Cell Phone & Ringtone Terms

Cell Phone & Ringtone Glossary

This is a list of terms and jargon used in the cell phone and the ringtones industry along with corresponding definitions. We've tried to include the most commonly used cell phone words and phrases that need defining, rather than being comprehensive, but if you feel like we've left something out that should be included, please contact us. (Click on the appropriate link in the sidebar on the left.)

1G
An abbreviation for "first generation" in the context of cellular phones. 1G cell phones are now obsolete and have been replaced with 2G and 3G phones.
2G
An abbreviation for "second generation" in the context of cellular phones. The major difference between 1G and 2G cell phones was the difference between analog and digital.
2.5G
An abbreviation for "second generation enhanced" in the context of cell phones. 2.5G phones are considered a stepping stone between 2G cell phones and 3G cell phones.
3G
An abbreviation for "third generation" cell phones. As of December 2009, this is the latest standard for cell phone technology.
Abandoned call
A phone call in which the call is successfully connected but is then disconnected before the call's participants actually communicate. This term is commonly used in a business context, where it's a measure of customer service. (A lower abandoned call rate means a better customer service experience.)
AC wall charger
A device that connects a cell phone batter to an electrical outlet in a wall for purposes of charging it.
Activation
The process of getting a new cell phone's service started, including getting the phone number assigned and the account set up.
Alphanumeric
A combination of letters and numbers. An "alphanumeric display" can show all letters and all digits (0-9).
AMR
Acronym for "adaptive multi-rate codec." In the context of cell phone ringtones, AMR sound clips can be used to record specific ringtones to use when a specific caller is calling.
Animated screensaver
A screen image that changes when a screen is idle for a certain length of time. (The changes in the image result in the "animation.")
Antenna
The part of the cell phone that broadcasts and receives the signal. The antenna is also sometimes referred to as the "aerial."
Audible keypad tones
Notes that are played on cell phone handsets when numbers are input. Not all cell phones use audible keypad tones. A skilled cell phone operator can use audible keypad tones to play simple songs, like the theme song to "Mission Impossible."
Automatic answering
A technology that allows a cell phone to be answered hands free. The automatic answering is usually activated by a voice command.
Automatic backlight
The technology that backlights a cell phone screen when buttons are pushed. (The screen goes dark when the phone is idle.)
Automatic redial
A cell phone feature that automatically redials a number when a connection isn't made.
Bandwidth
A measure of the amount of information a particular channel can carry at one time. If you imagine a cell phone connection as a pipe, the more bandwidth it makes available means the wider the pipe is.
Battery
The power source for the cell phone. A cell phone battery is also sometimes called a "power cell."
Battery indicator
A warning message regarding how much electricity the battery still has. Some cell phones use an audible battery indicator, while others use a visual batter indicator. Some use both.
Battery meter
A visual battery indicator that shows how much electricity the power cell has left.
Bluetooth
A wireless device that connects machines via radio waves so that using a cable is unnecessary. Bluetooth technology is most commonly used to connect wireless headsets to cell phones.
Call barring
A feature that some cell phones offer which restricts certain kinds of calls. For example, if you owned a corporation, you could use call barring on an employee's phone to prevent him from making expensive international calls and then billing them to the company cell phone.
Call blocking
A specific kind of call barring that blocks phone calls from specific phone numbers.
Call forwarding
A cell phone feature that forwards an incoming call to another phone number. Call forwarding can also be used to send a call directly to voicemail.
Call return
A cell phone functionality which enables the user to input a code to get the phone number for the last caller. This code in the USA is *69.
Call transfer
A cell phone feature which allows a cell phone user to transfer a call to another phone number.
Call waiting
A cell phone feature which alerts a cell phone user when she has another call coming in, even though she's on a call already. Call waiting also allows the cell phone user to switch from the new call to the current call too.
Camera phone
A cell phone that also functions as a digital camera. Camera phone functionalities are common default features on some of the newer and more advanced cell phones now available, like the iPhone and the Blackberry.
Cell phone
A wireless phone that uses a cellular phone network. Cell phones can send and receive information from both cell phones and land line phones, which means calls can be placed both to and from other cell phones and traditional phones. Also called "cellular phones" or "mobile phones."
cHTML
Abbreviation for "compact HTML." A simplified form of hypertext markup language used to build web pages to be viewed on cell phone devices.
Churn
The loss and gaining of new customers at a particular cell phone company. Lower churn usually results in a more profitable business.
Clamshell
A cell phone design that consists of two separate pieces connected by a hinge. A clamshell cell phone closes and opens, like a clamshell. (Or like a communicator on Star Trek.)
Conference calling
A technology that allows three or more callers to participate in a phone call at the same time. Conference calling is also sometimes called "3 way calling."
Country code
A number specific to an individual country that has to be input before a phone number in that country before a call can go through. Country code is often abbreviated "CC."
Decibel
A measurement of how loud a sound is. Abbreviated as "dB."
Dots per inch
A way to measure the resolution of a cell phone's display screen. The more dots per inch a screen is able to display, the clearer the picture is. Abbreviated as "dpi."
Emoticon
Symbols that resemble a face turned on its side. For example, :) looks like a smiley face, and it's one of the most commonly used emoticons in use. Emoticons are commonly added to text messages sent via cell phones.
FCC
Acronym for "Federal Communications Commission," the government agency that regulates telecommunications in the USA.
Flash memory
The type of memory available on memory cards for cell phones. Flash memory units erase and write data in blocks of information, which results in rapid saving and deletion.
GB
Abbreviation for gigabyte, which is a unit that measures information. The word "giga" comes from the Greek word for one billion, but a gigabyte actually is comprised of more than a billion bytes. (2 to the 30th power, in fact.)
Gbps
Abbreviation for gigabits per second, a measurement of the speed that information is being transmitted at.
GHz
An abbreviation for Gigahertz, a measurement of the frequency that a cell phone operates on.
GPS
An abbreviation for "global positioning system," which is a navigation system dependent on USA Department of Defense satellites. A GPS broadcasts a signal to the satellite which demonstrates where you're located, and computer algorithms use that information to provide directions and maps to destinations. Many advanced cell phones include GPS functionality.
Handheld
A cell phone (or other gizmo) that's used while being held in your hand. (As opposed to a device that's hand-free, like a Bluetooth.)
Hands free
Cell phones and other devices that are used without the need of hands. Most hands free gizmos are voice activated.
Handset
A cell phone device that you hold in your hand. As opposed to a headset.
Headset
A cell phone device that's worn on your head. As opposed to a handset.
Infrared
A type of radiation that is used to connect cell phones. Many personal computes now come with infrared ports as well.
Internet
A worldwide network that allows computers to share information with each other. Cell phone users can usually be used as computers for purposes of accessing the Internet.
ISP
Abbreviation of "Internet service provider," which is a company that provides access to the Internet. Common ISP's include AOL, Netzero, and Verizon, among many others. They usually charge a monthly fee.
LCD
Abbreviation for "liquid crystal display," which is the science that makes flat panel monitors possible on small devices like calculators, clocks, watches, and cell phones.
Memory card
A small information storage device often used with cell phones that also operate as minicomputers.
MCC
Abbreviation for "mobile country code," which is a 3 digit code that must be dialed preceding a call to another country's cell phone network.
MIDI
An acronym for "musical instrument data interface." MIDI is used to create polyphonic ringtones.
Monophonic ringtone
The noise made by the cell phone when someone calls. Monophonic ringtones play only one note at a time.
MP 3
A digital format used to store music. Many ringtones are saved in MP 3 format.
Nokia
A large cell phone manufacturer.
Nokia Composer Ringtones
A technology that allows a Nokia cell phone user to composer her own ringtones. This is a handy feature for cell phone users who are creative and want to use their cell phones to compose simple music.
PDA
Abbreviation for "personal digital assistant," which is a hand held device that includes software for scheduling appointments and to-do lists. PDA's normally include spreadsheet software, word processing software, address book software, and other functionalities related to processing information.
Polyphonic ringtones
A cell phone that makes music when the phone is called, but which isn't limited to single tone notes. (As opposed to monophonic ringtones.)
Push to talk
Walkie talkie or CB style communication on a cell phone.
QWERTY
The standard layout for the letters on a typewriter or computer keyboard. Many more advanced cell phones and PDA's also use a QWERTY keyboard.
Radiation
The energy that's radiated from an object. The heat and light from the sun is an example of radiation, as is the signal from a cell phone.
Resolution
How clear the picture on a monitor is. Resolution is often measured in dpi, or dots per inch. The number of pixels horizontally and vertically also measure resolution.
Ringtone
The sound that a cell phone makes when it receives a call. Ringtones can be monophonic or polyphonic.
Ringtone converter
A gadget that converts a ringtone from one format to another. For example, a device that converts a MIDI to a RTTTL ringtone is a "ringtone converter."
Roaming
The use of a cell phone outside of its home area.
RTTTL
An acronym for "ringtone text transfer language." It's a universal formatting code for recording the musical notes of a ringtone.
Samsung
A large cell phone manufacturer.
Signal to noise ratio
A measurement of the wanted sound on a cell phone call versus the unwanted sound on a phone call. The callers' voices would be examples of wanted sounds, while static would be an example of wanted sounds. The higher the signal to noise ratio, the better the quality of the cell phone call.
Smart phone
A cell phone that also features PDA functions.
SMS
Abbreviation for "short message service," a technique used to send short text messages, graphics, and ringtones from one cell phone to another. Also called "texting" or "text messaging." The actual messages sent via SMS are usually referred to as "text messages."
Speaker phone
A loudspeaker that amplifies the voices on the receiving and the sending end of a cell phone call. Speaker phone capability enables cell phone users to use a cell phone without having to hold it to their ears.
Talk time
How long a cell phone battery will last when the cell phone is in use.
Video phone
A phone that transmits images as well as sounds, enabling face to face communication via a combination of what looks like a television picture on both ends.
Voice mail
Computerized answering systems that duplicate the functionality of an answering machine.
Wallpaper
The picture that covers a computer or cell phone screen when the machine is idle. Wallpapers are often available free, but premium wallpapers are also a common means for ringtones companies to monetize their businesses.