Cellular Glossary

Monthly Plan Terms

Monthly Access - Monthly charge for ability to connect to a wireless network. Assessed monthly whether phone is actually used or not.

Direct Connect - Nextel offers two way radio features which allow multiple users to communicate directly with each other without dialing a number.

Peak Period - Higher rates apply when high levels of communications traffic is using the system, usually weekdays between the hours of 7 am to 7 pm for most carriers.

Off Peak Period - Lower rates apply when network demand is lower, usually between the house of 7 pm and 7 am on weekdays, as well as on weekends.

Peak Minute - Package of minutes which can be used only during peak period (weekdays between 7 am and 7 pm.

Off Peak Minute - Package of minutes which can be used only during off peak periods (nights and weekends). Anytime, Anywhere Minutes - Package of minutes which can be used during peak or off peak hours. Contract - One, two, or three year commitment required by some carriers. Carriers often offer discounts on wireless phones if you subscribe to a service plan with a contract. Rate per Additional Minute - Minutes over and beyond allowed minutes per month. Once subscriber surpasses the allotted minutes per month, they will be charged a fee for each minute of use. Regional Roaming - Some carriers charge an additional charge for placing a call outside of the local calling area. National Roaming - Some carriers charge an additional charge for placing call outside home state calling area. Prepaid Cellular - Subscribers pay in advance for wireless service. Generally used for credit problems or those managing strict budgets. Phone Insurance - Guarantees replacement phone if yours is lost, damaged, or stolen. Most carriers offer this with a small monthly fee. Cellular Phone Terms Stand-by Time - Amount of time you can leave your fully charged wireless phone turned on before the phone will completely discharge the battery. Talk Time - Amount of time you can talk on your fully charged wireless phone before the phone will completely discharge the battery. Weight - Weight of wireles phone including the standard battery. Dual Band - Features on some wireless phones that allow the handset to operate using either the 800 MHz cellular or the 1900 MHz PCS frequency. Dual Mode - A features on some wireless phones that allows the handset to operate on both analog and digital networks. Becoming very rare in new phones. Tri-Mode Handset - Phones that work on three frequencies, typically using 1990 MHz, 800 MHz digital or reverting to 800 MHz analog cellular when digital is not available. Becoming less and less common since most wireless are now digital. Electronic Serial Number (ESN) - Each wireless phone is assigned a unique ESN which is auto transmitted to the base station every time a call is placed. Prepaid Cellular - Subscribers pay in advance for wireless service. Generally used for credit problems or those managing strict budgets. Technology Terms AMPS - Advanced Mobile Phone Service. An analog cellular phone service standard used in US and other countries. CDMA - Code Division Multiple Access. A spread spectrum air interface technology used in some digital cellular, personal communications services and other wireless networks. GSM - Global Standard for Mobile. A digital communications technology used by certain carriers to provide PCS and digital cellular service. PCS - Personal Communications Service. PCS systems use the 1.9 GHz band rather than cellular phone 800 MHz and generally use all gidital technology for transmission and reception. TDMA - Time Division Multiple Access. A digital air interface technology used in cellular, PCS and ESMR networks. See also Cellular FAQ