Mobile Phone Jargon Buster: Telco Buzzwords (Re)Defined!

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3 min read

It seems like every industry has its own endless buzzwords and jargon, and the telco (AKA telecommunications) world is no different. If you’re looking at buying a new phone or mobile plan, wading through the sea of acronyms and technical terms can seem overwhelming.

Mobile phone device jargon

Dual SIM: This function lets you use two SIM cards at once and switch between them

LCD screen: Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) is a screen technology that uses liquid crystals. LCD screens give super sharp images, perform well in direct sunlight and use less battery power than other screen technologies

microSD card: A microSD card is a small storage card you can insert into your phone to increase its storage capacity for things like photos and videos

Wireless charging: While it might seem Harry Potter-esque, this is actually just electromagnetic fields that transfer energy wirelessly instead of needing a direct power source like a cable

VoLTE: Voice over LTE technology allows voice calls to be made over a 4G network. This is super handy for when you’re in places such as an underground area with bad reception, but excellent Wi-Fi

eUICC: Stands for Embedded Universal Integrated Circuit Card, which is a component of a SIM card. The eUICC allows for over-the-air (OTA) switching of Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), which means you can easily switch between different networks without needing to physically change your SIM card (it’s used in e-SIMs)

e-SIMs: eSIMs are chips that are already built into your device, so you don't need a physical SIM card to use your plan. Once your plan is activated on an eSIM, it works like a regular SIM card

Cloud storage: The ‘cloud’ is a network of remote servers that enable storage, management, and processing of data over the internet. It means all the data from your phone can be stored on the cloud, meaning a). You have a handy backup of all your images and videos, and b). Your device won’t run out of space from all those selfies and TikTok videos

Bluetooth: Bluetooth is a wireless technology that allows devices to connect and communicate with each other. It's commonly used to connect wireless headphones or speakers to a phone.

Operating system (OS): A phone's operating system is the software that makes it function. The two main operating systems for smartphones are iOS (from Apple) and Android (from Samsung and Google Pixel).

Applications/apps: A mobile app is a software program designed to run on a mobile device. You can download apps from the Apple Store or Google Play

IP Rating: IP stands for Ingress Protection, which is a rating system that indicates a mobile phone's resistance to dust and water

Megapixels: This is all about the number of individual pixels a mobile phone camera's sensor can capture in a single photograph. This affects the quality of the image

720p, 1080p resolution: Also related to your mobile phone camera, higher resolutions result in clearer and more detailed images and videos

Mobile network jargon

5G: The new kid on the block when it comes to mobile network technology. 5G is the future of mobile, with hyper-fast speeds and more stable connections. 4G, 3G and 2G were the generations of technology that came before 5G

Roaming: This refers to the ability to use your mobile phone and data plan while travelling abroad. If you travel a lot, you’re going to want to check how much roaming costs you before you sign up for a mobile plan

Spectrum: Spectrum is the range of radio frequencies used to transmit sound and data to our phones, and it plays a crucial role in how our mobile devices communicate with each other and with the internet. The new 5G network in Australia uses spectrum 3.6 GHz to deliver faster data speeds and improved connectivity

Bandwidth: Bandwidth refers to the amount of data that can be transmitted over a network connection in a given amount of time. Poor bandwidth, equals slow internet

Latency: Latency is the time it takes for data to travel between a mobile device and a server, typically measured in milliseconds. 5G promises low latency, meaning super fast response times

Coverage: If you have coverage, you can make calls, send messages, and access the internet on your phone. Poor coverage can mean dropped calls and slow internet speeds
Mbps: Mbps stands for megabits per second and it’s used to measure the speed of the internet/your data. A higher Mbps means faster internet. If you stream videos or play online games on your phone this is even more important

Mobile phone plan jargon

Prepaid/SIM-only: This is where you pay for your mobile service in advance. Our mobile plans are prepaid, and there is a tonne of benefits, including no surprise bills and no lock-in contacts

Postpaid: This is where you pay for your mobile service at the end of a month, usually based on the amount of data, minutes, and texts used. Postpaid plans are usually a contract

BYOD: Stands for Bring Your Own Device. Instead of bundling a new device into a phone service contract, BYOD means you bring your own device with you to the new network

Phone-on-plan-bundle: Pretty much the opposite of BYOD, with a Phone-on-a-bundle-plan, you sign up to a new network or plan and buy a phone at the same time. The cost of the new device is ‘bundled’ into the monthly plan cost

Off-peak: This is the time of day when mobile networks often offer reduced rates for calls. This is typically after business hours, such as in the evenings and weekends

Peak: Peak is the time of day when the phone network is busiest, which is usually during normal business hours (9-5, Mon-Fri). Calls and internet speeds can be slower during peak times

SMS: Short Message Service (SMS) is the technology that enables traditional text messages to be sent and received on all mobile phone networks

Porting: This is the process of transferring your phone number from one provider to another. Here at Circles.Life we can port your number in a few easy steps

MVNO: This stands for Mobile Virtual Network Operator and it means a small operator that uses one of the big network providers. We’re a MVNO, and we use Optus. It means we can give you all the benefits of the Optus network but with lower prices and more flexible plans

Despite the endless headaches of keeping up with the latest jargon, we think these terms are simply a reflection of the ever-evolving nature of technology and how it impacts our world.

Without megapixels and megabits, e-SIMs and dual sims, and everything in-between, we wouldn't be able to stay connected with each other the way we can. So, here’s to plenty more jargon in the future. Just know we’ll always be here to bust it!

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ABOUT THE ARTICLE

Published Date 2023-06-21

Written by Circles.Life

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Acknowledgement of Country | Circles.Life acknowledges and pays respect to the past, present and future Traditional Custodians and Elders of this land where we work and live. We celebrate stories, culture and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders of all communities who also work and live on this land.

Acknowledgement of Country | Circles.Life acknowledges and pays respect to the past, present and future Traditional Custodians and Elders of this land where we work and live. We celebrate stories, culture and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders of all communities who also work and live on this land.

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Mobile Phone Jargon Buster: Telco Buzzwords (Re)Defined!

Mobile phone device jargon

Mobile network jargon

Mobile phone plan jargon

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