MOBILE DEFINITIONS :
T - X
Talk time is the officially quoted longest time that a single battery charge will last when you are constantly talking on the phone. The talk time is highly dependent on the cellular network environment such as the distance to the closest GSM cell tower. Moving fast while talking (as in a vehicle) also negatively affects battery life.
Manufacturers measure talk time in controlled conditions and the quoted numbers are rarely reached in real-life scenarios. These numbers are best used as reference when comparing phones from the same manufacturer because battery life measurement methodology will probably vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. Quite often you will find the Talk time field in the specification pages of new phones empty as the manufacturers sometimes fail to disclose the info at the time of the official announcement. Later on, when the handset hits the market, the figures are usually revealed and accordingly, we take the care to add them to our database.
Transmission Control Protocol and Internet Protocol are in fact two cooperating protocols that are essential parts of the Internet protocol set. The TCP breaks the data into packets while the IP routes them.
TD-SCDMA is a 3G format of choice for the national standard of 3G mobile telecommunication in China. TD-SCDMA was chosen as an attempt to escape dependency on the already implemented Western spread spectrum technology as using Western 3G formats calls for payment of high patent fees to a large number of western patent holders. The launch of a national commercial TD-SCDMA network in China is still postponed and the technology is currently undergoing extensive field testing.
On January 7, 2009 China granted TD-SCDMA 3G licence to the national GSM carrier China Mobile. Networks using other 3G standards (WCDMA and CDMA2000 EV/DO) have still not been launched in China, as these are delayed until TD-SCDMA is ready. The two standards, WCDMA and CDMA-2000, are assigned to China Unicom and China Telecom, respectively.
UMTS or the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System is a third generation wireless network technology which allows speeds of up to 2Mbps.
UMTS is based on the WCDMA technology, which is why these terms have become interchangeable.
In the context of GSM mobile phones, tethering describes the process of connecting a phone to a computer so that the computer can access the internet via an EDGE/UMTS/HSDPA network. In this way, the mobile phone acts as a modem for the computer. That specific use of the word "tethering" stems from the fact that to be used as a modem, the mobile phone usually has to be connected to the computer via a USB data cable. In recent years however the same thing has become possible without cables by using a Bluetooth connection.
Thus, tethering has turned into a generic term for using your mobile phone as a GSM modem for your computer. Some carriers require that you sign up for special plans in order to use your phone for tethering, while for others it's simply a matter of paying the data traffic used, much like you pay for browsing on your mobile phone.
Text messaging is a service allowing text messages to be sent and received on a mobile phone. This is also known as SMS (Short Message Service).
TFD is a kind of Liquid crystal display (LCD) technology. It is an active-matrix technology which means that a diode is situated next to each pixel making it possible for the pixels to be turned on and off individually. This allows a quicker response time and more contrast than passive-matrix technologies.
TFD takes the excellent picture quality and the fast response of TFT displays and combines them with the low power consumption and cost of the STN ones.
TFT is one of the best Liquid Cristal Display technologies in terms of image quality and response time. However, it also consumes more power and is more expensive. TFT, like TFD, is an active-matrix technology. This means a transistor is located next to each pixel, allowing it to be turned on and off individually. This ensures faster response time and greater contrast.
A theme is a motif used in the user interface of a device. It usually consists of set of matching elements to create the look of the menus, text boxes etc. Another popular term used to describe this is 'skin'.
Themes or skins allow the user of the device to customize the interface to reflect their own tastes.
The To-Do list is a type of organizer application available on most mobile phones. It allows the user to write down a list of personal tasks. These can also be prioritized and, if needed, assigned a due date.
Refers to a display which responds to direct touch manipulation, either by finger, stylus, or both.
A trackball is pointing device allowing four-axis control. It consists of a small ball embedded on the device surface, partially exposed so the user can move a finger across it to rotate it in any direction. This allows fast scrolling in any direction.
Talk time (battery life)
Manufacturers measure talk time in controlled conditions and the quoted numbers are rarely reached in real-life scenarios. These numbers are best used as reference when comparing phones from the same manufacturer because battery life measurement methodology will probably vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. Quite often you will find the Talk time field in the specification pages of new phones empty as the manufacturers sometimes fail to disclose the info at the time of the official announcement. Later on, when the handset hits the market, the figures are usually revealed and accordingly, we take the care to add them to our database.
TCP/IP
TD-SCDMA (Time Division-Synchronous Code
Division Multiple Access)
On January 7, 2009 China granted TD-SCDMA 3G licence to the national GSM carrier China Mobile. Networks using other 3G standards (WCDMA and CDMA2000 EV/DO) have still not been launched in China, as these are delayed until TD-SCDMA is ready. The two standards, WCDMA and CDMA-2000, are assigned to China Unicom and China Telecom, respectively.
TEST
UMTS or the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System is a third generation wireless network technology which allows speeds of up to 2Mbps.
UMTS is based on the WCDMA technology, which is why these terms have become interchangeable.
Tethering
Thus, tethering has turned into a generic term for using your mobile phone as a GSM modem for your computer. Some carriers require that you sign up for special plans in order to use your phone for tethering, while for others it's simply a matter of paying the data traffic used, much like you pay for browsing on your mobile phone.
Text messaging (texting)
TFD (Thin Film Diode)
TFD takes the excellent picture quality and the fast response of TFT displays and combines them with the low power consumption and cost of the STN ones.
TFT (Thin Film Transistor)
Theme
Themes or skins allow the user of the device to customize the interface to reflect their own tastes.
To-Do list
Touchscreen
Trackball
Transflash
Refer to microSD.
Transflective
A transflective - also known as transreflective liquid crystal - display (LCD) is one that is able to reflect most of the sunlight it is exposed to and automatically adjust its backlighting depending on the amount of light shining on it. This strongly reduces the need for manual light adjustment of the screen.
Transflective LCD displays combine the benefits of transmissive and reflective ones, which makes them equally readable in both bright sunlight and low-light conditions.
Tri-band
A Tri-band GSM phone is one that supports three of the four major GSM frequency bands, allowing it to work in most parts of the world. The two most common kinds of tri-band GSM phones are the European type, which support the 900, 1800 and 1900 frequencies and the American type, which cover the 850, 1800 and 1900 frequencies.
UI (User Interface)
User Interface is the software front for interacting with the technical features of a mobile phone.
Although the term can also be used for hardware input such as controls or keys, in the area of mobile phones it's most frequently used to refer to the software-controlled elements displayed on the screen that are used to interact with the device. That includes icons in the menus, text boxes, etc.
User Interfaces that are easier to use than others are referred to as more user-friendly.
UIQ
UIQ is a touchscreen user interface for the Symbian OS. Owned and developed by Sony Ericsson and Motorola, the user interface is now outdated and the software company UIQ Technology filed for bankruptcy on 5 January 2009.
UMA
Unlicensed Mobile Access enables access to cellular mobile voice and data services over unlicensed spectrum technologies such as Bluetooth or Wi-Fi (802.11).
The idea behind this technology is the following: when there is an accessible Wi-Fi hotspot near you, the UMA-enabled device can connect to it and use the broadband connection for making and accepting calls and sending and receiving data. It is very similar to using wireless VoIP-telephony on your GSM mobile phone. The UMA-enabled phone is also be able to use regular GSM base stations as any normal mobile phone can. The handset is able to seamlessly change connections between the licensed cellular radio access network and the unlicensed IP network, even in the middle of a call. All you need to use the new technology is a UMA-enabled device, an operator that supports UMA, and an Internet broadband connection that you can access via Wi-Fi (WLAN).
The most important difference from the widely known VoIP technology is that UMA is tightly linked to the mobile radio network, which is used for routing, authentication and billing. A call initiated using the Wi-Fi interface reaches the 2G core network through the UMA Network and once the signal is transferred, it becomes indistinguishable from the rest of the cellular traffic.
UMTS
UMTS or the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System is a third generation wireless network technology which allows speeds of up to 2Mbps.
UMTS is based on the WCDMA technology, which is why these terms have become interchangeable.
Unlocked phone
A phone without a carrier SIM lock.
Upload
Upload is also known as uplink and means the one way connection from a device (phone, PDA, laptop computer) to a network or server (mobile phone network, internet etc.).
UPnP (Universal Plug and Play)
Universal Plug and Play represents a couple of standards used to connect digital devices to both wired and wireless networks. It's intended for use in PCs, TVs and some other types of devices. In mobiles, UPnP is used to allow the sharing of media files through Wi-Fi networks as well as to connect the device to a PC or a TV.
USB (Universal Serial Bus)
USB is a standard for a wired connection between two electronic devices, including a mobile phone and a
desktop computer. The connection is made by a cable that has a connector at either end. One end, the one that plugs into the computer, is the same across all USB cables while the one that plugs into the mobile device can be of various types such as miniUSB, microUSB or a proprietary connector.
USB version 1.1 provides maximum speeds of up to 1.5 MB/s while the current version 2.0 is about 40 times faster. The versions are backwards compatible and the speed is limited by the slower device. Transferring data may require drivers to be installed on the desktop computer but some phones offer "mass storage" mode whichmeans they appear as thumb drives to the computer and no special drivers are needed.
In addition to their data transferring application, USB cables also carry an electric charge that can be used to power peripherals (such as USB mice or keyboards), and many mobile phones can be charged through their USB port.
USIM
Refers to SIM card.
VGA (Video Graphics Array)
One of the resolution standards used for images, videos and displays. VGA means a resolution of 640 pixels x 480 pixels.
Video call
Video call is a 3G network feature that allows two callers to talk to each other while at the same time viewing live video form each other's phone. To make a video call, both users should have 3G phones which support this feature and they both need to be in range of a 3G network.
Video Codec
A video codec is the part of the software that handles converting stored digital information back to images and vice-versa. Different codecs have different capabilities, making them suitable for different applications. Regular feature phones come with a fixed set of video codecs, while the capability of smartphones to playback different codecs can usually be expanded by installing third-party solutions.
The most popular mobile codecs are H.263 used in 3GP videos, H.264 in MPEG4 videos, and DivX and XviD for avi files.
Voice dialing
Voice dialing is a feature most modern phones support. It allows the user to dial a number by a voice command. There are two ways this is done. The first way is for the user to record the commands in advance and then use them. This normally means that only the user who has recorded the commands may apply them. The other kind of voice-dialing enabled phones use text recognition and no prerecording is required. When someone issues a command these devices simply match it to the nearest contact in the phone book. This feature does not depend on the speaker and usually performs better than the former method. However, it is not commonly avaible, especially in older phones.
Voice mail
Voice mail is a network feature offered by most networks. It is similar to an answering machine and allows the caller to leave a voice message if the person called is unavailable.
This feature means that the person who received the message can listen to it whenever necessary.
Voice memo
Voice memos allow the users of devices that support them to record a note that can be heard whenever and wherever necessary. Some devices limit the duration of such memos whereas other allow recording until they run out of memory.
VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)
Voice over Internet Protocol is a technology which allows the transmission of voice over data networks. This makes normal phone calls over such networks possible.
VPN (Virtual Private Network)
A set of communication protocols that allows remote users to securely access a remote network. An example of this technology is when you access your corporate Intranet remotely from your mobile phone.
If your company has a VPN server set up, you can enter the connection details on a supported device and join the corporate Intranet with all user rights and privileges you would have if you were physically there. At the same time, the connection remains secure from unauthorized access.
WAP (Wireless Application protocol)
WAP is an international standard for applications that use wireless communication. Its most common application is to enable access to the Internet from a mobile phone or a PDA.
WAP sites are websites written in or converted to WML (Wireless Markup Language) and accessed via the WAP browser.
WAP websites are now considered outdated as most modern phones have web browsers with HTML support.
WCDMA(Wideband Code Division Multiple Access)
Wideband CDMA is a third-generation (3G) wireless standard which allows use of both voice and data and offers data speeds of up to 384 Kbps.
The frequency bands for WCDMA are as follows: Europe and Asia - 2100MHz, North America - 1900MHz and 850MHz.
WCDMA is also called UMTS and the two terms have become interchangeable.
Some parts of the WCDMA are based on GSM technology and the networks are designed to integrate the GSM networks at some levels.
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi is a WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) technology. It provides short-range wireless high-speed data connections between mobile data devices (such as laptops, PDAs or phones) and nearby Wi-Fi access points (special hardware connected to a wired network). The most common variant of Wi-Fi is 802.11g, which is capable of providing speeds of up to 54Mbps and is backwards compatible with 802.11b (providing up to 11Mbps).
There is currently a new standard in the works called 802.11n (offering twice the speeds of 802.11b) and there are already retail networking devices that support its draft specifications.
Wi-Fi is much faster than any data technologies operating through the cellular network like GPRS, EDGE and even UMTS and HSDPA.
The range covered by a Wi-Fi access point is from 30 to 100 meters indoors while outdoors a single access point can cover about 650 meters.
Windows Mobile
Windows Mobile is one of the major smartphone platforms and until recently the only touch-enabled smartphone platform. Windows Mobile actually has two distinct editions - Windows Mobile Standard and Windows Mobile Professional.
Software written for either of the editions is not compatible with the other.
The main difference between the editions is that Windows Mobile Professional supports touchscreen and handwriting recognition.
Windows Mobile is a product created by Microsoft but as the company does not produce any phones itself, it licenses the platform to hardware manufacturers.
Before version 6 was released the Windows Mobile Standard edition was known as Windows Mobile for Smartphone, while the Professional edition was referred to as Windows Mobile for PocketPC.
Wireless email
Email is everywhere now and almost everyone has their own, password-protected email account. Wireless email however is the ability to send and receive email over wireless devices. As GPRS and 3G networks give users constant connectivity access to their email, wireless email services are recently becoming increasingly popular. There are a wide variety of handsets available today that support wireless push email services.
Push refers to technologies that allow a central system, for example the mobile phone network, to send - or push - information to an end-user without any action on their part or on the part of the mobile device. With push email, emails are sent directly to the mobile device as soon as the email server receives them rather than waiting for the user or email client to request the email.
Today's push email devices range from mid-priced mobile phones through to smartphones and email-centric phones such as RIM's Blackberry.
As wireless email solutions are widely integrated in corporate scenarios, support for the existing corporate email services such MS Exchange ActiveSync, Blackberry Connect or IBM Lotus as is getting more and more common in regular handsets.
Unfortunately, we usually don't publish all the email services supported by the mobile phones in our database. As this is the case, you should always seek further information regarding support of specific services. When you see email support listed on our specs pages, please bear in mind that it only guarantees basic POP and SMTP protocols support and as manufacturers always like to point out, specifications can always be changed without notice.
WLAN
Wireless Local-Area Network is a way of providing a wireless high speed connection between data devices or a data device and an access point over a short range. See Wi-Fi.
WMV (Windows Media Video)
WMV stands for Windows Media Video, a file format created for - and therefore most commonly used to work with - Windows Media Player software which is featured on almost all Windows platform-based devices.
Most third-party video players also support the format or at least some of its versions.
Xenon flash
A xenon flash produces an extremely intense full-spectrum white light for a very short duration. It consists of a glass tube filled with xenon gas which emits a short and very bright flash of white light when a high voltage is applied.
Usually, xenon flashes are brighter than the LED flashes found in most camera phones. However they cannot be used as video light and the condenser they use as a power source needs some time to recharge after each shot. The presence of a xenon flash on a mobile phone doesn't necessarily mean a more powerful flash performance.
The power of the xenon flash is dependent on the size of the condenser used to power it up.
