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Jargon Buster
Bluetooth
A low power, short range wireless technology designed to provide a replacement for the serial cable. Operating in the 2.4GHz ISM band, Bluetooth can connect a wide range of personal, professional and domestic devices such as laptops, computers, mobile phones and printers together wirelessly.
OEM
OEM Stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer. An OEM company purchases equipment from a manufacturer in bulk and customizes them for a particular application. They then sell the customized products under their own name. OEM company is for example Nokia, Motorola etc.
2G
2G is second-generation wireless telephone technology. The main differentiator to previous mobile telephone systems, retrospectively dubbed 1G, is that the radio signals that 1G networks use are analog, while 2G networks are digital. Both systems use digital signaling to connect the radio towers (which listen to the handsets) to the rest of the telephone system.
3G
3G is third-generation technology in the context of mobile phone standards. The services associated with 3G provide the ability to transfer simultaneously both voice data (a telephone call) and non-voice data (such as downloading information, exchanging email, and instant messaging). In marketing 3G services, video telephone has often been suggested as the killer application for 3G.
GPRS
General Packet Radio Service; standardised as part of GSM Phase 2+, GPRS represents the first implementation of packet switching within GSM, which is a circuit switched technology. GPRS offers theoretical data speeds of up to 115kbit/s using multislot techniques. GPRS is an essential precursor for 3G as it introduces the packet switched core required for UMTS
GSM
Global System for Mobile communications, the second generation digital technology originally developed for Europe but which now has in excess of 71 per cent of the world market.
MP3
MP3 is the file extension for MPEG, audio layer 3. Layer 3 is one of three coding schemes (layer 1, layer 2 and layer 3) for the compression of audio signals. Compression is performed by a special program which implements MP3 coding scheme. That program is known as codec.
Jpeg
Joint Photographic Experts Group - A jpeg is a photographic picture that has been compressed to save disc space. Jpeg files are commonly used to save photographic and other continuous tone images. JPEG files support CMYK, RGB and grayscale colour modes.
Mpeg
Motion Picture Experts Group; MPEG4 is a technology for compressing voice and video so that the information can be transmitted over normally difficult links such as mobile radio.
DSP
Digital Signal Processing is a type of processing accomplished by a microcomputer chip specifically designed for signal manipulation, or a component using such processing.
SMS
Short Message Service is a quick and simple way to communicate short messages via mobile phones, handheld devices, and increasingly even landline telephones.
MMS
Multimedia Messaging Service; an evolution of SMS, MMS goes beyond text messaging offering various kinds of multimedia content including images, audio and video clips. WAP
Wireless Application Protocol; a standard for enabling mobile phones to access the Internet and advanced services. Users can access websites and pages which have been converted by the use of WML into stripped-down versions of the original more suitable for the limited display capabilities of mobile phones.
PDA
Personal digital assistant, a handheld device that combines computing, telephone/fax, Internet and networking features. A typical PDA can function as a mobile phone, fax sender, Web browser and personal organizer.
LCD
Liquid Crystal Display.
LED
Light Emitting Diode. LEDs are small lights that are used to display the status of the adapter. Depending on the adapter, they might turn on and off depending on activity level, power source, connection speed or traffic scale.
Roaming
A service unique to GSM which enables a subscriber to make and receive calls when outside the service area of his home network e.g. when travelling abroad.
VOIP
Voice over Internet Protocol is the technology used to transmit voice conversations over a data network using the Internet Protocol. It is also called IP Telephony, Internet telephony, Broadband telephony, Broadband Phone and Voice over Broadband.
ISDN
Integrated Services Digital Network is fully digital telephone service, providing data, voice, and video channels over the existing phone network. While most of the current phone network is already digital, ISDN replaces the final analogue section connecting the local exchange with individual houses or offices to create a fully digital connection.
A2DP
Advanced Audio Distribution Profile describes how stereo quality audio can be streamed from a media source to a sink. The profile defines two roles of an audio source and sink.
Caller ID
A caller identity display is a call-screening feature that allows the user to pinpoint the origin of an incoming call prior to answering the phone. The caller's number / name is displayed on the handset's screen.
Hz
Herz is the unit of measurement for frequency. 1 Hz is equal to 1 cycle per second.
dB
Decibel is a unit of measurement for the ratio of loudness. The threshold of hearing is 0 dB. One dB SPL is the smallest audible difference in sound level.
Volt
The unit of measure for electrical potential.
Voltage
The difference in electrical potential between two points in a circuit. It's the push or pressure behind current flow through a circuit.
Watt
A measurement of real power. The product of voltage and current in a resistive circuit.
Equalizer
A component designed to alter the frequency balance of an audio signal.
Amplifier
A device which increases the level of a signal by increasing the current or voltage. It may also be used to isolate or control a signal and even decrease the level as in a line output converter.
Loudspeaker
An electro acoustic transducer which converts electrical audio signals at its input to audible waves at it's output. May also refer to a given driver of a multiple speaker system and not to the whole speaker system as might a speaker.
Sub-woofer
A loudspeaker made to reproduce the lowest of audio frequencies, approx. 25 Hz to 125 Hz.
Stereophonic
Consisting of two or more audio channels in an audio system during recording and playback to give a more natural distribution of sound.
Sound Pressure Level
An acoustic measurement of sound energy, typically expressed in dB.
Fidelity
The term used to describe the accuracy of recording, reproduction, or general quality of audio processing.
AVRCP
Audio/Video Remote Control Profile is designed to provide a standard interface to control TVs, hi-fi equipment, or other to allow a single remote control (or other device) to control all the A/V equipment that a user has access to.
OPP
Object Push Profile defines the roles of push server and push client. It is called push because the transfers are always instigated by the sender (client), not the receiver (server). OPP focuses on a narrow range of object formats to maximize interoperability. The most common acceptable format is the vCard. OPP may also be used for sending objects such as pictures or appointment details.
OLED
An organic light-emitting diode: a self-luminous diode (it glows when an electrical field is applied to the electrodes) that does not require backlighting or diffusers. When powered from a battery, it can operate longer on the same charge.
OHMS
The unit of electric resistance and impedance. One ohm is the resistance value through which one volt will maintain a current of one ampere.
TRI BAND
Refers to a mobile phone able to operate on the three internationally designated GSM frequencies- 900, 1800 and 1900MHz.
SMARTPHONE
It is a full-featured mobile phone with personal computer like functionality. Most smartphones are camera phones that support full featured email capabilities with the functionality of a complete personal organizer. An important feature of most smartphones is that applications for enhanced data processing and connectivity can be installed on the device.
GPS
Global Positioning System is a location system based on a constellation of US Department of Defence satellites. Depending on the number of satellites visible to the user can provide accuracies down to tens of metres. Now being incorporated as a key feature in an increasing number of handsets.
WMA
Windows Media Audio is an audio compression format similar to MP3, but with digital rights management (copy protection and usage restrictions) built-in by Microsoft.
AAC
Advanced Audio Coding is a technique for compressing digital audio files. Officially part of the MPEG-4 standard, it is most widely used to create small digital audio files.
Satellite Speaker
A small speaker with limited bass response that's often designed to be used with a matching subwoofer.
Headset profile
The Headset profile defines the requirements for Bluetooth devices necessary to support the Headset use case. Essentially the Headset profile defines the protocols and procedures that shall be used by devices implementing the usage model called ‘Ultimate Headset’. The most common examples of such devices are headsets, personal computers and mobiles.
Handsfree Profile
A Bluetooth profile (mode) designed to enable a two-way wireless speaker-phone to be used with a Bluetooth phone. It can be used with a desktop speaker-phone accessory, most common use is with car kits. A Bluetooth car kit will use HFP to connect to a Bluetooth phone, allowing phone calls to take place via the car's audio system (or an installed speaker) while the phone stays safely in a pocket or purse. HFP is one of the most common Bluetooth profiles.
MW
A unit of electrical power equal to one million watts.
THD
Total Harmonic Distortion is the noise referenced to signal in decibels (dB) as a percentage.
