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[B]2G[/B]
The second generation of mobile telephony systems uses digital encoding. 2G networks support high bit rate voice, limited data communications and different levels of encryption. 2G networks include GSM, D-AMPS (TDMA) and CDMA. 2G networks can support SMS applications.

2.5G
2.5G extends 2G systems, adding features such as packet-switched connection and enhanced data rates. 2.5G networks include EDGE and GPRS. These networks support WAP, MMS, SMS mobile games, and search and directory.

[B]3G[/B]
The third generation of mobile systems provides high-speed data transmissions of 144Kbps and higher. 3G will support multimedia applications such as full-motion video, video conferencing and Internet access.

[B]4G[/B]
As of the end of 2009 it was consensus that 4G would designate Mobile Network technologies beyond 3G and its extensions "3,5G" (HSPA) , "3,75G" (HSPA+). These would logically include WiMax and LTE. In the beginning of 2011 carriers in the US started to misuse the term, advertising their HSPA networks as 4G press coverage on thisismynext Officially, the term 4G has been defined by the ITU to include LTE-Advanced and WirelessMAN-Advanced (WiMax2), none of witch are deployed anywhere still. GSMA PR

802.1X
As the IEEE standard for access control for wireless and wired LANs, 802.1x provides a means of authenticating and authorizing devices to attach to a LAN port. This standard defines the Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP), which uses a central authentication server to authenticate each user on the network.

802.11
The IEEE standard for wireless Local Area Networks. It uses three different physical layers, 802.11a, 802.11b and 802.11g.

802.11a
Operating in the 5 GHz band, 802.11a supports a maximum theoretical data rate of 54 Mbps, but more realistically it will achieve throughput somewhere between 20 Mbps to 25 Mbps in normal traffic conditions. In a typical office environment, its maximum range is 50 meters (150 feet) at the lowest speed, but at higher speed, the range is less than 25 meters (75 feet). 802.11a has four, eight, or more channels, depending on the country. WLAN products based on 802.11a technology are rapidly coming to market in 2003, making them more affordable and widely available.

802.11b
Most WLANs deployed today use 802.11b technology, which operates in the 2.4 GHz band and supports a maximum theoretical data rate of 11 Mbps, with average throughput falling in the 4 Mbps to 6 Mbps range. In a typical office environment, its maximum range is 75 meters (250 feet) at the lowest speed, but at higher speed its range is about 30 meters (100 feet). Bluetooth devices, 2.4 GHz cordless phones and even microwave ovens are sources of interference (and thus create poor performance) for 802.11b networks. Minimizing interference can be difficult because 802.11b uses only three non-overlapping channels. 802.11b products have been shipping in quantity for several years so you will find that products are plentiful and affordable.

802.11e
802.11e provides Quality of Service (QoS) support for LAN applications, which will be critical for delay-sensitive applications such as Voice over Wireless IP (VoWIP). The standard will provide classes of service with managed levels of QoS for data, voice, and video applications.

802.11g
The 802.11 task force is still developing 802.11g, and it is expected to be ratified as a standard by mid-2003. 802.11g offers the throughput of 802.11a with the backward compatibility of 802.11b. 802.11g will operate in the 2.4 GHz band but it will deliver data rates from 6 Mbps to 54 Mbps. Like 802.11b, it will have up to three non-overlapping channels. 802.11g uses orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) modulation as does 802.11a, but, for backward compatibility with 11b, it also supports complementary code keying (CCK) modulation and, as an option for faster link rates, allows packet binary convolutional coding (PBCC) modulation.
Its "backward compatibility" with 802.11b means that when a mobile 802.11b device joins an 802.11g access point, all connections on that access point slow down to 802.11b speeds.

802.11h
This standard is supplementary to the MAC layer to comply with European regulations for 5GHz WLANs. European radio regulations for the 5GHz band require products to have transmission power control (TPC) and dynamic frequency selection (DFS). TPC limits the transmitted power to the minimum needed to reach the furthest user. DFS selects the radio channel at the access point to minimize interference with other systems, particularly radar. Pan-European approval of 802.11h is not expected until the end of 2003.

802.15
This IEEE working group addresses the standard for WPANs. It has four active task groups.
802.15.1 had the job of delivering the standard for low-speed, low-cost WPANs and is based on the Bluetooth spec.
The 802.15.2 task group is developing the recommended practices on how 802.11 WLANs and 802.15 WPANs can co-exist in the 2.4 GHz band. It is mainly working on the interference problem between Bluetooth and 802.11.
The 802.15.3 task group is delivering a standard for higher speed WPANs from 10 Mbps to 55 Mbps at distances less than 10 meters.
The 802.15.4 task group is preparing a standard for simple, low-cost, low-speed WPANs. Data ranges from 2 Kbps to 200 Kbps and uses DSSS modulation in the 2.4 GHz and 915 MHz ranges.

.apk or APK's
An .apk file extension denotes an Android Package (APK) file, an .apk file can be opened and inspected using common archive tools

.tar
Similar to a zip file, a tar file archives multiple files into one file

.tgz
TGZ files are commonly used as install packages for Slackware Linux.

ActiveSync
This program by Microsoft is what we all use to connect to our computers at work or at home. It allows contacts, tasks, emails and Calendar events to be synchronised with Outlook as well as such things as media and favorites. In Windows Vista this has been replaced by the Windows Mobile Device Center. In addition ActiveSync allows browsing of the device in Windows Explorer and programs can be installed via an 'InstallShield' type package installer. AES - Advanced Encryption Standard.
Security issues are a major concern for wireless LANs. AES is the U.S. government's next-generation cryptography algorithm, which will replace DES and 3DES.

AKU
Adaptation Kit Update - Starting with Windows Mobile 5 Microsoft began a policy of updates similar to that of the desktop windows. Rather the replacing the whole OS some functionality may be added. For example AKU 2.0 introduced push mail. These updates are distributed through the OEMs and are given to the consumer in form of ROM updates. Note that OEM may choose not to create an update with the latest AKU for their devices. Getting an AKU for your phone is like getting the SP2 (Service Pack 2) for your Windows Xp.

AP - Access Point.
Wireless devices, such as laptops or PDAs, connect to a wired LAN via an AP, which is a hardware device or a computer's software that acts as a communication hub. APs provide heightened wireless security and extend the physical range of a wireless LAN.

Application Unlock
Most Windows Mobile phones only allow you to load applications that have an acceptable digital signature. If you try to edit the registry or load an application it will give you an error. Application Unlocking removes this barrier and allows you to install any application or edit the registry to your liking.

Bluetooth
A wireless technology developed by Ericsson, Intel, Nokia and Toshiba that specifies how mobile phones, computers and PDAs interconnect with each other, with computers, and with office or home phones. The technology enables data connections between electronic devices in the 2.4 GHz range. Bluetooth would replace cable or infrared connections for such devices.

Bootloader
The bootloader is the first thing to load once you turn on the device, this does the job of booting up the device hardware and loading various items into memory before the ROM starts in the device. The bootloader is also responsible for enabling the flashing of new ROMs and other components such as the Radio and the Ext_ROM. Two modified bootloaders for the Hermes are HardSPL and SSPL.
To enter the bootloader, press and hold the OK and POWER buttons while inserting the stylus into the reset hole on the bottom of the Hermes.

BREW - Binary Runtime Environment for Wireless
Developed by Qualcomm, BREW is an open source application development platform for wireless devices. BREW developers can create portable applications that work on any CDMA handset. Applications include SMS, e-mail, location positioning, games and Internet radio.
When first introduced, BREW was solely for CDMA handsets. BREW has since been enabled for GSM handsets and expects to add TDMA handsets. BREW and J2ME are competing head-to-head for the wireless application development market.

CDMA - Code Division Multiple Access
A digital wireless technology that uses a spread spectrum technique to scatter a radio signal across a wide range of frequencies. CDMA is a 2G technology. WCDMA, a 3G technology, is based on CDMA.
CDMA has multiple variants, including CDMA 1X, cdma2000, CDMA2000 1X, CDMA2000 1xEV-DO and cdmaOne.

CID
The CID (Carrier ID) of the device is a setting which determines which carrier ROMs should be allowed to run on the device. All bootloaders (apart from HardSPL and SSPL) will only allow a ROM with the correct CID to be flashed onto the device. A device which has been CID unlocked will have SuperCID which allows ANY ROM to be loaded onto the device, SuperCID also unlocks the Ext_ROM and allows it to be mounted.

CID Unlock
Load any carrier ROM (in any language) on the device.

CLDC - Connected Limited Device Configuration
CLDC outlines the basic set of libraries and Java virtual machine features that must be present in each implementation of a J2ME environment.

Cooked
Refers to ROMs which have been modified and optimised by users to offer better performance than a carrier ROM

CustomRUU
CustomRUU is an RUU (Rom Upgrade Utility) which has support for ALL SPL versions including HardSPL and SSPL.

Dalvik (cache)
Dalvik cache is a program cache area for the program dalvik. Dalvik is a java based virtual machine that is the bases for running your programs (the ones that have the .apk extension). In order to make access times faster (because there's not JIT (just in time) compiler installed by default), the dalvik-cache is the result of dalvik doing a optimization of the running program.

De-Odex
Android uses a a java based virtual machine as the bases for running programs. This virtual machine is called Dalvik. A .dex file contains the cache used by the Dalvik VM (called Dalvik-cache) for a program and is stored inside the .apk. A .odex file is an optimized version of the .dex file which gets stored next to the .apk as opposed to inside the .apk. This process is done by default to system apps. Deodexing is the process of converting the .odex files back into .dex to be stored inside the .apk so that things can be more easily modified. So a deodexed rom is one that has been through the deodexing process. Deodex can just as easily be called Unodex or any other pre-fix you wish to use.

EDGE - Enhanced Data GSM Environment
A 2.5G technology that enhances GSM. EDGE increases transmission speeds on GSM networks and enables the transmission of large amounts of data at 384Kbps. With EDGE, mobile operators can deliver multimedia and other broadband applications to mobile phones.

EPOC
EPOC is an operating system developed by Symbian for small, portable computer-telephones with wireless access to phone and other information services. EPOC is based on an earlier operating system from Psion, the first major manufacturer of personal digital assistants (PDAs). The term is no longer in use and is now referred to as Symbian OS.

Ext_ROM or ExtROM
The Ext_ROM (or Extended Rom) is a dedicated part of the ROM memory that is (by default) hidden to the user. This area typically includes cab files that are loaded upon Hard Reset. Also, if the author of a ROM wishes, the flashing process can preserve the Ext_Rom. This space is frequently used by carriers, or others creating ROMs, to store cabs that load settings onto the phone.

Firmware
This is a piece of software that is stored in a device to make it function. It is, unlike ordinary software, usually semi-permanent and resides in a non-volatile storage area which is unaffected by "hard resetting" a device. The term usually refers to low-level code that controls individual hardware components such as a radio rom.

Flash
Term meaning to write something (usually a ROM image) to a non-volatile chip. The term originates from original chip writers (EPROM blowers) which used to write to a chip by fusing tiny areas in the chip making individual links either short circuit or open circuit.

GPRS - General Packet Radio Service
GPRS is a radio technology for GSM networks that adds packet-switching protocols. As a 2.5G technology, GPRS enables high-speed wireless Internet and other data communications. GPRS networks can deliver SMS, MMS, email, games and WAP applications.

GPS
This stands for Global Positioning System. It is technology whereby your device communicates with satellites in orbit around the planet to determine your location within an error margin of a few meters.

GSM - Global System for Mobile communications
GSM, a 2G technology, is the de facto European standard for digital cellular telephone service, and it is also available in the Americas. GSM is the most widely used of the three digital wireless telephone technologies (TDMA, GSM and CDMA), and it supports voice, data, text messaging and cross-border roaming. The SIM (Subscriber Identification Module), a removable plastic card that contains a users data, is an essential element in a GSM network.
GSM operates in multiple frequency bands, GSM 900, GSM 1800, GSM 1900. When GSM is working on a radio frequency of 1800 MHz, it is sometimes referred to as DCS 1800, GSM1800 or PCN.

H.323
H.323 is the standard for interoperability in audio, video, and data transmissions, as well as Internet phone and Voice over IP. The standard addresses call control and management for point-to-point and multipoint conferences, as well as gateway administration of media traffic, bandwidth, and user participation.

HardSPL
This modified bootloader allows a much safer flashing process to take place since it reduces the chance of permenently bricking your HTC based device. It also removes the need to CID Unlock the device since it ALWAYS reports SuperCID when flashing.

Hard Reset
Similar to a soft reset, by performing a hard reset you completely wipe your device and restore it to the position it was in when you first turned the device on after it was purchased or after a new ROM is flashed.

HDML - Handheld Device Markup Language
Handheld Device Markup Language is used to format content for Web-enabled mobile phones. HDML allows Internet access from wireless devices and is derived from HTML. Openwave created this proprietary language, and it can only be viewed on mobile phones that use Openwave browsers.
HDML was created before a WAP standard was defined. It uses Openwave's Handheld Device Transport Protocol (HDTP) instead of WAP. HDTP - Handheld Device Transport Protocol.
This protocol is optimized for HDML. It presents the HDML to the HDML interpreter in an appropriate format.

Heimdall
is a cross-platform open-source tool suite used to flash firmware (aka ROMs) onto Samsung Galaxy S device

IDEN
A specialized mobile radio network technology that combines two-way radio, telephone, text messaging and data transmission into one network.

IPL
Initial program load - usually paired with Secondary Program Load (SPL), is the boot loader of your phone, much like the BIOS is the boot loader for your PC. Note: IPL/SPL are highly hardware dependent, flashing the wrong IPL/SPL is much more serious than a flashing the wrong ROM. It may be noted that, sometimes a ROM package also contains the IPL/SPL which will be flashed into your phone. Hence be extra careful what you are flashing. 

J2ME - Java 2 Micro Edition.
Java 2 Platform, Micro Edition (J2ME) is the edition of the Java platform that is targeted at small, standalone or connectable consumer and embedded devices, such as cellular phones and personal digital assistants (PDAs). The J2ME technology consists of a virtual machine and a set of APIs suitable for tailored runtime environments for these devices. The J2ME technology has two primary kinds of components--configurations and profiles.

Java
Industry standard object-oriented language and virtual machine, invented by Sun Microsystems and formally released in 1996. Some phones support downloading of Java applications over the WAP connection. Sun's Java specifications include many Java APIs and platforms, including the JavaPhone API and PersonalJava platform.

Kang
The process of creating a code based of someone else's code or reapplying code that someone else created into your own code (e.g. git cherry-pick)

Kernel
The central or core software component of most operating systems. Its responsibilities include managing the system's resources (the communication between hardware and software components) and can provide the lowest-level abstraction layer for resources (especially memory, processors, and I/O devices).

Messaging
SMS (Short Message Service) is a feature available with some wireless phones that allows users to send and/or receive short alphanumeric messages.
Picture Messaging allows users to send and receive picture messages along with text. Users can choose from several preset and/or received pictures stored in their phones. Some phones also contain a picture editor.
Chat Messaging lets users "talk" using SMS messages.
MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) is a new standard that is being defined for use in advanced wireless terminals. The service allows for non-real-time transmission of various kinds of multimedia content, such as images, audio, and video clips.

MexE - Mobile Station Application Execution Environment.
Mobile Station Application Execution Environment is a framework to ensure a predictable environment for third-party applications in GSM or UMTS handsets. MExE does this by defining different technology requirements called "classmarks." MExE classmark 1 is based on WAP, classmark 2 on PersonalJava and JavaPhone, and classmark 3 on J2ME CLDC and MIDP. Other classmarks may be defined in the future. MExE specifies additional requirements for all classmarks, for instance a security environment, capability and content negotiation, a user profile, user interface personalization, management of services and virtual home environment. A handset can support multiple classmarks.

Microbrowser
Also called a mini-browser. Software built into a wireless device that allows users to access and display specially formatted Internet content, such as stock reports, news, and sports scores using a handset device.

Mobile Information Device Profile (MIDP)
Set of Java APIs that is generally implemented on the Connected Limited Device Configuration (CLDC). It provides a basic J2ME application runtime environment targeted at mobile information devices, such as mobile phones and two-way pagers. The MIDP specification addresses issues such as user interface, persistent storage, networking, and application model.

Nandroid or Nandroid Backup:
A file typically created in the custom recovery program, such as 4EXT Recovery, that is a carbon copy of whatever state your phone is in. The file is typically stored on the SD card for later use in case something should go wrong in a ROM or Update, or a Boot Loop occurs

.NET Compact Framework
The .NET Compact framework is a smaller version of the .NET Common Language Runtime, optimized for the deployment of mobile applications running on resource-constrained devices such as PDAs. .NET CF supports only devices running Microsoft operating systems-specifically, Windows CE 3.0 (used in Pocket PC 2000 and Pocket PC 2002 platforms).

OBEX - Object Exchange
Object Exchange is a set of protocols allowing objects such as vCard contact information and vCalendar schedule entries to be exchanged using either IrDA or Bluetooth. Symbian OS implements IrDA for exchange of vCards, for example between a Nokia 9210 Communicator and an Ericsson R380 Smartphone, and vCalendar.

OS
Operating System - the platform software for your phone, much like Windows 7 for your PC. Upgrading the OS is like, in PC terms upgrading from Windows Vista to Windows 7.

OC - OverClocking
Overclocking is the process of running a computer component at a higher clock rate (more clock cycles per second) than it was designed for or was specified by the manufacturer

PAN - Personal Area Network
Allows devices to work together and share information and services. Using technologies such as Bluetooth, Personal Area Networks can be created in public places, in the home, in the office, in a car. This network enables everyday devices to communicate wirelessly. For example, a PAN allows users the ability to wirelessly synchronize with a desktop device to access e-mail or the Internet.

Protocol
Similar to `Radio`. Both terms refer to the radio protocol stack, which is the software which handles communications with the mobile network.

QoS - Quality of Service
Quality of Service is a measure of network performance that reflects the network's transmission quality and service availability. QoS can come in the form of traffic policy in which the transmission rates are limited, thereby guaranteeing a certain amount of bandwidth will be available to applications. Or QoS may take the form of traffic shaping, which are techniques to reserve bandwidth for applications but not guarantee its availability.

Radio
The radio stack is responsible for the phone functionality of the device. This includes GPRS, GSM, UMTS, and GPS operations. The version you use depends on who your carrier is as users have reported versions working better on one carrier than the other.

ROM - Read Only Memory
The ROM holds the Operating system and other components such as the bluetooth and wifi stacks. The ROM is accompanied by the Radio, Ext_ROM, SPL and IPL. Carriers such as T-mobile or Vodaphone taylor the ROM to their specifications and version numbers do not carry the same meaning across different carriers. IF the carrier you use supports the device well they will usually release regular ROM updates.

Root
Common word associated with giving a user "super user" access to their phones programming and other various asspects that would normaly not be possible.

RTM
Release to manufacturing or Ready to market.

RUU
The RUU (Rom Upgrade Utility) is the program which runs on the pc when a new ROM is flashed.

Sense
HTC Sense is a user interface, based on the TouchFlo 3D user interface, developed by HTC for mobile devices running Android and Windows Mobile. HTC Sense is a “design experience, an architecture that is all about how people use the device, making their content personal to how they use the device.” However, HTC has confused the issue by calling HTC Sense a user interface in press releases about the launch of the HTC Hero in India. Announced June 24, 2009, the first phone running Android to feature HTC Sense was the HTC Hero, and the first Windows Phone to feature HTC Sense (an updated TouchFlo) was the HTC HD2, announced October 6, 2009.

SIM - Subscriber Identity Module
Cellular systems using GSM technology employ SIM modules to store user provisioning information. Non-volitale storage for contact information is also available on these modules. This is also commonly used in the form `SIM unlock`. Some phones are locked to the specific telco from which you purchase your phone, eg you can't use a locked O2 phone using a Vodaphone SIM/smart card. To use SIM card from other telco, you need to SIM unlock your phone. Note: In general, the phrase 'unlock your phone' usually refers to SIM-unlock, not CID unlock.

SIM Unlock
Use any carrier's SIM in the device.

SIP - Session Initiation Protocol
SIP is the real-time communication protocol for Voice over IP (VoIP), and it has been expanded to support video and instant-messaging applications. SIP performs basic call-control tasks, such as session set up and tear down and signaling for features such as hold, caller ID and call transferring. Its functions are similar to Signaling System 7 (SS7) in standard telephony and H.323 or Media Gateway Control Protocol in IP telephony.
With SIP, most of the intelligence for call setup and features resides on the SIP device or user agent, such as an IP phone or a PC with voice or instant-messaging software. In contrast, traditional telephony or H.323-based telephony uses a model of intelligent, centralized phone switches with dumb phones.

SOAP - Simple Object Access Protocol
SOAP is a way for a program running in one kind of operating system to communicate with a program in the same or another kind of an operating system using HTTP and XML.

Soft Reset
Soft resetting the device will lose all the data currently in RAM and any unsaved information, much like pressing the reset button on your pc. A soft reset is the first thing to try if your device has stopped responding.

SPL
Secondary Program Loader. Refer to `IPL` or `Bootloader` for further information.

SU
"Super user", or root permissions

SuperCID
By CID unlocking your device the value of the CID is changed to 'SuperCID'. This allows the flashing of ANY ROM to the device regardless of the carrier and also unlocks the read/write capability of the Ext_ROM.

UMTS - Universal Mobile Telecommunications System
The 3G mobile telephone standard in Europe, standardized by ETSI. It supports a theoretical data throughput of up to 2 Mbps. Initial trials began in 2001, and it should be rolled out in most of the world by 2005.

UV - UnderVolting
Undervolting is the process of lowering the voltage supplied to the processor in order to achieve lower temperatures and/or saving battery

VoIP - Voice Over IP
VoIP is a set of technologies that enables voice to be sent over a packet network. While few corporations use VoIP today, its usage for messaging is expected to explode in the coming two years.
Users can communicate using VoIP as easily as they do with today's PBXes and public phone network. By leveraging the existing data network, companies can save significant amounts of money by using VoIP for toll-bypass, which is particularly important for multinational corporations. VoIP will also speed the adoption of unified messaging by transmitting voice, fax and e-mail messages. VoIP is also known as IP telephony.
Over the next several years, companies will deploy VoIP in conjunction with 802.11 wireless LANs, enabling workers to have WLAN-based mobile phones when in the office.

VoWIP - Voice over Wireless IP
Combining VoIP with 802.11 wireless LANs to create a wireless telephone system for offices is an emerging market segment. VoWIP enables businesses to leverage their wireless LANs to add voice communications, enabling companies to deploy and manage voice and data over a single wireless backbone.
From a network perspective, VoWIP applications require some reservation of bandwidth to support the real-time nature of voice. Proprietary standards like Spectralink Voice Priority (SVP) are today's solution; however, the IEEE is developing the 802.11e standard for quality of service as a long-term solution.