A-Band
cellular: In the U.S. cellular duopoly, the
alternative carrier to the regional Bell operating company's cellular subsidiary. Access
fee
special fee that local phone companies
are allowed to charge customers for the right to connect with the local phone
network. Cellular subscribers contribute to access fees and pay a federal 3 percent
telephone excise tax. Access point
AP Interface between the wireless network and wired network Acceptance
testing determine whether
the network is acceptable to the actual users. Adaptive
array antennas: A type of advanced smart antenna technology that continually monitors
a received signal and dynamically adapts signal patterns to optimize wireless
system performance.
The arrays use signal
processing algorithms to adapt to user movement, changes in the radio-frequency
environment and multipath and co channel interference Ad hoc network
wireless network composed only of stations
no access points. | Adjacent
channel interference: Signal impairment to one frequency due to presence of another
signal on a nearby frequency. Affiliate
Companies that assist larger carriers with building out a nationwide network;
the affiliate may use the primary carrier's brand name, network operations, customer
service or other facilities. AIN
(advanced intelligent network): Introduced by AT&T Network Systems in 1991.
Enables service providers to define, test and introduce new multimedia messaging,
PCS and cell routing. Air interface
The standard operating system of a wireless network; technologies include AMPS,
TDMA, CDMA and GSM. Airtime
Actual time
spent using a wireless phone. A-key
A secret number issued to a cellular phone that is used in conjunction with a
subscriber's shared secret data information for authentication Alphanumeric
Display, message or readout that contains both letters and numbers. Synonymous
with text paging or messaging.
AMPS
Advanced mobile phone
service: The analog cellular standard. Analog signal
Electrical
signal with an amplitude that varies continuously as time progress. |
AMTA
(American Mobile Telecommunications
Association): A Washington, D.C.-based trade group representing specialized mobile
radio operators. ANSI
(American
National Standards Institute): A US standards group. APCO
(Association
of Public-Safety Communications Officials-International): Trade group headquarters
in South Daytona, Fla., representing law enforcement, fire, emergency services
and other public-safety agency dispatchers and communications employees. ARIB
(Association of Radio Industries and
Businesses): The Japanese standards-setting organization. ARQ
Automatic repeat-request. Meshed of error
correction where the receiver detects errors and by feedback path request retransmission
. ARPU
(average revenue per unit):
One indicator of a wireless business' operating performance. ARPU measures the
average monthly revenue generated for each customer unit, such as a cellular phone
or pager, that a carrier has in operation. Severely declining ARPU typically is
a negative sign that may indicate a carrier is adding too many low-revenue generating
customers to its rolls. ASIC
(application-specific
integrated circuit): An integrated circuit tailored for a particular piece of
electronic equipment. It is intended for sale to only one company and typically
developed to meet that company's design objectives for a particular application.
Not to be confused with an application specific standard processor, which, like
an ASIC, is designed for use in a particular piece of equipment but is intended
for sale to multiple companies. ATM
(automatic
teller machine):Referring to financial applications using smart cards. ATM
(asynchronous transfer mode): A high-speed,
high-bandwidth transmission technology. Appliance
runs
applications and is a visual interface between the user and the network Authentication
A fraud prevention technology that takes a number of values--including
a 26-character handset identifier or A-Key, not sent over the air--to create a
shared secret value used to verify a user's authenticity. Auto PC
An in-vehicle combination AM/FM radio, Windows CE-based
computer, compact disc and CD-ROM player, wireless phone and navigational system.
The units are about the size of a typical car stereo. AVL
(automatic vehicle location): Combining a location-sensing device (such as a GPS
receiver) with a wireless communications link to usprovide a home office or dispatcher
with the location of a vehicle or mobile asset (such as a trailer or heavy machinery).
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