A5
: A5 is the encryption algorithm commonly used
by GSM networks in Europe. It has a 64-bit key, although in
practice at least ten of these bits are unused. A weaker version of
A5 called A5/2 is exported to some countries, including Australia.
It was originally a secret algorithm but was eventually leaked,
which helped the case for using the open Kasumi algorithm as a
replacement for A5. Comp128 is the more common GSM alternative to
A5 |
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AAC
: advanced analogue coding |
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Abandoned Call
: Abandoned call is one in which a connection is
made with the recipient, but the caller then decides to terminate
the call before any proper communication is established.
Organisations usually wish to keep abandoned calls to a minimum, as
they may indicate a slow response to incoming calls |
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AC Wall Charger
: AC Wall Charger is an essential accessory for
use with mobile�phones and other electronic devices. The charger
enables the mobile device to be powered, and for its battery to be
recharged, by connecting it to a mains electricity supply socket.
AC wall chargers are often the only means of recharging the
battery, and are usually supplied with a phone as they are designed
to work with a particular product or type of battery. Wall chargers
should not be interchanged without first taking advice, or
expensive damage could result. Also note that it is normal for
chargers to get warm while in use |
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Access Grant Channel
: Also known as: AGCH Access Grant Channel
(AGCH) is a downlink channel (base to mobile) used by a BS (Base
Station) to tell the MS (Mobile Station) which DCCH (Dedicated
Control Channel) to use, after the MS has previously requested
access to the network by sending a message over the RACH (Random
Access Channel). The AGCH is used to assign resources to the user
who has requested access to the network, and the BS allocates a TCH
(Traffic Channel) or SDCCH (Stand-Alone Dedicated Control Channel)
to the MS, allowing it access to the network |
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ACELP
: Also known as: Algebraic Code Excited Linear
Prediction Algebraic Code Excited Linear Prediction, or ACELP, is a
speech compression system, used to provide a good standard of
speech quality when the network is operating at low data rates
(i.e. narrow bandwidth). The analogue voice signal is converted to
a digital data signal, so that it can be compressed for
transmission over the network, and the process is then reversed at
the other end when the digital data is converted back to an
analogue voice signal. The quality of the reproduced speech will
appear to be much better at the receiving phone than would have
been the case if an ACELP system had not been used. The technology
associated with ACELP is defined by the ITU-T (International
Telecommunications Union-Telecommunication Standardization Sector)
and this has been used for a long time as a standard on the
Internet for voice applications, being integrated into software
such as Microsofts MediaPlayer?. |
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Action Script
: ActionScript is an ECMAScript-based
programming language used for scripting Adobe Flash movies and
applications. |
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ActionScript
:
an ActionScript is the the language
used in the Macromedia Flash program.
Look in the help menu in Macromedia Flash for more detailed
information.
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Active Matrix
: Also known as: Thin Film Transistor, TFT TFT
(Thin Film Transistor or Active Matrix) LCD is a mass produced
display technology that offers improved refresh rates and good
contrast over passive matrix displays. It achieves this by adding
an individual switch at every single pixel, which means that
voltage can be actively supplied to individual pixels instead of
one row and one column receiving current at a time. A thin film
transistor at each pixel allows much greater contrast and vastly
improved refresh rates compared with older displays. This makes
full motion video feasible with an active matrix. The two
disadvantages to TFT displays are that they have higher power
consumption as each individual pixel drains current, and they are
more expensive; it is not cheap to manufacture perfect large sheets
of transistors, as current processes are low-yield |
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Adaptive Differential Pulse Code
Modulation
: Also known as: ADPCM Adaptive Differential
Pulse Code Modulation (ADPCM) is a compression/decompression
technique, used for converting analogue sound or data into a string
of digital binary code. Frequent samples are taken of the analogue
signal, and the difference between the actual value of each sample
and its predicted value (derived from the previous samples) is
quantized and converted to a digital signal. This technique is
called 'adaptive', because the encoding predictions are adjusted in
accordance with the changing characteristics of the input signal,
and the coding scale is modified to accommodate any large or small
differences. The ADPCM method of encoding takes up less storage
space, and produces a lower bit rate, than standard PCM (Pulse Code
Modulation). This greater efficiency is achieved because only the
differences between samples are recorded. At the decoder the
quantized difference signal is added to the predicted signal to
produce the reconstructed speech signal. ADPCM can typically give a
compression ratio of 4:1, and one version of ADPCM is used to
encode audio and compress more data onto Sony's Mini Discs |
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ADC
: analogue to digital converter |
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ADSL
: Also known as: Asymmetric Digital Subscriber
Line Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) is a technology
allowing high rates of digital data to be sent over conventional
twisted-pair copper telephone lines. It is referred to as
asymmetric because it provides a significantly greater bandwidth in
one direction than the other, with faster data transfer from the
network to the subscriber than it is in the opposite direction.
Consequently, ADSL suits the Internet user who downloads large
amounts of data from the Net, but tends to send comparatively
little data back in return. Theoretically, data speeds of up to 9
Mbps (megabits per second) are possible downstream to the customer,
and up to 800 kbps (kilobits per second) upstream. This high-speed,
high bandwidth digital communication makes live MPEG2 video signals
possible, as well as a range of other multimedia broadband
services. However, in practice capacity is lower than the
theoretical maximum, because line length reduces data speed and
limits the exchange to subscriber distance at about 2 miles. ADSL
requires the installation of a special modem, but ADSL then
provides an 'always on' connection to subscribers. Simultaneous
voice and data transmission is also possible over the same line,
because the data transfer uses a section of the phone line
bandwidth not utilised by voice. Therefore, subscribers can leave
their computers logged onto the Net without interrupting their
normal phone connections. A form of ADSL, called Universal ADSL
(G.lite), has been approved as a standard by the ITU-TS for
services to homes and businesses. Universal ADSL can provide speeds
of up to 1.5 Mbps over conventional phone lines. However, although
a provider might typically offer a downstream rate of 512 kbps,
this is still about 10 times faster than the fastest
analogue-to-digital modems, and several times faster than an ISDN
(Integrated Services Digital Network) connection. Upstream speeds
can reach 128 kbps |
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Advanced Mobile Phone Service
: Also known as: AMPS Advanced Mobile Phone
Service (AMPS) is a first generation analogue cellular telephone
system that originated in the USA in the 1980s. AMPS is still the
most widely deployed cellular system in the United States, and has
been used in other countries of North and South America, as well as
the Asia/Pacific region, although it is not compatible with
European mobile phone standards. AMPS can be found in countries
such as Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, New Zealand, South Korea,
Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Israel. AMPS operates in the 800
and 900 MHz frequency bands. Frequency Division Multiple Access
(FDMA) is used to divide each band of operating frequencies into 30
kHz channels. Adjacent cells will then employ different channels
for their transmitted and received signals, so that one cell does
not interfere with another, and as a user moves between cells the
channels change without any noticeable transition. AMPS was updated
with digital cellular service, i.e. digital AMPS (DAMPS), by adding
Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) to each channel |
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Adventure Game,
: A form of fictional simulation. These are
often set in fantasy worlds and involve decision making and
exploration. |
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advertisement
: n. item of publicity for a product or service,
in magazine, on TV etc |
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advertising agency
: n. company specializing in producing and
placing advertisements for clients |
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AGCH
: Also known as: Access Grant Channel Access
Grant Channel (AGCH) is a downlink channel (base to mobile) used by
a BS (Base Station) to tell the MS (Mobile Station) which DCCH
(Dedicated Control Channel) to use, after the MS has previously
requested access to the network by sending a message over the RACH
(Random Access Channel). The AGCH is used to assign resources to
the user who has requested access to the network, and the BS
allocates a TCH (Traffic Channel) or SDCCH (Stand-Alone Dedicated
Control Channel) to the MS, allowing it access to the
network |
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AI
: artificial intelligence |
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AIDA
: abbr. Attention, Interest, Desire, Action the
objective of all advertisements |
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Algebraic Code Excited Linear
Prediction
: Also known as: ACELP Algebraic Code Excited
Linear Prediction, or ACELP, is a speech compression system, used
to provide a good standard of speech quality when the network is
operating at low data rates (i.e. narrow bandwidth). The analogue
voice signal is converted to a digital data signal, so that it can
be compressed for transmission over the network, and the process is
then reversed at the other end when the digital data is converted
back to an analogue voice signal. The quality of the reproduced
speech will appear to be much better at the receiving phone than
would have been the case if an ACELP system had not been used. The
technology associated with ACELP is defined by the ITU-T
(International Telecommunications Union-Telecommunication
Standardization Sector) and this has been used for a long time as a
standard on the Internet for voice applications, being integrated
into software such as Microsofts MediaPlayer?. |
|
Alphanumeric
: Alphanumeric is a term referring to
information that contains a combination of alphabetic letters or
words ("alphas") and numbers ("numerics"). Punctuation and other
symbols are also usually interpreted to be included in the term
alphanumeric. Alphanumeric displays are those that can show at
least all of the letters of the alphabet and the numbers 0 to 9.
Alphanumeric Directory Alphanumeric Directory refers to the part of
a phone that stores the user's list of names and phone numbers, so
that they may be easily retrieved. Alphanumeric DisplayAlphanumeric
Display is the display output device on a phone, typically an LCD
screen, which has the ability to display both text and numbers.
Alphanumeric Memory DialAlphanumeric Memory Dial is a special type
of dial-from-memory option on mobile phone handsets, which enables
the name of an individual and their phone number to both be
displayed for dialling purposes. This feature is now an accepted
standard on modern mobile phones. Alternatively, the name can also
be recalled by typing the letters on the phone keypad. By contrast,
the standard memory dial feature will recall just the numbers from
a number-only location. Alphanumeric MessagingAlphanumeric
Messaging is the capability of a phone to send and receive messages
(e.g. SMS messages) that contain both text and numbers |
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American Standard Code for Information
Interchange
: Also known as: ASCII The American Standard
Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) is a standard coding
system developed by the USA Standards Institute. ASCII is
universally used to represent letters, numbers, punctuation marks,
symbols and control codes, which makes it possible to pass data
between computers and within communication systems (e.g. to mobile
phones). Digital equipment can only understand numbers, and ASCII
code gives every symbol or character a unique number in order to
identify it. The coding system is efficient, with each character
being represented by a single byte. There is a basic character set
of 128 codes numbered 0 to 127 (which uses 7 bits per character),
or an extended character set of 256 codes numbered 0 to 255 (which
uses 8 bits per character). ASCII files appear as unformatted plain
text, i.e. without any tabs, bold, italics, or other codes that
word processors introduce when formatting text. ASCII files are the
standard text format for SMS messages |
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AMPS
: Also known as: Advanced Mobile Phone Service
Advanced Mobile Phone Service (AMPS) is a first generation analogue
cellular telephone system that originated in the USA in the 1980s.
AMPS is still the most widely deployed cellular system in the
United States, and has been used in other countries of North and
South America, as well as the Asia/Pacific region, although it is
not compatible with European mobile phone standards. AMPS can be
found in countries such as Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, New
Zealand, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Israel. AMPS
operates in the 800 and 900 MHz frequency bands. Frequency Division
Multiple Access (FDMA) is used to divide each band of operating
frequencies into 30 kHz channels. Adjacent cells will then employ
different channels for their transmitted and received signals, so
that one cell does not interfere with another, and as a user moves
between cells the channels change without any noticeable
transition. AMPS was updated with digital cellular service, i.e.
digital AMPS (DAMPS), by adding Time Division Multiple Access
(TDMA) to each channel |
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AMS
: automated manufacturing system |
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Animated Screensaver
: Animated screensaver is a changing pattern or
animation, which replaces the original screen image when a mobile
phone has been idle for a predetermined period of time. The use of
a screensaver is designed to prevent damage that might result when
fixed bright images remain on the screen for long periods. Only the
more recent mobile phone models currently include animated
screensavers |
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Animation
: Animation is a moving image produced by
sequentially displayed image frames, which creates the illusion of
movement. Mobile phone animations usually consist of short,
animated greetings and messages in a variety of sizes, colours, and
levels of complexity |
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ANN
: artificial neural network |
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Answering Machine
: Answering machine is a device that
automatically answers a telephone call when the recipient is for
some reason unable to answer it personally. Typically, a user
stores an outgoing message to tell callers that the phone cannot be
answered personally, and the caller is then requested to leave a
recorded message stating the purpose of their call, which the user
can playback at a convenient time. Conventional landline answering
machines often use magnetic tape or a microchip memory to record
messages. Some mobile handsets are capable of storing messages in
their internal memory, and most mobile operators provide an
answering service whereby subscribers can dial a special number and
listen to their stored messages |
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Ariel
: Also known as: antenna The antenna (or aerial)
is the physical part of a mobile phone that is designed to receive
or transmit the radio frequency signals, which the�handset uses to
communicate with the telephone network. A mobile may contain an
internal antenna that is concealed within its case, or there may be
a short or stubby external antenna that protrudes about 3 cm or
more outside the case. Some mobile phones include an FM radio, and
in this case the headset lead usually acts as the radio's antenna.
The headset must then be connected to the phone to ensure good
reception |
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Array
:
An Array is just a computer term for a: List or
Vector. is one of the simplest date
sturctures,
and are useful in Flash, and there are numerous uses for Arrays in other
programs.
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ASCII
: American standard code for information
interchange |
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ATM
: automatic teller machine |
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Audible Keypad Tone
: Audible Keypad Tone is a facility that can be
set on some handsets, which causes them to play a tone when the
keys are pressed, so confirming that they have operated correctly.
This was introduced to reduce airtime charges to incorrect numbers,
although it also provides a better interface and positive feedback
for the user. The sound played is usually the DTMF tone relevant to
that particular number, and for consistency, another non-DTMF tone
can be played when control keys are pressed |
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Authoring Software
:
A category of software [which] lets you make a web page without
having any knowledge of HTML.
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Automatic Answer
: Automatic answer is a phone feature that
allows a recipient to answer a call without the need to press any
keys. Once the phone has started to ring the conversation can be
started immediately, because the sound of the recipient's voice
speaking into the phone's microphone will trigger the answering of
the call |
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Automatic Backlight
: Automatic backlighting means that touching any
key will illuminate the display and keypad for ease of viewing. The
backlight will turn itself off automatically after a preset period,
so avoiding excessive drain on the battery. This feature will only
be available on mobile phones that have a backlight |
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Automatic Redial
: Automatic redial is a feature designed to make
it easier to dial numbers that are engaged. After the dialled
number is found to be engaged, the phone will either repeatedly
redial the number automatically, or it can be set to redial by
pressing the appropriate key. This feature saves the user from
dialling the number many times until a ringing tone can be
obtained. Automatic redial will usually operate for a set number of
redials before giving up, to avoid the negative consequences of
battery drain, blocking the phone, and causing unnecessary network
traffic |
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AVI
: audio video interleave |
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