The next generation of wireless communications beyond today's digital PCS technologies. When available, 3G wireless technologies will allow for much higher transmission rates to wireless devices leading to more useful services and a better user experience.

A one-time up-front charge for activation of a wireless phone.

Describes the transmission capacity of a medium in terms of a range of frequencies. A greater bandwidth indicates the ability to transmit a greater amount of data over a given period of time.

Describes a communications medium capable of transmitting a relatively large amount of data over a given period of time. A communications channel of high bandwidth.

A digital communication technology used by some carriers to provide PCS service. Also known as IS-95A or cdmaOne. Other technologies used are TDMA and GSM.

The type of wireless communication that is most familiar to mobile phones users. Called 'cellular' because the system uses many base stations to divide a service area into multiple 'cells'. Cellular calls are transferred from base station to base station as a user travels from cell to cell.

The transmission and reception equipment, including the base station antenna, that connects a cellular phone to the network.

The transfer of a wireless call in progress from one transmission site to another site without disconnection.

A flat panel screen used to display numbers and/or characters. Often found on a wireless handset.

Similar to SMS, but in addition to plain text, MMS messages may include multimedia elements such as pictures, video and audio. These multimedia elements are included in the message, not as attachments as with email.

A component of a wireless phone that holds in electronic memory the telephone number and ESN of the phone.

Displays made of organic materials that light up when charged with an electric current. Such displays are sharp, clear and viewable from wide angles.

The tone you hear (in the earpiece) when you place a call and are waiting for the phone to be answered. The standard tone is usually an on and off ringing sound. On some wireless systems, users have the ability to choose the tone heard when other users dial their number.

A feature of PCS phones(primarily GSM) that allows users to receive and sometimes transmit short text messages using their wireless phone.

A feature built into many phones that allows you to use one key press per letter when entering text on your wireless phone. T9 helps make entering text on a limited keypad quick and easy. See T9 for more information.

A wireless data networking protocol generally used connect PCs and laptops to a network. Also know as 802.11b and WLAN(Wireless LAN), it is the most common means of wireless networking and operates at 2.4 GHz.

4G refers to the fourth generation of cellular wireless standards. It is a successor to 3G and 2G standards, with the aim to provide a wide range of data rates up to ultra-broadband (gigabit-speed) Internet access to mobile as well as stationary users