In mobile telephony, second-generation adopts digital encoding and includes GSM, D-AMPS (TDMA) and CDMA standards. 2G networks are in current use around the world. These standards support voice and limited data services, such as data, fax and SMS.

The next generation Cellular Radio for mobile telephony. Having begun implementation in 2001, 3G is the first cellular mobile technology designed from the outset to support wideband data communications on top of the voice communications. It is the basis for a wireless information society where accesses to information and information services such as electronic commerce is available anytime, anyplace and anywhere to anybody. 3G's technical and regulatory frameworks have been defined by the ITU (International Telecommunications Union) with its International Mobile Telecommunications 2000 (IMT-2000) program, including the establishment of open standards and the identification of international frequency spectrum.

Advanced Mobile Phone System. The standard for analog cellular telephones, uses a frequency-modulated transmission and frequency spacing to separate user transmission. AMPS operates in the 800 MHz band.

Generally speaking, it is a reference to how much information can be sent through a connection. Bandwidth is usually measured in bits per second (bps). A full page of text is about 30,000 bits. A fast modem (28.8 Kbps) can move around 28,800 bits in one second. Full-screen, full-motion video requires approximately 10 Mbps. The need for more bandwidth to support the growing number of Internet users and the rapidly-increasing amount of information with which they are dealing is prompting a wide-spread move from standard phone circuits and lines to high-speed technologies.

Binary digit, either one or zero. The smallest unit of computerized data. Bandwidth is usually measured in bits per second (bps).

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. The idea is to provide an easier to use alternative to the cable-based interfaces currently in use to link computers and computer peripherals. Other devices in which Bluetooth chips could be embedded include mobile telephones, personal digital assistants, headsets and wristwatches.

A term applied to telecommunication systems capable of simultaneously supporting multiple information formats at relatively high speed such as voice, high-speed data services and video services on demand. Overall transmission speed is typically hundreds to thousands times faster than those of Narrowband systems.

Code Division Multiple Access. CDMA is a spread spectrum approach for the digital transmission of data/voice over radio frequencies. Sound bits are digitized and the data is split into data packets that are encoded with unique identification tags. All data/voice is sent over a spread range of radio frequencies. The cell phone or data device receives all data packets and then re-assembles those packets with the correct code and transforms the broken-up bits of data into useful sound and data. This allows more traffic for a finite number of available frequencies than analog or other digital standards.

Dual-band mobiles can transmit and receive on two different frequency ranges. In GSM networks, dual-band devices operate in the frequency range around 900MHz and also around 1800MHz.

Dual mode mobiles work according to two different radio standards. Many of the UMTS devices, for example, can support the GSM standard. The subscriber can make calls in areas in which UMTS is not yet available, by 'roaming' to GSM.

General Packet Radio Service. Packet-switched data technology for GSM networks. GPRS connections can always connect giving mobile terminal users the same kind of network availability they use in corporate networks.

Global System for Mobile Communications. TDMA-based second generation mobile Cellular Radio technology, originated in Europe and now being used in over 210 countries around the world. GSM supports voice, data and text messaging and allows roaming between different networks which means that GSM users can use their phones in most areas of the world. GSM systems currently operate in the 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 1900 MHz bands.

International Direct Dialing.

Integrated Services Digital Network. A fully digital telecommunication network access method which works over copper wires. There are two types of ISDN, basic rate and primary rate. Basic rate ISDN provides subscribers with two 64 kbps information channels and a single 16 kbps control channel. Primary rate provides users with thirty 64 kbps information channels and a 64 kbps control channel.

Internet Service Provider. Company that provides individuals and other companies access to the Internet.

Kilobits Per Second. A measure of the speed of data capable of passing along a line expressed in thousands of bits.

Megabits Per Second. A measure of the speed of data capable of passing along a line expressed in millions of bits.

Multimedia Messaging Service. The ability to send messages comprising a combination of text, sounds, images and video to MMS capable handsets.

A document or program which incorporates a combination of text, graphics, audio and video.

As a contrast to the term broadband, 'narrowband' means all transmission methods with small bandwidth and rather smaller data rates.

As it is understood today, transmission rates up to about 128 kilobits per second are considered as narrowband: higher data rates are considered as broadband. Examples of narrowband transmission methods are data radio in GSM networks (9600 or 14,400 bits per second), modem transmissions (maximum 56,000 bits per second) and also iSDN connections (64,000 bits per second or 128,000 bits per second).

A computer network is two or more computers connected together using a telecommunication system for the purpose of communicating and sharing resources. A computer network can be classified according to their geographical extent: LAN (local area network); WAN (wide area network). LANs may be interconnected through WAN connections.

Means that your mobile phone automatically sets up communication procedures with different radio base stations when you are on the move. International roaming means that you can use networks other than your own when travelling abroad. Some phones allow, for example, switching between 900/1800 MHz in Europe and 1900 MHz in the US.

Subscriber Identity Module. It is a technical term for a mobile phone authorization chip card, which is inserted into the mobile phone. It contains the subscriber's telephone number, an encoded algorithm for identification in the network, the PIN (Personal Identification Number), the subscriber's mobile telephone book, etc. For UMTS terminals a special chip card variation, the USIM, is implemented.

Short Message Services. The ability to send text-only messages of up to 160 7-bit ASCII characters to mobile phones that use Global System for Mobile (GSM) communication.

Time Division Multiple Access. A method of digital wireless communications transmission allowing a large number of users to access (in sequence) a single radio frequency channel without interference by allocating unique time slots to each user within each channel. Rather than encoding bits of data like CDMA, each frequency is broken into time slots. Data can only flow in their assigned time slots.

Collective name for the set of protocols on which the Internet is based. TCP and IP are the best known of this set, but they are by no means the only ones. TCP guarantees that every byte sent from one port arrives at the other in the same order and without duplication or loss. IP assigns local IP addresses to physical network addresses providing a structure which can be recognised by routers.

Universal Mobile Telecommunications System. A major new third generation mobile communications system, the technical specification is being specified by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) within the framework defined by the ITU (International Telecommunications Union) to offer broadband, packet-based transmission of text, digitised voice, video, and multimedia at data rates up to 2 megabits per second (Mbps). It will offer a consistent set of services to mobile computer and phone users no matter where they are located in the world. Based on the Global System for Mobile (GSM) communication standard, UMTS, endorsed by major standards bodies and manufacturers, is the planned standard for mobile users around the world.

Universal Subscriber Identity Module. USIM is the UMTS version of the SIM.

The Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) is an open, global specification that empowers mobile users with wireless devices to easily access and interact with information and services instantly.