For Omio's Jargon Buster, we've picked out all the geeky terminology from the world of mobile and jotted it down in a way that normal folk can understand:
3G – A network standard that allows you access to a wider range of multimedia services including mobile TV, Video Conferencing, Video on Demand.
4G – The 4th generation of mobile network standards, which aims to provide at least gigabit-speed (100mega-bits-per second) internet access to mobile users. By comparison, HSDPA-enabled networks have theoretical limits of either 3.6 or 7.2 Mbps, on a good day.
APP – Short for “Application Software”. Just as installing software on your PC bolster's its abilities, downloading an 'app' to your mobile phone enables your mobile to perform more functions.
Band – as in quad band/ tri band / dual band. The more bands your phones has the more international regions it will be supported in.
Bluetooth – Allows you to connect and exchange information between devices without wires and over short distances, whether it’s mobiles, laptops, printers digital cameras or games consoles.
Browser – An application that allows you to get onto the internet - for example IE, Firefox, Google Chrome.
Capacitive Touchscreen – Thewe work by registering disruptions in the electrostatic field, so are more responsive to finger-touches than resistive screens.
EDGE – Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution. Described as “2.75G” giving you an idea of it’s position in the evolution of networks… so an enhancement on GPRS, but not quite 3G.
Fps – ‘Frames Per Second’, the rate at which a video camera records images.
GPRS – General Packet Radio Service. Charges your for internet you use, by the mega-byte, rather than billing you per minute.
GPS – Global Positioning System. With GPS, your phone will be able to tell you precisely where you are in the world at any given time. Opens up the possibility of a whole range of location-based services.
HSDPA – aka “3.5G / 3G+ / Turbo 3G”.
Haptic Feedback – The motorised rumbling that lets you know when you’re touching your screen.
Infrared – Allows you to send/receive signals over short distances. Similar to Bluetooth, except that infrared frequencies require a line of sight.
Resistive Touchscreen – Pressing a resistive touchscreen operates the handset by completing an electrical circuit. Generally felt to be less responsive than capacitive touchscreens.
Polyphonic Ringtone – ‘Polyphonic’ literally means “many sounds”. So ringtones with many sounds as opposed to the old school bleepy tones.
QVGA – A low-resolution mode used in video recording that saves you space on your memory card. Its 320 x 240 resolution is a quarter of the standard VGA (640×480)
Micro USB – A smaller version of USB. More manufacturers are including this on their handsets as they move towards a universal standard in recharging power.
microSD – Tiny removable memory cards. Enables the user to upgrade a phone’s capacity to hold more stuff!
MMS – Multimedia Messaging Service - Enables you to exchange messages containing pictures, sound and video.
Push Email – An application that pushes email into your mobile phone, saving you the bother of fetching them from the internet yourself.
SMS – Short Messaging Service. Text messaging! Enables you to exchange messages of up to 160 characters long.
T9 – Predictive text!
USB – Universal Serial Bus – is now the standard cable used to connect peripheral devices such as keyboards to computers.
Wi-Fi – Wi-Fi enabled devices can connect to the internet when within range of a wireless network. Seemingly a word play on Hi-Fi, i.e. “Wireless Fidelity”