Jargon Buster!

Bluetooth

Bluetooth® is a radio technology allowing you to make a wireless connection with other devices at a range of up to 10 metres. Common uses of Bluetooth® include Bluetooth® headsets, allowing you to take a call without holding your phone, transferring data (music, pictures, etc) between phones, and connecting your phone to a laptop to use its modem capabilities.

Cookies

A cookie file sits on your BlackBerry, phone, PDA or computer and contains data passed on from an Internet or wap site that you have previously been browsing. This enables the site to recognise your device so that the next time you open the site it will open in a personalised way to you. For example, you may open an online shop and find that your name and account details are saved, making orders quicker and simpler.

GPRS (General Packet Radio Services)

GPRS is a data transfer method that allows you to remain connected to a data source while only paying for the information that you transfer, rather than the time you spend connected to the service. So, for example, you will be charged for the amount of data you download each time you open a new Internet page with your BlackBerry, and not for the length of time that you spend browsing each page.

GSM Data

The Global Standard for Mobile (GSM) uses a dial up connection reaching speeds of up to 9.6 kilobits per second (kbps). Once connected via GSM you will be charged per second for its use, in a similar way to a standard dial up modem.

HTML

Hypertext Mark-up Language is the language in which most web pages are written.

Java

A computer language designed to produce programmes to run on devices such as BlackBerry handheld and other Java-enabled mobile phones. Java programmes include games, currency converters and calculators.

Profiles

A profile is a group of settings that determine how your phone behaves when, for example, it receives a text message or incoming call. Swapping profiles enables you to change several alert settings in a short amount of time without changing each setting individually. For example, you may want to set a silent profile before going into a meeting.

Push email

You don’t need to retrieve your email, as push technology means your email will automatically find you. No dialling in or modem connection is required.

Quad band

Quad band capabilities allow your BlackBerry to operate over four radio frequency bands (850MHz, 900MHz, 1800MHz and 1900MHz). This enables you to make and receive calls in five continents including North and South America.

QWERTY keyboard

A QWERTY keyboard has a separate key for each letter of the alphabet, so named because QWERTY are the first six letters of the top line on the keyboard.

Secure Triple DES / DES

Data Encryption Standard (DES) is a widely-used method of data encryption using a private (secret) key. Data is encrypted to ensure that it remains secure. Triple DES means that each block of your data, for example part of an email, is encrypted three times using DES, ensuring a very high level of security for your personal information.

SMS (Short Messaging Service)

Also known as Text Messaging. This enables users to send a short message of up to 160 text characters to another compatible device.

Specific Absorption Rate (SAR)

All mobile phones have a radio transmitter and receiver. Specific Absorption Rate, or SAR, is an internationally accepted way of measuring how much radiofrequency (RF) energy is absorbed by the body when a mobile phone is being used. SAR is measured in watts/kilogram (w/kg) averaged over 10 grams of tissue. The SAR value of the BlackBerry model 7290 is 0.24w/kg.

Trackwheel

A trackwheel is a rolling disc attached to the side of the phone on older models and on newer models a roller ball on the front of the phone, which allows you to scroll through your menus. Roll to the correct item using your thumb and then press the trackwheel in to select that item.

Agent Graysmith bringing you the information so your in the know!