MOBILE DEFINITIONS :
O - Q
A company manufacturing products that are branded and sold by another company. Often if the product was originally designed by the OEM that is called an ODM (Original Design Manufacturer).
A display technology that consists of small dots of organic polymer which emit light when charged with electricity.
OLED displays have several advantages over the LCDs. They are thinner, lighter, brighter, need less power, have better viewing angles, contrast and response time for video and animation. OLEDs are also cheaper and easier to manufacture.
On the other hand, LCDs offer better legibility in bright ambient light.
The zoom-feature found in many cameras and camera phones that makes subjects appear closer than they actually are (so they fill more of the image area). To create that magnification effect cameras use a set of moving optical lenses - hence the name "optical zoom". The alternative to optical zoom is digital zoom, which is a highly advertized feature on many consumer devices equipped with a camera, but it doesn't offer many real advantages.
Digital zoom generally influences quite negatively the image quality of the captured images.
An infrastructure software component of a computerized system. It controls all basic operations of the computer (or other electronic devices such as PDA, smartphone, etc.).
Among the most popular desktop operating systems are Windows, Mac OS, and variations of Linux, while the most widely used operating systems for mobile devices are Symbian and Windows Mobile.
Mobile devices with OS are called smartphones and can run full software applications (like games, organizer or communication applications) on top of the OS. Standardized operating system platforms make it possible to provide a consistent user interface (and experience) across devices from diverse hardware manufacturers.
Over-the-air is any method of making data transfers or transactions wirelessly using the cellular network instead of a cable or other local connection. Most commonly, this term refers to downloading or uploading content or software (such as downloading ringtones, uploading images, etc.).
If the term is used for updating a phone's firmware this is also known as FOTA (Firmware Over-The-Air).
Packet Data - small pieces called packets. This allows users to consume a network's resources only when they are actually transferring data. In mobile phones, data is used for functions requiring Internet access (including video or audio streaming).
Generally all technologies for wireless data transfer used by operators (except WAP) rely on packet data - GPRS, EDGE, UMTS.
A small pocket-sized one-way or two-way radio receiver that rings and/or vibrates when a transmission is received. Optionally, it can also display a numeric and/or alphanumeric message. Some pagers are capable of not only receiving but also sending messages.
A feature allowing the user to connect the mobile phone to a computer (via cable or wirelessly using Bluetooth for example) and synchronize contact information, calendar and notes between the phone and a specific computer application (such as MS Outlook on PC).
PCS or Personal Communications Service is the name for the 1900 MHz radio band used for digital mobile phone services in Canada, Mexico and the United States. All CDMA, GSM, and D-AMPS systems can be used on PCS frequencies.
A handheld device with basic computing and organizing functions. Most of them have a large touch screen, a stylus and support handwriting recognition.
Normally, they also have faster processors than typical mobile phones and can run more complex software. Most of the PDAs run a standardized OS such as Windows Mobile for Pocket PC or Palm OS. Today, PDAs are being pushed aside by capable smartphones, which can do all the same functions but also offer telephony.
A Bluetooth mode/profile allowing the phone to make its phone book (contact) information available to another authorized and PBA compatible device (car or car accessory e.g.). PBA allows the authorized device to handle phone book browsing and dialing (including voice dialing by the car or car accessory).
Mobile phones are equipped with a quite detailed phonebook. The available information fields usually cover all the customary PIM requirements. Most of the times users can even add custom fields when the default options are insufficient.
Computer synchronization with a PIM application is quite important and most recent mobile phones offer
synchronization with Microsoft Outlook or through a proprietary sync application. Whenever possible we will try and list the contact capacity for each mobile phone in our database as accurately as possible. Bear in mind that the number of entry fields listed concerns only the handset memory, SIM cards will usually offer an additional capacity of about 200-250 contacts.
A whole range of software functions which organize personal information. A standard PIM suite includes a scheduler for events, address book for contacts and a to-do list. Email, text notes and/or voice notes, and alarms (reminders) may also be included. Some mobile phones allow PIM data to be synchronized (also automatically) with a PC and/or web-based PIM-service.
In mobile devices, the PIN acts like a password preventing other people from gaining unauthorized access to your device. This is a numeric code which must be entered each time the device is started (unless the PIN security feature is turned off). In GSM mobile phones, the PIN is normally associated with the SIM card (not the phone) and must be entered each time the phone is switched on. If a wrong PIN is entered three times in a row the handset is locked until you enter another code, called a PUK code. Both the PIN and the PUK codes are supplied by the operator, but only the PIN code can be changed by the user.
Pixel comes from "pix" (for "picture") and el (for "element"). A pixel is the smallest piece of information on an image. This is a unit for measuring image resolution, and the more pixels a picture consists of, the more detailed it is.
Refers to the concentration of pixels on a particular display, measured in pixels per inch (ppi). Pixel density is calculated by dividing the diagonal pixel resolution of a display by its diagonal size.
With polyphonic ringtones more than one musical note is played at the same time.
Unlike regular ringtones, which can only reproduce consecutive notes (monophony), the polyphonic ringtones are able to create realistic-sounding music by synthesizing several notes simultaneously - polyphony. The more notes the synthesizer can play simultaneously, the nicer it sounds. Usually mobile phones synthesizers can reproduce from 4 to 72 simultaneous tones.
Polyphonic ringtones should not be mistaken with the so called "True tones" (also known as "Real tones") which are simply audio recordings, typically in a common format such as MP3, AAC, or WMA.
An Internet protocol used to download messages from an email server to an email client (a desktop computer or mobile device application).
A term that is generally used to describe a physical connector that docks with another connector (a type of plug on the end of a cable) to electronically connect two devices. It is also called a "connector" or "jack".
Allows the user to enter text by pressing only one key per letter on a keypad where multiple letters share keys. As a word is entered, the phone automatically compares all possible letter combinations against a built-in dictionary of words, and determines which word was intended to be typed by the user.
It is possible to scroll (without re-typing) through all possible matches until the right word is found. This feature allows faster and easier typing than the standard typing method where some keys must be pressed several timesuntil the right letter is displayed on the screen (a.k.a. multi-tap).
The most popular types of predicative text entry are T9 and Motorola's iTAP.
A two-way communication service which works like a "walkie-talkie". PTT is half-duplex so communication can only be transferred in one direction at a time in contrast to mobile phone calls which are full-duplex and both parties can hear each other.
PTT requires the person speaking to press a certain button while talking and to release it when they are done so the listener can answer by repeating the same steps. In this way people control which one can speak and be heard and the system knows in which direction the information should be transferred.
Most PTT systems allow group calls (one person speaks to all the members of the group).
The newest PTT systems use VoIP technology and the signal is transferred over the 2.5G or 3G network.
A PUK code is required if a GSM SIM card was locked after entering the wrong PIN code three times in a row. Entering a wrong PUK code ten times in a row disables the SIM card permanently. Both the PIN and the PUK codes are supplied by the operator, but only the PIN code can be changed by the user.
A general term referring to technologies which allow a central system (such as the network) to "push" (send) information spontaneously and quickly to a user without any action on the part of the user or the mobile device. A very common "push" technology is email. "Push" emails are directly "pushed" to the mobile device as soon as the email server receives them and it is not necessary for either the user or the device to manually or automatically check for new emails at regular intervals.
QCIF images or videos are 176 pixels wide and 144 pixels tall (176 x 144 pixels). The name Quarter CIF is written as QCIF and the resolution is four times smaller than the CIF resolution (352 x 288 pixels). QCIF is smaller than CIF, QVGA, and VGA.
Refers to a mobile phone that supports the four major GSM frequency bands (850/900/1800/1900 MHz), making it compatible with all the major GSM networks in the world. The 850/1900 MHz bands are mainly used in the US, while the 900/1800 MHz ones are available in most other countries worldwide.
QVGA images or videos are 320 pixels wide and 240 pixels tall (320 x 240 pixels). The name Quarter VGA is written as QVGA and the resolution is four times smaller than VGA resolution (640 x 480 pixels).
Stands for a standard layout for letter keys on text keyboards. This term comes from the first six letter on the top row of a standard English keyboard and refers to devices that offer a keyboard with that kind of layout. Such a keyboard makes typing much easier and faster even though sometimes (on mobile devices such as mobile phones) keys are small and placed too close to each other.
OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer)
OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode)
OLED displays have several advantages over the LCDs. They are thinner, lighter, brighter, need less power, have better viewing angles, contrast and response time for video and animation. OLEDs are also cheaper and easier to manufacture.
On the other hand, LCDs offer better legibility in bright ambient light.
Optical Zoom
Digital zoom generally influences quite negatively the image quality of the captured images.
OS (Operating System)
Among the most popular desktop operating systems are Windows, Mac OS, and variations of Linux, while the most widely used operating systems for mobile devices are Symbian and Windows Mobile.
Mobile devices with OS are called smartphones and can run full software applications (like games, organizer or communication applications) on top of the OS. Standardized operating system platforms make it possible to provide a consistent user interface (and experience) across devices from diverse hardware manufacturers.
OTA (Over-The-Air)
If the term is used for updating a phone's firmware this is also known as FOTA (Firmware Over-The-Air).
Packet Data
Generally all technologies for wireless data transfer used by operators (except WAP) rely on packet data - GPRS, EDGE, UMTS.
Pager
PC Sync
PCS (Personal Communications Service)
PDA (Personal Digital Assistant)
Normally, they also have faster processors than typical mobile phones and can run more complex software. Most of the PDAs run a standardized OS such as Windows Mobile for Pocket PC or Palm OS. Today, PDAs are being pushed aside by capable smartphones, which can do all the same functions but also offer telephony.
Phone Book Access (PBA)
Phonebook
Computer synchronization with a PIM application is quite important and most recent mobile phones offer
synchronization with Microsoft Outlook or through a proprietary sync application. Whenever possible we will try and list the contact capacity for each mobile phone in our database as accurately as possible. Bear in mind that the number of entry fields listed concerns only the handset memory, SIM cards will usually offer an additional capacity of about 200-250 contacts.
PIM (Personal Information Manager/Management)
PIN code (Personal Identification Number)
Pixel
Pixel density (PPI)
Polyphonic ringtones
Unlike regular ringtones, which can only reproduce consecutive notes (monophony), the polyphonic ringtones are able to create realistic-sounding music by synthesizing several notes simultaneously - polyphony. The more notes the synthesizer can play simultaneously, the nicer it sounds. Usually mobile phones synthesizers can reproduce from 4 to 72 simultaneous tones.
Polyphonic ringtones should not be mistaken with the so called "True tones" (also known as "Real tones") which are simply audio recordings, typically in a common format such as MP3, AAC, or WMA.
POP3 (Post Office Protocol)
Port
Predictive text input
It is possible to scroll (without re-typing) through all possible matches until the right word is found. This feature allows faster and easier typing than the standard typing method where some keys must be pressed several timesuntil the right letter is displayed on the screen (a.k.a. multi-tap).
The most popular types of predicative text entry are T9 and Motorola's iTAP.
PTT (Push-To-Talk)
PTT requires the person speaking to press a certain button while talking and to release it when they are done so the listener can answer by repeating the same steps. In this way people control which one can speak and be heard and the system knows in which direction the information should be transferred.
Most PTT systems allow group calls (one person speaks to all the members of the group).
The newest PTT systems use VoIP technology and the signal is transferred over the 2.5G or 3G network.
PUK Code (PIN UnlocK Code)
Push
QCIF (Quarter Common Intermediate Format)
Quad-band
QVGA (Quarter Video Graphics Array)
QWERTY keyboard layout
