3G

3G is the third generation of mobile technologies. In the UK, this is also known as the UMTS network.

4G

4G is the fourth generation of mobile technologies. In the UK, this is also known as the LTE network.

Android

Android is a Linux based operating system created by Google. This is now one of the most widely used operating systems for mobile handsets. 

API

An Application Programming Interface is a set of rules intended to be used as an interface by software components to communicate with each other.

APN

Access Point Name is the gateway address for a mobile data connection, making it essential for using data services. Gamma’s APN is either gammatelecom.com or gamma.co.uk

Band

A Band is a specific frequency range, and for mobile these are usually about 45mhz wide.

Bandwidth

Bandwidth is the maximum amount of data which can be sent over a connection in a given amount of time.

Barring

This is the term used for putting a block on a mobile from accessing a certain type of service e.g making or receiving calls, such as Premium Rate or International Calls.

Base Station

A Base Station (also known as “sites” or “masts”) is a cell tower. These can vary in size and their coverage can range between meters and miles.

Blacklist

Blacklisting is the process of adding a handsry IMEI (serial number) to the list of stolen handsets which are barred from connecting on any participating network worldwide. .

Bluetooth

Bluetooth is a technology standard for short range data communication, such as transferring files or using a wireless headset.

Bolt-on

Bolt-on is the term used for adding a supplementary product to a mobile service. It is usually has a monthly limit eg 1GB data.

bps

Bits Per Second is a measurement of data transmission speed. Generally used as kbps (Kilobits Per Second;1024 bits) or mbps (Megabits Per Second;1024 kilobits). It is important not to get these confused with KBPS or MBPS which are bytes. There are 8 bits in a byte.

BPS

Bytes Per Second is a measurement of data transmission speed. One byte is 8 bits. These are generally used as KBPS (Kilobytes Per Second;1024 bytes) or MBPS (Megabytes Per Second;1024 kilobytes).

BSC

Base Station Controller controls multiple Base Stations and typically handle the allocation of channels and funnelling of connections to the MSC.

BTS

Base Transeiver Station is a Cell. A normal phone mast that you’ll see will consist of 3 Cells, covering a 120 degree se

Caller ID

Caller Identity allows you to see the telephone number of who is calling you on your mobile screen. If you have saved that number as a contact, the contact name will appear. The caller can select to withhold their number and this will appear as “Withheld” or “Unknown”.

CDR

Call Detail Record (CDR) (also Call Detail Recording) is a record containing information about recent system usage, such as the identities of sources (points of origin), the identities of destinations (called party) , the duration of each call, the amount billed for each call, the total usage time in the billing period, the total free time remaining in the billing period, and the running total charged during the billing period.

Cell

A Cell is an antenna connected to a base station which transmit and receives radio signals to your SIM, allowing you to use the functions of your mobile phone.

Concatenated SMS

Concatenated Short Messaging Service is a method of overcoming the traditional text message character limit of 160 characters. A message longer than 160 characters is sent in sections and is then reconstructed by the recipient device. This varies depending on the device; some devices will allow up to three SMS (480 characters) and will then compile anything larger into an MMS (multimedia message).

Data Roaming

Data Roaming needs to be enabled to allow data services, and their supplementary services such as MMS, to work outside of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

DNO

Donating Network Operator is a term used in the porting process and refers to the company which a subscribers MSISDN is currently operating on.

DSP

Donating Service Provider is a term used in the porting process and refers to the company which a subscriber currently has their contract with. 

Dual-band

A dual-band handset is a device hat can function on 2 different frequency ranges. This is important to check when roaming, as different countries use different frequency bands.

EDGE

Enhanced Data for Global Evolution (also known as Enhanced GPRS) can provide a data connection up to 3 times quicker than GPRS, though is considerably slower than HSPA (3G).

EIR

Equipment Identity Register is a database that keeps track of handsets by their IMEI. If a handset is blacklisted, this is where the data is held.

Femto Cell

A Femto Cell is a low-powered base station designed for indoor use in locations where the network signal strength is low. An example of a Femto Cell product is “Signal Booster”.

Frequency

Frequencies are the bands or ranges that are deignated for operation of GSM mobile phones. For Gamma, some services uses the 900Mhz band and others use the 1800Mhz and 2100Mhz bands. For more information on Frequency Bands, please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GSM_frequency_bands. 

GMSC

Gateway Mobile Switching Centre is a where calls from the mobile network are routed to elsewhere (such as a landline or different mobile network). It behaves similarly to the MSC.

GPS

Global Positional System is a series of satellites operated by the US Air Force whose signals are triangulated to provide an accurate location. This technology is used with mapping software, such as Apple Maps or Google Maps, as well as traditional GPS hardware such as Tom Tom.

GPRS

General Packet Radio Service is a packet oriented mobile data service on 2G and 3G networks. GPRS is sometimes described as 2.5G and provides moderate-speed data transfer.

GSM

Global System for Mobile communications is a standard set of protocols for use on 2G networks globally.

HLR

Home Location Register is a central database of subscriber-specific information (similar to cards in a telephone exchange). This will store the current location, provisioned services for a subscriber and barring information.

HSPA

High Speed Packet Access is a mixture of two protocols; High Speed Download Packet Access (HSDPA) and High Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA), and improves the speed and performance of existing 3G mobile networks, and provides the fastest 3G speeds, and currently is the fastest data speeds that Gamma offer.

ICCID

Integrated Circuit Card Identifier is the SIM serial number.

IMEI

International Mobile Equipment Identifier is a mobile phones unique 15-digit serial number. To view an IMEI you press *#06# on your mobile phones keypad.

IMSI

International Mobile Subscriber Identity is a globally unique identification number. For example: 234 39 0000000000 is an IMSI, where 234 is the country code (MCC), 39 is the network code (MNC) and the last 10 digits are unique to the service.

International Calling

International Calling needs to be enabled for call overseas from the UK. If enabled in conjunction with International Roaming, the sevice will be able to call any country from any country. If this is not enabled whilst roaming, the service will only be able to call within the country that the SIM is in.

International Roaming

International Roaming enables a user to use voice & SMS service whilst overseas.

iOS

iOS is Apple’s mobile operating system, found on iPhones, iPods and iPads.

Java

Java is a computer programming language that is designed to have as few implementation dependencies as possible. Android developers use Java to designer applications for Android.

Latency

Latency is the time that passes from the moment a request is made to when it is actioned.

LTE

Long Term Evolution is also known as 4G in the UK, and it is an update to UMTS technology, capable of providing faster data speeds.

Mhz

Megahertz is the unit of measurement of the number of cycles per second in a frequency. One Mhz is one million cycles per second.

MMS

Multimedia Messaging Service is an agreed standard of sending multimedia (pictures, audio, video etc) between mobile devices.

MNP

Mobile Number Portability gives users the ability to retain their MSISDN when changing network providers.

MSC

Mobile Switching Centre operates in a similar fashion to a landline telephone exchange by switching digital voice data packets from one network path to another.

MSISDN

Mobile Subscriber Integrated Services Digital Network-Number is the mobile telephone number.

Multinet

This is a Gamma service that allows the user to roam onto other UK networks when Gamma’s primary network is not available.

MVNA

Mobile Virtual Network Aggregator acts as an aggregator by purchasing mobile airtime in bulk from a mobile operator and adds its service platform and then wholesales this airtime to MVNOs to enable them to establish mobile services more easily. Gamma Mobile is an example of an MVNA.

MVNO

Mobile Virtual Network Operator is an organisation that does not own the radio spectrum or network infrastructure which it provides services to its customers, but enters into an agreement with a mobile network operator to obtain bulk access to network services at wholesale rates, and then will set prices independently. Examples of MVNOs include Tesco Mobile (O2), Virgin Mobile (EE), giffgaff (O2) and Talk Mobile (Vodafone).

NFC

Near Field Communication is a set of standards allowing data transfer between devices when they are close together. An example of this is “Contactless” payments of some credit/debit cards.

PAC

A Porting Authorisation Code. Is the code required to Port a mobile number (MSISDN) from one operator to another. This code can be obtained from the DSP (the users current service provider) and is then given to the gaining service provider (RSP or recipient service provider) to transfer the number across. Once issued, a PAC is valid for 30 days, but can be reissued after this time. A PAC is alphanumeric, made up of 3 letters and 6 numbers (GAM123456).

PAYU

Pay As You Use services are billed at a standard rate when used.

PIN

Personal Identity Number is a 4-digit number used to protect some features on a handset, and it is recommended to be changed so it is unique to the user. The Gamma default PIN is 0000.

PIN2

Personal Identity Number 2 is a 4-digit number used to access some of the more advanced network features like restricting outgoing dialling to specific numbers. The Gamma default PIN2 is 1234.

Port

A Port is the migration of a number (MSISDN) between operators.

PUK

PIN Unlock Key is used to reset the PIN if a PIN has been entered incorrectly too many times and the SIM has been “locked”. The PUK for Gamma SIMs can be found on the Gamma Portal.

PUK2

PIN Unlock Key 2 is used to reset the PIN if a PIN has been entered incorrectly too many times and the SIM has been “locked”. The PUK2 for Gamma SIMs can be found on the Gamma portal.

Quad-band

A Quad-band device is one that supports 4 different GSM Frequency bands. A Quad-band device should function in most countries with GSM Networks.

RNO

Recipient Network Operator is who a MSISDN is going to be ported into.

Roaming

Roaming is the ability for an end user to make and receive voice calls, send and receive data, or access other services, including home data services, when travelling outside the geographical coverage area of the home network (England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland for Gamma Mobile), by means of using a visited network.

RSP

Recipient Service Provider is the company who the subscriber now has a contract with after a port has occurred.

SGSN

The Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) is a main component of the GPRS network, which handles all packet switched data within the network, e.g. the mobility management and authentication of the users. The SGSN performs the same functions as the MSC for voice traffic.

Shared Bundle

A Shared Bundle is a Parent to Child configuration which allows large bundles of minutes, SMS and data to be used across many services concurrently. The allowances are nominally applied to the Parent service and the Children share this allowance.

Signal Booster

Gamma’s term for a Femto .

SIM

Subscriber Identity Module is a chip which stores network information to allow the handset to connect successfully to the network. This information includes the IMSI, list of services and authentication keys.

STAC

Service Termination Access Code. Similar to a PAC this is the code required to transfer a service from one operator to another without Porting the mobile number. This code can be obtained from the users current service provider and is given to the new service provider to transfer the service and to cease the old mobile number. Once issued, a STAC is valid for 30 days, but can be reissued after this time. A STAC is alphanumeric, made up of 6 digits & 3 letters (123456GAM).

SMS

Short Messaging Service is a text message and one SMS is limited to 160 characters.

SU

Single User is a bundled plan with pre-defined allowances of voice minutes and SMS.

Suspend

This is the term used when the mobile is prevented from using any services. It is can be enabled (and also reversed) on the Gamma portal.

Tethering

Tethering is using a mobile phone as a modem to provide a data connection to another device, such as a laptop or tablet computer.

Triple

Term that is used to indicate that a SIM card can be used as either a mini, micro or nano SIM.

Tri-band

A Tri-band handset is a device that supports 3 different GSM Frequency Bands.

UMTS

Universal Mobile Telecommincations System is a 3G technology using W-CDMA radio access technology to offer quicker speeds and higher bandwidth.

VLR

The Visitor Location Register temporarily stores your HLR record in the area that you’re in. This is designed to reduce the number of queries that the HLR has to deal with, and reduce network load.

VoLTE

Voice over LTE is voice calls over a 4G LTE network than the 2G or 3G connections

VoWiFi

Voice over WiFI is voice calls over the WiFi connectivity

WP

Windows Phone is Microsoft’s operating system for mobile phones.

Name

Service Development

portalfeedback@gamma.co.uk

03332407771