the two halves slide apart. The screen can be viewed when the phone is closed.

Quad-band

Your phone will only work in the countries that use the transmission frequencies it can access. A quad-band phone can access four frequencies. In the UK and throughout Europe, two frequencies (900/1800 MHz) are used to improve coverage, and to enable calls to be made and received between different countries (roaming). Other regions may have different frequencies (e.g. USA - 850/1900 MHz). So if your phone supports 850, 900, 1800 and 1900MHz, it should work in Europe and the USA, as well as other regions that use those frequencies. See also dual-band and tri-band.

QWERTY keyboard

This name derives from the first six letters of a conventional keyboard. Due to size limitations many mobiles don’t have a QWERTY keyboard. But increasing numbers of smartphones now feature a QWERTY keyboard, which enables much faster typing than a normal keypad.

Screen resolution

Resolution refers to the sharpness and clarity of an image. The resolution of a phone screen indicates how densely packed the pixels are. The pixels are the tiny dots that make up the display screen. In general, the more pixels (sometimes expressed as dpi or dots-per-inch), the higher the resolution and the sharper the image.

Screen size

Like televisions and computer monitors, mobile phone screen sizes are measured diagonally, using the distance from one corner to the opposite corner.

Skype

Skype is one of several VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) services. These deliver voice information over the internet in digital form, and avoid the charges made for ordinary telephone services. The quality of VoIP transmissions can vary considerably.

SMS

Text messages are normally sent from one mobile device to another by using technology called SMS (Short Message Service). So a text message is sometimes called an SMS message.

Smartphone

There is no industry-standard definition of a smartphone, but it is usually considered to be a mobile phone that offers advanced capabilities, often with PC-like functionality. These capabilities include things like email, a camera and a touch screen. A typical example is a BlackBerry or Google’s Android.

Speakerphone

A speakerphone capability allows a mobile to be used at a short distance, rather than being held next to the face. It enables anyone near the phone to hear what the caller is saying and to join in the conversation.

Touch screen

On a smartphone, a touch screen enables the user to navigate through the menus and operate the phone by touching the screen with fingertips rather than pressing control keys. The Apple iPhone and the Nokia 5800 are good examples.

Tri-band

Your phone will only work in the countries that use the transmission frequencies it can access. A tri-band phone can access three frequencies. In the UK and throughout Europe, two frequencies (900/1800 MHz) are used to improve coverage, and to enable calls to be made and received between different countries (roaming). Other regions may have different frequencies (e.g. India1900 MHz). So if your phone supports 900, 1800 and 1900MHz, it should work in Europe and India, as well as other regions that use those frequencies. See also dual-band and quad-band.

TV-Out

A phone with TV-Out support is capable of outputting video to a television via a connecting cable.

USB port

USB is short for Universal Serial Bus. A USB port enables a phone to be connected to another devise, such as a computer, via a USB cable.

Video

A video is simply a moving image. A videophone is a mobile, with a video screen, that is capable of displaying both video and audio transmissions between people, in real time.

Video player

This is a device that converts a videodisk, videotape, or other type of recorded video programme into signals suitable for viewing on a television or computer monitor.

WAP 2.0

Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) is technology that enables a mobile to be connected to the internet by using a WAP browser. WAP 2.0 is the latest version of the WAP standard.

Weight

Phone weights are normally given in imperial (ounces) and metric (grammes) amounts.

Fi

This is a wireless local area networking technology that enables compatible products from different manufacturers to work together. It’s the technology that lets you use your mobile in a café or synchronise it with your desktop computer without connecting with cables. Wi-Fi isn't short for Wireless Fidelity, as many people believe - it’s a registered trademark owned by the Wi-Fi Alliance, which approves and certifies Wi-Fi products.

Windows Mobile

A Windows Mobile-equipped smartphone uses a compact operating system that is based on the Microsoft Windows software used on a desktop computer