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!
DSP
Digital Signal Processor, special-purpose microprocessor designed to handle signal-processing applications very quickly.
D-AMPS
Digital AMPS (see AMPS).
CODEC
Hardware in a phone and in the cell network that compresses digitized voice prior to transmission AND takes received compressed voice and decompresses it prior to passing it to either a cell phone speaker or into a wireline system. Codec allows the cell network to essentially pass a lot of data in compressed form to permit additional users on the system and to save bandwidth. The idea behind codec is that human voices are highly lossy and a significant amount of the conversation can be removed since human ears can fill in the removed gaps at the other end. Each technology has different codec algorithms -- for CDMA there is 13K and 8K.
Channel
A specific frequency, the communication medium. Also a point to point link in a connection oriented system.
Cell
The basic geographic unit of a cellular system and the basis for the generic industry term "cellular." A city is divided into small "cells", each of which is equipped with a low-powered radio transmitter/receiver or base station. The cells can vary in size depending on terrain and capacity demands. By controlling the transmission power and the radio frequencies assigned from one cell to another, a computer at the MTSO monitors the movement and transfers or hands off the phone call to another cell and another radio frequency as needed.
CDPD
Cellular Digital Packet Data, a protocol designed to be used over analog networks (AMPS). It allows voice and data transmission.
CDMAOne
Second generation of CDMA or IS-95B.
CDMA2000
Second generation of CDMA, also called 2G+, including 1XRTT and 1X EV.
CDMA
This protocol is also known as IS-95. CDMA differs from GSM and TDMA by its use of spread spectrum techniques for transmitting voice or data over the air. Rather than dividing the radio frequency spectrum into separate user channels by frequency slices or time slots, spread spectrum technology separates users by assigning them digital codes within the same broad spectrum. Advantages of CDMA include higher user capacity and immunity from interference by other signals. Available in either 800 or 1900 MHz frequencies.
Bluetooth
A wireless networking technology designed to replace cables that connect devices such as notebooks, handhelds and printers. The bluetooth specification provides for links between mobile computers, mobile phones and other portable handheld devices, and connectivity to the Internet. It enables users to connect a wide range of computing and telecommunications devices easily and simply without the need to buy, carry, or connect cables.
Bandwidth
A measure of communication channel capacity. The wider the bandwidth, greater the associated data rate.
AMPS
Advance Mobile Phone Service, an analog service. Available in U.S., Mexico, Canada, Australia and some other countries. It uses the 800MHz frequency band.
3G
Third generation of mobile service, digital. It offers a convergence of voice, data and multimedia content, at rates of up to 2mbps. The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) has laid down some indicative minimum requirements for the data speeds that the IMT-2000 standards must support. These requirements are defined according to the degree of mobility involved when the 3G call is being made. As such, the data rate that will available over 3G will depend upon the environment the call is being made in:
High Mobility: 144 kbps for rural outdoor mobile use. This data rate is available for environments in which the 3G user is traveling more than 120 kilometers per hour in outdoor environments. Let us hope that the 3G user is in a train and not driving along and trying to use their 3G terminal at such speeds.
Full Mobility: 384 kbps for pedestrian users traveling less than 120 kilometers per hour in urban outdoor environments.
Limited Mobility: At least 2 Mbps with low mobility (less than 10 kilometers per hour) in stationary indoor and short range outdoor environments These kinds of maximum data rates that are often talked about when illustrating the potential for 3G technology will only therefore be available in stationary indoor environments.
2.5G
Enhanced second generation of mobile service, digital. It offers data rates ranging from 28kbps to 384kpbs.
1G
First generation of mobile service, analog, including AMPS.
2G
Second generation of mobile service, digital, including TDMA, CDMA and GSM.
The Hyperfactory
Posted on 24-Feb-2003 17:56 News, Mobile
The Hyperfactory's primary focus is the conceptual creation and execution of wireless internet products and solutions. It's a New Zealand based company and they've got a citation during the 3GSM World Congress!
3GSM World Congress awards
Posted on 24-Feb-2003 17:54 News, Mobile
The 3GSM World congress awarded several companies for their products and services related to the GSM standard.
PhoneToday Release Candidate available
Posted on 24-Feb-2003 17:47 News, Software
The PhoneToday plugin now has a Release Candidate. It's a great software for people looking for a more complete integration between a mobile and a Pocket PC, short of a Smartphone.
