36 One of the most influential technology innovations; and arguably even the most influential, of this century, is Apple’s iPad touch tablet. The second generation model, the iPad 2, launched in 2011. Incumbent: The dictionary definition is one who is “currently holding a specified office” so it comes as no surprise that this term is often used in the wireless industry to describe the main <strong>Canadian</strong> carriers, Bell, Rogers, and Telus. While t<strong>here</strong>’s no “specified office” in particular, it has long been the notion that these three companies control the wireless industry in Canada. INQ: A U.K.-based phone manufacturer recently making waves in Canada with its social networking-centric devices that come with access to sites like Facebook built <strong>right</strong> into their core. iOS: Apple’s operating system for the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad. The latest iOS upgrade as of this writing, iOS 5, includes support for Apple’s iCloud service, a notification centre that affords access to all recent notifications in one spot, a newsstand bookshelf, Twitter integration, and iMessage, Apple’s answer to BlackBerry Messenger. iPhone: Apple’s first foray into the mobile phone world, and to date, the best-selling cellular device in Canada. In addition to popularizing the touch-screen, the iPhone also brought to light the combination of phone and music (since it operates like an iPod as well), and us<strong>here</strong>d in a new era of “apps.” T<strong>here</strong> have been four iterations so far, but only three in Canada. A fifth version, aptly-named the iPhone 5, is rumoured to launch some time this September. iTunes: Originally known as the source for purchasing and downloading music for the iPod, followed by video, iTunes has now expanded as a destination for apps for the iPhone as well. These range from fun games to sophisticated business programs. And of course “i” device owners and computer users can continue to download music and video to their phones and enjoy that as well. (See “Apps”) K Koodo: Owned by Telus, Koodo is a brand that focuses on the youth market, and customers who primarily want talk and text capability. The company entered the <strong>Canadian</strong> market in early 2008 with a bang via colourful, ‘80s fitness-inspired ads that boasted how one could “trim the fat” from their cellular bills. Since then, Koodo has shifted to a new branding strategy with El Tabador, a Mexican wrestler character, as its spokesperson. L LG Electronics: A major supplier of cellular phones in Canada, LG focuses on all major mobile categories, from feature phones, to smartphones, and tablets. LG’s latest products include the Optimus 3D smartphone that allows for viewing and recording 3D content without the need for glasses, plus a 3Denabled Android tablet. LTE: As part of the 4G standard, LTE is the next-generation of the 3G wireless network, and promises to offer download speeds of up to 100 Mbps and upload of 50 Mbps. All major carriers have rolled out LTE services this year. M MHL: Stands for Mobile High-Definition Link, MHL is a standard for optimizing streaming uncompressed high-definition (1,080p) signals and 7.1 digital surround sound from mobile devices to larger screen displays. Using a specific cable, customers connect the device to the display and, in addition to playing back content, the cable will also simultaneously charge the device. MHL adapters will be available so that consumers can connect the smartphones to existing displays. T<strong>here</strong> are additional benefits with MHL as well. When used with an MHL-certified TV or monitor, for example, customers can use the TV’s remote to control the mobile product, switching from watching a video, for example, to viewing a photo slideshow. The first phones to be built around the MHL specification include the Samsung Galaxy S II and the Infuse 4G. MicroSD/SDHC: These rectangular-shaped flash memory cards are about one-third the size of standard SD memory cards (used in gadgets like digital cameras), but fit into mobile phones to afford additional storage. Many come with adapters that allow them to be placed directly into a memory card reader or computer for transferring files. (Adapter kits are also sold separately). The largest capacity microSD card available is 32 GB, but it’s important to ensure that a phone can accept a card that big before recommending one. Just as with SD cards, “HC” denotes high-capacity with the micro format. Mike: Telus’ brand name for the network used with its iDEN phones. These are long-range, digital twoway radios with GPS that allow employees to connect with one another via push technology. In addition to instant communication, co-workers can also send images to one another to discuss in real-time, and can track one another’s w<strong>here</strong>abouts. (See “iDEN”) MMS: Acronym for “Multi Media Message”, this is an image or video file that can be sent to another cell phone user without using data. Typically, MMSs cost $0.50 each, and can be sent like a text message with an attached file. With the popularity of e-mail on smartphones, MMS could eventually become redundant. For now, MMS remains a useful way to send images to those who don’t yet have a smartphone or data plan. Mobile Hotspot: A feature that allows a compatible mobile phone, like one based on the Android 2.2 platform or later, or the iPhone 4, to be used for connecting other devices. Customers can leverage the wireless connection of the one phone, and typically connect up to five or so WiFi-enabled devices, ranging from other phones, to tablets, or even computers. A mobile hotspot may also refer to other third-party devices that allow for connecting on-the-go, like USB Internet Sticks, or mobile routers. Mobile Payments: (See “NFC”) Mobilicity: The brand name for a new wireless carrier that acquired spectrum in the 2008 Auction under the parent company DAVE Wireless. Mobilicity currently operates service in urban city areas in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, and Ottawa. The service launched in early 2010, and focuses on new customers, those living paycheque-to-paycheque, and its devices as affordable home phone replacements. (See “AWS”) Mobile Giving Foundation: An organization that handles charitable giveaways through text messaging. Customers can donate $5 to relief efforts by texting a word to a short-code. The amount is then charged on the customer’s next wireless bill, and the Foundation ensures it goes to the proper organization. Mobile Security: T<strong>here</strong>’s a new trend toward software that affords security on smartphones, much like security for computers. Several companies have offerings in this space, including McAfee and Norton. Motorola: The cell phone industry probably wouldn’t exist without Motorola, which introduced the first modern cell phone, the DynaTAC, in 1973. At 28-ounces, it became available to consumers in 1984. The phone didn’t make its way to Canada until 1985. It cost $5,000 and offered 30 minutes of talk time. Today, Motorola has reinvented itself with a focus on Android smartphones and tablets, including the popular Xoom. In mid-August 2011, Google purchased Motorola’s Mobility business for US$12.5 billion. MTS Allstream: As a subsidiary of Manitoba Telecom Services, Inc., MTS operates broadband and fibre optic networks that span 30,000 kilometres throughout the province of Manitoba. With more than two-million customers on both the business and residential sides, the long-standing company has been in business for a century. Music Phone: Much like the “camera phone,” the music phone is characterized by its ability to download, play back, or access music. These might include features like dedicated music buttons, headphones in the package, and/or easy synchronization with a music store. Sony Ericsson’s Walkman-branded phones can be characterized as music phones. While it is known as a smartphone, the iPhone could be considered a music phone as well given its dual function as an iPod. N Navigation: As navigation apps, and built-in navigation functions become more robust in mobile phones, the category has become an important one in wireless. Several companies have developed accessories to enhance navigation in phones, making them viable alternatives to dedicated portable GPS units. Netflix: The video streaming service includes support for tablets like the iPad, the iPhone, and some Android devices, allowing customers to access unlimited movies and TV shows from their portable devices, as well as TVs and computers, anyw<strong>here</strong> with a wireless connection (3G or WiFi) for one subscription price. NFC: (Near-Field Communication) As a near-field version of Bluetooth, NFC permits connection between two devices that are within 10 cm of one another at up to 424 kbps. In the cellular space, NFC technology will be used for mobile payments w<strong>here</strong>by a consumer can hold an NFC-equipped mobile phone up to a pay terminal to instantly pay for merchandise. This could be expanded to things like ticket scanning. NFC is already being used in this manner in countries like Japan, and several mobile payment trials are taking place in Canada. We could see the technology become commercially available next year. Noise-Canceling: In relation to cellular, noise-canceling technology will be typically found in the headsets or speakerphones that allow for wireless chatting. Many include noise-canceling technology that helps to cut out ambient noise, like crowds in a mall or wind from a moving car. This allows the person on the other end to hear your voice more clearly. It’s an important feature for any customer who often chats hands-free in spots w<strong>here</strong> t<strong>here</strong>’s a lot of surrounding noise. Nokia: The Finnish company has found 2011 to be one of its most tumultuous years, with market share slipping, the closure of its Ovi app store, and the switch from the Symbian operating system to Windows Phone 7. Nokia has long been the number one mobile phone and smartphone vendor worldwide, performing particularly well in Europe. But the company now sees increasing competition from the iPhone and Android devices. 2012, when the company launches its first wave of Windows 7 phones, will be a pivotal time for Nokia. Number Portability: Reaching Canada in early 2007, number portability describes the ability for a customer to switch from one wireless carrier service to another, but still keep his telephone number. This is, of course, provided that a handset from one provider can work on another service; or that the customer purchases a new handset altogether. Customers can also port a landline number to a cellular service and vice versa. Note, however, that if a customer is already tied to a lengthy contract, it might not be worth his while to switch since he’ll pay hefty cancellation fees. But for those who aren’t tied to one carrier, number portability offers the freedom to choose. Numeric Keypad: The standard nine-button keypad on a mobile phone that contains numbers with corresponding letters of the alphabet (often three to a key) on each. Numeric keypads are quickly being replaced by QWERTY keyboards that allow for easier and quicker composition of text messages and e-mails. O Optimus: The sub-brand name for LG’s latest wave of smartphones and tablets. (See “LG”) OS: Acronym for “Operating System,” this describes the software on which a smartphone runs. Much like with a computer, smartphones must be powered by software that facilitates functions like sending and receiving e-mail, accessing and editing documents, and playing media files. The most popular smartphone operating systems include Android, iPhone, and BlackBerry. P Palm: The company arguably led the smartphone craze when PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), pocketable data devices without cellular antennas, were all the rage. But somehow, Palm fell off the map as others gained steam. The company was acquired by HP in 2010 for US$1.2 billion. But less than a year later, and after attempting to reinvent the format with new smartphones and a tablet, HP confirmed that it would discontinue operations for webOS devices. The future of Palm, then, lies in limbo. (See “HP”) PayPass: Retail POS terminals that work with MasterCard NFC-enabled payment cards. On the cellular side, these terminals can accept payments from NFC-equipped mobile phones once that technology becomes commercially available in Canada. Bell Mobility ran a four-month trial in May 2008 using PayPass terminals, permitting purchases of $50 or less. (See “NFC”) payWave: Retail POS terminals that work with VISA NFC-enabled payment cards. On the cellular side, these terminals can accept payments from NFC-equipped mobile phones once that technology becomes commercially available in Canada. Rogers Wireless ran a trial using payWave terminals, permitting purchases of $25 or less. (See “NFC”) PCMCIA: (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) Cards (a.k.a. PC cards) that can be inserted into a computer slot to permit wireless connectivity to the Internet. Many cellular service providers offer PCMCIA cards with contracts that allow travelers to get online from a full-sized computer using the cellular 3G network. A more popular form these days is a USB stick with wireless connectivity built in. Some phones can tether directly to a computer, allowing you to share a 3G cellular connection with a notebook. Pico Projector: Tiny devices that connect to a compatible mobile phone (or other portable device or computer), than project images or video from the device onto any flat surface. (Samsung offers a mobile phone in Korea that has a pico projector built into it.) Pico projectors have yet hit the mainstream market. PIN: (Personal Identification Number) Can have several meanings in the cellular industry. It can refer to a four-digit code to access specific features of a phone. With BlackBerry users, the word PIN is often used in reference to the Messenger feature, which requires that you know the PIN of another person’s phone to add him to your contact list. To find out your PIN, click on Options, then Status. It is an eight-digit combination of numbers and letters. PlayBook: The brand name for Research in Motion’s (RIM’s) first BlackBerry tablet. The device launched to much controversy, as many felt it took too long to come to market, then was released prematurely when many features weren’t yet functioning properly. The PlayBook continues to work its way into the market, focusing on features like BlackBerry Bridge, which allows consumers to essentially mirror a BlackBerry smartphone on the device when connected, then disconnect without storing any information on the tablet. Postpaid: Cellular phones that are sold on a contract basis, which customers sign on for 1, 2, or 3-year terms, then pay monthly based on the features and usage. Signing on to a postpaid plan means that the customer is locked in with a carrier for the duration of the contract. But he can also get a phone at a much lower, subsidized price. Prepaid: Cellular phones that aren’t sold on a contract basis, but on their own with refillable “buckets” of voice calling minutes. When minutes are almost depleted, the customer must purchase more, by phone or
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