Wireless Glossary (P)
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P-Java (Personal Java) a Java API and specification for running Java applications on small devices.
Packet a piece of data transmitted over a packet-switching network such as the Internet or wireless Internet; a packet includes not just data but also its destination.
Packet Switching a type of communication that splits information into “packets” of data for transmission. This is efficient, as it only uses radio spectrum when it’s actually sending something, rather than keeping an open channel at all times (as is done in circuit switching). Packet switching is a core component to 3G technology.
Packet-switched network networks that transfer packets of data (see Packet). These networks are a more reliable method of transferring wireless data than a circuit-switched network. Packet-switched networks eliminate the need to dial in to send or receive information because they are “always on,” transferring data without the need to dial.
Pager a one-way or two-way radio receiver device that allows reception and display of a numeric or alphanumeric message. Most new cell phones have similar functionality built-in.
Palm a handheld computer or PDA that runs the Palm operating system. The Palm operating system which was originally created for Palm PDAs, has since become the OS of choice on PDAs from many different companies like Sony, Kyocera, and Handspring. It features a wide range of organizer functions such as telephone book, e-mail, to-do lists, spreadsheets, word processors, and wireless Internet capabilities. Palm PDAs can usually synchronize with PCS or Apple computers using infrared, Bluetooth or wire connections. Many mobile phones can connect to PDAs using a special connector and an infrared connection to send and receive e-mails. The latest smartphones combine many of these features in a single unit. The main alternative to the Palm is the Pocket PC by Microsoft.
Passive Matrix Display an LCD technology that uses a grid to supply the charge to each particular pixel on the display. An STN screen has a slower refresh rate than a TFT screen, but it’s cheaper. Also called a SuperTwist Nematic of STN display.
Pause Dialing a command that can be entered into stored numbers. By including pauses between memory locations the phone can dial a telephone number and then wait for a response before continuing to transmit. This feature is useful for accessing voice mail system, banking via phone, accessing credit card information, etc..
PC Card (PCMCIA) a removable, credit-card sized devices that may be plugged into slots in PCS and wireless communication devices to provide fax or modem functions or network cards.
PC Sync allows a user to connect a cell phone to a computer with a cable and transfer data. An example of this would be synchronizing a cell phone’s contact and calendar information with a computer application like Outlook.
PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) a group of hardware manufacturers and vendors responsible for developing standards for PC Cards (also called PCMCIA cards.)
PCN also known as DCS 1800 or GSM 1800, PCN is a term used to describe a wireless communication technology in Europe and Asia.
PCS (Personal Communications Services) a term used to describe two-way, 1900MHz digital wireless technology. PCS, a second-generation technology, arrived in 1990 and is the most widely deployed wireless service in North America today. It is based on circuit-switched technology where each call requires its own cell channel, which makes transmission of data quite slow. 2G PCS services include Code Division Multiple Access(CDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), and GSM.
PDA (personal digital assistant) a portable, handheld computing device that acts as an electronic organizer. PDAs are typically used for managing addresses, appointments, to-do lists and notes, but some newer models support wireless Internet access, e-mail, and other interactive applications. Also referred to as Handheld Computers. PDAs come in two major flavors – Palm and Pocket PC.
PDC (Personal Digital Communications) the digital cell phone system in Japan.
Peak Minutes / Period a designated time of the day or week when cellular calling rates are highest. These times are generally between 7am and 7pm on weekdays.
Personal Communications Service see PCS.
Personal Hands-Free Kit a device that allows you to use your phone hands-free by wearing a headset and microphone, rather than holding the phone to your ear.
Personal Identification Number see PIN.
Personal Information Manager see PIM.
PHS (Personal Handyphone System) a digital cell phone technology based on TDMA and used in Japan.
Phone Book a feature that enables you to store a collection of telephone numbers and names into your phone’s internal memory or on its SIM card. Storing numbers in the phone book makes frequent calls easier.
Phone Lock a feature which prevents unauthorized use of a phone.
Phone Only Mode a feature on multi-service phones like iDEN that allow a user to disable the two-way radio mode to increase stand-by time.
Photo ID allows a user to set custom graphics (can be pictures) with a phone book entry. When the person who is associated with that phone book entry calls, the corresponding graphic is shown. Graphics can be downloaded into the phone from a computer, or via the wireless Internet.
Picocell describes a physically small communications coverage area (less than 0.5 km in diameter).
Piconet a network of devices connected using Bluetooth wireless technology. A piconet may consist of two to eight devices. In a piconet, there will always be one master while the others are slaves.
Picture Messaging a technology that allows you to send and receive picture messages as well as text on a mobile phone.
PIM (Personal Information Manager) a type of software application that allows the user to input and organize various types of information. Common features of a PIM application include a notepad, calculator, to-do list, calendar and scheduling tool.
PIN (Personal Identification Number) a numeric code or password that may be required by a service provider in order to make outgoing calls or obtain access to certain applications and data. This code is always associated to a SIM card, not a phone and is designed to help guard against cellular fraud.
Plan see Service Plan.
Pocket PC a handheld Windows-based computer or PDA that runs the Pocket PC operating system (formerly Windows CE) by Microsoft. The Pocket PC operating system features Pocket Office applications (Internet Explorer, Word and Excel), handwriting recognition, an e-book reader, and wireless Internet capability. The main alternative to the Pocket PC is the Palm OS.
Polyphonic Ring Tones ring tones very much like regular ring tones except that they are capable of playing multiple notes at a time. This results in vastly improved sound quality with richer, more realistic sounds. Phones equipped with polyphonic ring tones generally have better sounding speakers.
Predictive Text Input software built into some cell phones and mobile devices that makes typing words on a keypad easier. Instead of pressing each key one, two or three times, just to press it once and a built-in vocabulary will attempt to guess the word that you are spelling. Using this system, SMS messages and sometimes e-mails are quicker and easier to write. Often referred to as T9, the most popular type of predictive text entry. The competitor to T9 is iTAP by Motorola.
Preferred System a cell phone’s home system.
Pre-Paid Card a card or voucher that represents advanced payment for wireless service.
Pre-Pay/Pay As You Go a system allowing subscribers to pay for wireless service usage in advance. There is no activation charge and instead of being billed for your calls, you simply buy a top-up card or voucher that pays for the calls in advance. Prepaid is generally used for credit-impaired customers, those who want to adhere to a budget, or those who do not want to sign a contract. Each network (Bell, Fido, Rogers, Telus, etc.) has its own pre-paid service.
Processor Speed/CPU the measure of the speed of the microprocessor of the handheld/PDA in megahertz (MHZ). In general, the higher this number gets the faster the handheld/PDA will execute tasks.
Profiles a group of phone settings (ringing tones, keypad tones, warning tones) that you can customize. With profiles you can create sets of combined tones and screensavers to suit different environments or times of day.
Promotion a special offer on cell phones or services. Promotions usually include a discount on a phone, extra minutes, or a lower monthly access charge.
PTT (Push-To-Talk) a two-way communication service that works like a “walkie talkie”. This feature, found on Motorola iDEN phones from Nextel and Telus Mobility’s Mike, allow communication in only direction at a time unlike a cell phone that allows for simultaneous conversations. New PTT systems are now being introduced that use VoIP technology to provide PTT service digitally over 3G data networks. See VoIP.
PUK (Personal Unblocking Code) used to unblock a blocked SIM card, this code is given during the subscription of a phone.
Push-To-Talk see PTT.
PWR represents the on/off (power) key on some wireless devices.
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