Alpha Service This is used to describe the short-message service (SMS) offered by the GSM network. active cradle A holder or clip for fitting the mobile phone in a car. Includes charger and operates via the cigarette lighter. aqua pack Waterproof transparent polythene bag allowing you to take your mobile phone into the water. antenna coupler An additional piece of apparatus which separates incoming signals via a combined radio-/GSM Network antenna and redirects them you the appropriate units. call waiting A mobile network service which informs you that there is another caller on the line who is trying to reach you. booster An additional piece of apparatus which is installed inside the antenna cord of a car phone in order to boost its transmitting power to a maximum of 8 W. Callback An increasingly popular service to cut costs of mobile communication. The subscriber calls a trigger number which is usually toll-free and situated abroad. He lets it ring once and then puts down the receiver. The callback company's computer calls him back after a few seconds and provides him with a dialling tone. Callback allows you to save as much as 50% and sometimes even more on phone calls. C Network The analogue predecessor of the digital GSM network. There are fewer than 500,000 subscriber and the transmission quality is much worse. The C network has a frequency range of about 450 MHz. DCS 1800 The Digital Communication System is a standard used by one of the D (GSM) network's competitors. It works in the frequency range of about 1800 MHz but requires more radio transmitters to cover the same area as the GSM network. In Germany the DCS 1800 network is known as the E Network. dual-band mobile phone Ein Dual Band mobile phone can be used in two different networks with different frequencies, ie you can use it to call on both the GSM and the DCS 1800 Network. dual-mode mobile phone A dual-mode mobile phone is different to the dual-band mobile in that you can use it on two different networks which work on a totally different transmitting principle. For example in the GSM-Network and a DECT cordless phone network. EGN (itemised billing) A detailed record of all calls that were made including date, time, destination number and call charge on your monthly mobile phone bill. Itemised billing costs an additional DM 5.- (approx.) to your fixed monthly charge. Hands-free car kit This car installation enables easy, hands-free use of the phone whilst driving. The kit normally consists of a cradle, microphone, a Black-Box containing the control mechanism for the hands-free device, a speaker and speaker cables.. GSM, D-Network Global Standard for Mobile Communications is a standard for which many telephone companies around the world have opted to provide mobile communication. The GSM netwok works in the frequency range of about 900MHz and is usually referred to as the D-Network in Germany. Mehr über GSM call HOLD Darunter versteht man einen Netzdienst, der es erlaubt eine bestehende Verbindung aufrechtzuerhalten, während man einen anklopfenden Anruf entgegennimmt, oder eine zweite Verbindung aufbaut. IMEI-Number The IMEI Number is a fifteen-digit number code which can be found on the back of every mobile or cell phone. Mobile phone manufactured for the German market have code numbers starting with '49'. IMEI-Numbers are important if you lose your phone or if it is stolen. conference call Conference calling is another service feature provided by the GSM and/or DCS 1800-Network.It allows calls that have already been established to be linked up to a conference call. You have to file the appropriate application if you wish to use this service which will cost you an additional 5,-DM per conference call in addition to the charge of the call. lithium-ion battery Lithium-ion (Li-Io) represents a new type of technology in the field of rechargeable batteries. It enables the use of smaller and lighter batteries which are more powerful and are not affected by the so-called Memory Effect as is the case with Ni-Cd batteries and Ni-MH batteries Mailbox This service which is sometimes referred to as 'voice mail' is free to all cell phone subscribers and is basically nothing more than an answering machine. You can decide in which situations your mailbox should be activated and you can record your own personal answering announcement. Your operator may advise you that you have a voice message waiting by sending you an SMS or by a telephone call. splitting Splitting is when you switch back and forth beween two connections or callers. One caller is thus always put on hold (call HOLD). Memory-Effect The Memory-Effect is something that occurs only with Ni-Cd and Ni-MH-batteries. It is very important that such batteries are completey empty before they are recharged. If, however, a battery is charged before it is completely empty, then you get what's called the memory effect. This means that the battery only remembers how much has been recharged and not its full charging capacity. This makes the battery become continually weaker. (mobile) network company The company which sets up and provides the respective country's mobile phone network and which owns the radio transmitters. In Germany these are DT-Mobil (Deutsche Telekom), Mannesmann Mobilfunk and E-Plus. Nickel-Cadmium battery Nikel-Cadmium (Ni-Cd) describes the oldest of the three types of technology used for cell phone batteries. Ni-Cd- batteries are very heavy, not particularly powerful and prone to the Memory-Effect. Nikel-Metal-Hydride battery A Nickel-Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) battery is currently the most common type of battery. They are lighter, smaller and more powerful than their Ni-Cd counterparts but nonetheless affected by the Memory-Effect. passive bracket Contrary to the aktive cradle, the passive bracket allows you simply to mount your mobile to the inside of a car. PIN A Personal Identification Number is usually a four-digit number code that safeguards your mobile phone from anybody other than yourself using it. Ohne diesen Code kann das Telefon nicht in Betrieb genommen werden. Bei 3maliger Falscheingabe dieses Codes wird Ihr Zugang zum Telefon gesperrt und kann nur durch Eingabe des PUK wieder rückgängig gemacht werden. PUK A Personal Unlocking Code is a ten-digit number code that removes the blocking function which is activated as soon if you enter an incorrect PIN number three times in a row. PIN2 / PUK2 These two codes allow you to programme a dial lock or barring function into your mobile and also keep track of call charges when you lend your phone to somebody else. provider An independent telephone company that provides access to the mobile phone network and has its own price list and billing methods. roaming Roaming or international roaming is when you can use your German mobile phone to make calls whilst abroad. Network companies from different countries sign 'roaming agreements' to alow subscribers access to a foreign mobile network as if it were their home-country network. connected line caller ID This service displays the number of the person calling you in the display even before you accept the call. advice of phone number This means that the person you are calling is notified of your phone number in his display. call forwarding This feature allows you to forward or divert all subsequent incoming calls to your mobile on to any other telephone or to your Mailbox. You can even select how you want it to be diverted, eg either immediately, after a timed delay or if 'not reachable' security code Der Security-Code is provided with each mobile phone. If it is ever lost or stolen you can render it 'useless' with the help of this code.The SIM card can be registered as belonging to one owner. if another card is used you must enter both the security code as well as the PIN number. SIM card A Subscriber-Identity-Module card comes with the mobile phone and must always be used together as one unit with the phone. Your PIN number, phone numbers and other similar information is stored on the card's memory. In addition to that the SIM card serves to provide the network company and providers with the data necessary to work out the cost of your telephone bill. SMS The Short-Message Service allows you to send text messages of up to 160 characters per message to other subscribers on the same network. It is usually free to send an SMS but you can only do so if your mobile phone supports this option.