ITU-T
The telecommunication standardization sector of the International Telecommunication Union
MTSO
Mobile Telephone Switching Office. The central switch that controls the entire operation of a cellular system.
NAM
Number Assignment Module (NAM) is the cellular phone memory that stores the telephone number. Phones with dual- or multi-NAM features offer users the option of registering the phone with a local number in more than one market.
PCN
Personal communication network. This standard corresponds to a high-frequency version of the GSM standard.
PCS
Personal Communication Services. PCS and cellular are sometimes interchanged. Officially, PCS is a digital cellular service in the 1900 MHz band only. In practice, some providers have used part of their AMPS 800 MHz allocation to offer PCS services.
PDC
Personal Digital Cellular (Japan)
Handoff
The process by which the MTSO passes a cellular phone conversation from one radio frequency in one cell to another radio frequency in another.
IMT
International Mobile Telephone
IP
Internet Protocol
IS-136
TDMA Interim Standard 136
FCC
Federal Communications Commission
FDMA
Frequency Division Multiple Access
Frequency Reuse
The ability to use the same frequencies repeatedly across a cellular system, made possible by the basic design approach for cellular. Since each cell is designed to use radio frequencies only within its boundaries, the same frequencies can be reused in other cells not far away without interference. The reuse of frequencies enables a cellular system to handle a huge number of calls with a limited number of channels.
GSM
GSM's air interface is based on narrowband TDMA technology, where available frequency bands are divided into time slots, with each user having access to one time slot at regular intervals. Narrow band TDMA allows eight simultaneous communications on a single radio multiplexer and is designed to support 16 half-rate channels. GSM also is the only technology that provides incoming and outgoing data services, such as email, fax, and internet surfing. GSM makes use of a SIM card that allows memory portability between 'dumb' GSM phones.
ETSI
European Telecommunications Standards Institute
ESN
Each cellular phone is assigned a unique Electronic Serial Number (ESN), which is automatically transmitted to the cellular base station every time a call is placed. The MTSO validates the ESN with each call.
EDGE
Enhanced Data rate for GSM Evolution.
Dual Band
Dual band phones are capable of using two different frequencies. For example, a TDMA or CDMA phone that can use either the 800 or 1900 MHz band. There are also Triple Band phones in the GSM market that support 900, 1800, and 1900 MHz. Dual band phones allow to access different frequencies in the same or different geographic regions, giving a wider coverage area.
Dual Mode
Dual mode phones that support more that one technology, e.g. CDMA and AMPS or TDMA and AMPS.
Control Channel
A channel used for transmission of digital control information from a base station to a cellular phone (forward control channel) or from a cellular phone to a base station (reverse control channel).
Telecom New Zealand puts Rugby on SMS
Posted on 25-Feb-2003 17:38 News, Mobile
The dream of carrying the national game around in a pocket will be a step closer for Kiwi rugby fans when the Xtra Super 12 kicks off later this week, thanks to a ground breaking partnership between new Super 12 sponsor Xtra and Telecom Mobile.
Mobile blogging, again!
Posted on 25-Feb-2003 17:30 News, Mobile
This time on Slashdot and BBC... Geekzone had an article on this a few weeks ago, now the whole thing is on Slashdot!
CNET Video: Make it a cellphone with everything
Posted on 25-Feb-2003 07:55 News, Mobile
This 3 minutes video stream shows Brian Cooley talking to CNET's Joni Blecher, about the soon to be released Nokia 3650 and all its cool features!
