XScale

Introduced in April of 2004, the Intel XScale is a family of processors for mobile devices such as PDAs and smart phones.

Also see: Cell phone definitions, CPU definitions

Voicemail

Also known as vmail or VMS, voice mail or voicemail is an automated phone system similar to a common answering machine that allows a user to receive and listen to digitally recorded voice messages on their cell phone, other mobile devices, and with some services even over the Internet.
Often to listen to voicemail a user calls a special number, presses a button on their phone, or visits a website. Once authenticated and connected to the voicemail service the user has various available options such as listening to any messages that have been left by other people, changing the pre-recorded message users hear when calling your voicemail or number, and changing other settings.

Also see: Cell phone, Cell phone definitions

Telephone

Alternatively referred to as a phone, a telephone is a device that converts voice communication into electrical signals that can be transferred to other telephones and heard. Telephones enable people to communicate with other people all over the world and is widely credited as being first invented by Alexander Graham Bell in 1876.
There are three basic types of phones in use today. The classic corded telephone, which could be rotary dial like or have buttons, the cordless or wireless phone, and the cell phone. Today, most users have replaced their landline phones and are opting for cell phones.


Also see: Acoustic coupler, ANI, Call, CAT1, Cell phone, Cell phone definitions, Hang up, Landline, Modem, Modem definitions, POTS, Telephony

How can I send free text messages or SMS messages to cell phones?

Reasons:

Below are some of the reasons why someone may wish to send a free text message from their computer.

1. Send a quick message to a friend or family member using your computer keyboard instead of your phones pad.
2. Send yourself an address and/or directions to that address.
3. Send yourself your grocery list or other shopping list.
4. Send yourself a phone number to call.
5. Send yourself another quick note.
6. Text message someone out of state or out of the country.

Answer:

There are several online services that will allow you to send free SMS or text messages to cell phones that support this service. Below is a short list of a few of the services we suggest. Each of these services do not require you to download any software or register before being able to use them. Keep in mind that while sending a text message using any of the below service is free receiving them may not be.
Free services for all carriers

• Txt2day
• Txtdrop.com
• Free Web SMS: Sanity Software
• Matezap

Specific cell phone carriers

• AT&T / Cingular users can e-mail ten digit cell number @txt.att.com or @cingularme.com to send text messages.
• Nextel
• Sprint
• T-mobile
• Verizon

These are just a few of the many free services available on the Internet.

Additional information:

• See our text messaging dictionary definition for additional information and related terms.

SMS

1. Short for Short Message Service, SMS is a widely accepted wireless service that allows individuals to send short text messages with wireless devices such as mobile phones and pagers. See our text message definition for additional information about this term.
2. Short for Systems Management Server, SMS are tools developed by Microsoft that help administrators perform diagnostics, maintain, and create an inventory of computers that are connected to the Network and are running SMS.
3. Short for Storage Management Subsystem, SMS was developed by IBM to help manage storage resources. With SMS a user is capable of managing backup, data security, data migration, data recovery, and data deletion.

• Additional information about sending a free SMS or text message to a cell phone over the Internet can be found on Our Previous Topic

Also see: Cell phone, Cell phone definitions, GSM, MMS, Network definitions

Slamming

A term used by the telecommunications industry to describe changing a customer's service provider--whether for long distance, local toll calls or local calls--without his or her permission.

Also see: Cell phone definitions

Ringtone

The noise a cell phone makes when someone is calling. Today, ringtones are one of the most popular features of a cell phone and can be set to any imaginable song, melody, or jingle. Often, cell phones will even allow a user to set each of their contacts to a different ringtone, allowing them to know who is calling without even looking at the phone. Below is a short list of common ringtone questions and answers.
 

Where can I download ringtones?

There are numerous web pages and services that allow users to download ringtones for their cell phone. If your service provider does not have any ringtones you want or you want to try a different service, do an Internet search for "ringtones" on any popular search engine to find available ringtone download sites.

A good example of a site that has several hundred MP3, WAV, and MIDI free ringtones is Mobile9.com.

Click here to start a search on ringtones

Are ringtones free?

There are some services that have free ringtones. However, because of royalties, copyrights, and other reasons, some services charge for users to download or use their ringtones.

A good example of a site that has several hundred MP3, WAV, and MIDI free ringtones is Mobile9.com.

How do I transfer my ringtones from my computer to my cell phone?

Often, many ringtone web pages have the ability to send you ringtones by calling a number and entering a code for the ringtone you wish to have. However, doing this type of transfer often costs you additional money for the ringtone as well as the amount of data transferred.

An alternative method would be to download the ringtones from a webpage and connect your phone to your computer using either a USB cable (often included with your phone) or Bluetooth. Once downloaded depending on your phone and how you connected you can copy the songs from your computer to your phone. For example with some phones and Microsoft Windows you can find your cell phone listed under My Computer.

How do I convert a ringtone?

There are numerous converters available for different phones. Often, the manufacturer of the cell phone will provide a converter to convert a ringtone from one type to another type. If your cell phone provider or manufacturer does not offer one, search for "ringtone converter" on any popular search engine to find available ringtone converters.

Does my cell phone support ringtones?
What type of ringtones does my cell phone support?
How long or short can my ringtone be?
How many ringtones can my phone hold?

Each of these questions vary on the type of cell phone you have and your cell phone provider. To get these questions answered, we suggest referring to the cell phone documentation or your cell phone provider.

Also see: Cell phone, Cell phone definitions, Ringback, Ringtone convert, RTTTL

Ringback

Also known as a call tone, a ringback is a tone or melody that is only heard by the person calling your number. Unlike a ringtone, which is heard by anyone close to your cell phone. A ringback is unique in that it allows a user to change the traditional ring heard while waiting for someone to answer their phone.

Also see: Cell phone, Cell phone definitions, Ringtone

Packet

A term first coined by Donald Davies in 1965, a packet is a segment of data sent from one computer or network device to another computer or network device over a network. Packets may contain such information as its source, destination, size and other useful information, helping the packet get to its destination and then being able to be read once it has arrived.

Also see: Frame, Game definitions, Header, LSP, Network definitions, Packet monkey, Packet switching, PAD

Issues and information on Nicad batteries.

Nicad Batteries are a well known and understood; the Nicad is used where long life, high discharge rate and economical price are important.

Battery manufacturers recommend to slow charge a new Nicad battery for 24-hours before use. This initial trickle charge helps to redistribute the electrolyte to remedy dry spots on the separator that may appear when the electrolyte gravitates to the bottom of the cell during long storage. A slow charge also helps to bring all the individual cells within a battery pack up to an equal charge level because each cell may have self-discharged to different capacity levels during storage

Distinct advantages of today's Nicad batteries are:

Delivers high current output; relatively tolerant of overcharging; withstands up to 500 charging cycles.

Negative attributes of today's Nicad batteries are:

Mature technology with little tolerant of overcharging; withstands room for improvement; cadmium is environmentally troublesome; noticeable memory effect.

Additional information:

• See our Nicad dictionary definition for additional information on this term and related links.

Nicad

Trademarked name for a Nickel-Cadmium battery owned by SAFT America Inc. Nicad is a rechargeable battery, made mostly of of nickel and cadmium. A primary problem with nickel-cadmium batteries was that they needed to be completely drained of power before they could be recharged.
Known as a memory loss or memory effect, if the battery was not completely drained, once the battery reaches its last low level, the battery would go dead, assuming that no power was left.
 For Additional Information Just See our Previous Topic


Also see: Battery definitions, Li-Ion, NiMH

Moblog

Short for mobile blog, a moblog is a weblog that is updated using a mobile device such as a cell phone or PDA.

Also see: Cell phone definitions, Weblog

MicroSD

Also known as T-Flash or TransFlash, MicroSD is a small removable flash memory card that was first developed by SanDisk and approved as a standard on July 13, 2005. MicroSD are the smallest types of removable flash memory cards, range in available sizes of 128MB to 4GB, and often used with cell phones. To the right is an example image of the 2GB SanDisk MicroSD card.



Also see: Cell phone definitions, Flash memory, Memory definitions, MMC

iPhone

. A mobile handset from Linksys who's a subsidiary of Cisco. The iPhone handset connects to a WiFi network and enables users to make wireless phone calls through their home computers using Skype. This phone enables users to use Skype anywhere in their home or office (within WiFi range), similar to the traditional cordless home phone.

• The official Cisco iPhone page can be found here.

The iPhone is also a product introduced by Apple at the January 9, 2007 Macworld Conference & Expo. The iPhone is smart cell phone like that shown in the picture to the right that works like as an iPod, camera phone, PDA, and has WiFi access that can be used to access and browse the Internet using its widescreen display.
In addition to the features found on it when first purchased the iPhone also has access to the Apple App store, which has millions of other applications and games that can be loaded onto the phone, enabling the phone to do almost anything else.

• The official Apple iPhone page can be found here.

Because of the obvious trademark conflict, Cisco filed a trademark infringement against Apple shortly after its release. However, shortly after filing the trademark infringement the companies came to terms and agreed to share the name between the two different products. The Apple iPhone was released to the public June 29, 2007.

Also see: App, Apple definitions, Cell phone, Cell phone definitions, iPod, Jailbreaking

What's hot-swappable or can be unplugged while computer is on?

A hot-swappable device is anything that can be safely connected and disconnected while the computer and/or the device being connected or disconnected is powered on and running.
Caution: This document is meant for general information to what is and is not hot-swappable on your computer. We still always suggest that you consult your documentation before disconnecting and connecting components to the computer while it's on.
What can be plugged-in or unplugged while the computer is on?

• Audio ports (e.g. speakers, microphone, headphones, etc.)
• FireWire devices
• Modem/Phone cord (RJ-11)
• Network cable (RJ-45)
• SATA devices
• USB devices

* Although the interface may be hot-swappable some devices such as disk drives may need to be shutdown before they are hot-swapped.

What should not be disconnected while the computer is on?

• AT port and devices
• Internal hardware - Devices attached inside your computer such as your sound card, video card, CD-ROM, IDE hard drive, etc. are not hot-swappable.
• Parallel port and parallel port devices
• PS/2 port and devices (e.g. PS/2 keyboard and mouse)
• Serial Port and devices

* Disconnecting a device that is not hot-swappable while the computer is on will cause the device to stop working or not work and can also cause physical damage to the computer and/or the device being disconnected.

Hot swapping

Term used to describe the act of removing or swapping a device when the portable computer is still on. Not all computers support hot swapping and not all devices are hot swappable.
 Additional you can see our previous topic


Also see: Hotplugging, Hot-swappable, Warm swap

Hotspot

1. A clickable section within a HTML document or image map that forwards a user to a new page.
2. Visible location on a screen that may be linked to perform a specified task. Hotspots are commonly found when moving the mouse over an area of the screen and the mouse cursor changing or the area of the screen lighting up or changing.
3. When referring to a wireless network, a wireless hotspot is a location that enables users to connect to a network or the Internet with their wireless adapters.

Also see: Evil twin, Image map, Link, Networking definitions, Wi-fi

GSM

Short for Global System for Mobile communication, GSM is a 2G standard for mobile phone communications that was first defined in 1990. At the end of 2005 GSM there was over 1.6 billion GSM subscribers in over 200 different countries.

Also see: 2G, CDMA, Cell phone, Cell phone definitions, GPRS

GPRS

Also known as 2.5G, GPRS is short for General Packet Radio Service and is a packet-switched service based on GSM. GPRS allows a users to be connected continuously and allows an ISP to charge the user by amount downloaded instead of the time connected.

Also see: Cell phone, Cell phone definitions, GSM

Echo suppressor

Device used to eliminate the echo heard on telephone lines. This device helps prevent the individual talking on a telephone line from hearing his or her own voice.

Also see: Cell phone definitions, Echo