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A-Band
carrier
In early 1981, the FCC announced that it would
approve two licenses in each market a non-wireline
company (which became known as the "A" side carrier),
and a wireline company
(the "B" side carrier).
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A/B
Switch
A feature found on new cellular telephones permitting
the user to select either the "A" (non-wireline)
carrier or the ‘B" (wireline) carrier when roaming
away from home.
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Access
fee
A special fee that local phone companies are
allowed to charge customers for the right to connect
with the local phone network. The fee is paid by
wireless subscribers, as is a federal three percent
telephone excise tax.
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Advanced
Intelligent Networks
Systems that allow a wireless user to make and receive
phone calls while roaming in areas outside the user’s
"home" network. These networks rely on computers
and sophisticated switching techniques.
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Air
Time
Actual time spent talking on the wireless telephone.
Most carriers bill customers based on how many minutes
of air time they use each month. The more minutes
of time spent talking on the phone, the higher the
bill.
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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.
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Air
interface
The standard operating system of a wireless
network; technologies include AMPS, TDMA, CDMA and
GSM.
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Alphanumeric
A message or other type of readout containing
both letters ("alphas") and numbers ("numerics").
In cellular, "alphanumeric memory dial" is a special
type of dial-from-memory option that displays both
the name of the individual and that individual’s
phone number on the wireless phone handset.. The
name can also be recalled by using the letters on
the phone keypad. By contrast, standard memory dial
recalls numbers from number-only locations.
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AMPS
(advanced mobile phone service)
The term used by AT&T’s Bell Laboratories (prior
to the break-up of the Bell System in 1984) to refer
to its cellular technology. The AMPS Standard has
been the foundation for the industry in the United
States, although it has been modified in recent
years. "AMPS-compatible" means equipment designed
to work with most cellular telephones.
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Analog
The traditional method of modulating radio signals
so that they can carry information. AM amplitude
modulation) and FM (frequency modulation) are the
two most common methods of analog modulation. Though
most U.S. cellular systems today carry phone conversations
using analog, many now offer digital transmission.
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ANSI
(American National Standards Institute)
A U.S. standards group.
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Antenna
A device for transmitting and/or receiving signals.
The size and shape of antennas are determined, in
large part, by the frequency of the signal they
are receiving.
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APCO
(Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials-International)
Trade group headquartered in South Daytona, Fla.,
representing law enforcement, fire, emergency services
and other public-safety agency dispatchers and communications
employees.
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ATM
(asynchronous transfer mode)
A high-speed, high-bandwidth transmission technology.
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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.
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Automatic
Call Delivery
A service feature that allows a user to receive
calls when roaming outside of the phone's home coverage
area.
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