|
ARPU
|
Average Revenue
Per Unit/User - A measure of how much money a customer generates per
month. This is not
the amount of money they replenish on their account, but rather the
actual funds consumed by buying services from the phone.
|
|
CDR
|
Call Detail
Record - A
file that wireless carriers have in their backend systems that includes
detailed call information, including phone numbers called, received,
billing period, minutes/charges per call, call duration, etc.
|
|
Churn
|
A measure of
the percent of customers leaving (i.e. deactivating).
High churn can severely impact a wireless
company's ability to grown if the number of customers leaving each
month is higher than the number of new customers joining on.
|
|
CDMA
|
Code Division
Multiple Access - A digital cellular technology patented by Qualcomm. Learn more.
|
|
EDGE
|
Enhanced Data
rates for Global Evolution - 2.5G high speed digital data technology. Compatible
with technology. Also
called Enhanced GPRS.
|
|
EVDO
|
Evolution Data
Optimized - This is the 3G technology on CDMA networks.
The initial implementation was Rev0; the
latest version is RevA, which has faster download speeds, and much
faster upload speeds.
|
|
FICO
|
Fair Isaac
Credit Organization - A measure of credit risk.
Named after its creators. Learn more.
|
|
GPRS
|
General Packet
Radio Service - The first high speed digital data service. Compatible with GSM technology.
|
| Gross
Adds |
The total
number of new customers added to the carrier's network each month. |
|
GSM
|
Global System
for Mobile Communications - One of the major standards for cellular
networks. Available
in over 100 countries, and deemed the standard in Europe.
Uses SIM cards. Learn
more.
|
|
HSDPA
|
High Speed
Downlink Packet Access - 3G digital data cellular service using GSM
technology.
|
|
HSPA
|
High Speed
Packet Access - Part of the 3G data services family.
Evolved from WCDMA,
|
|
iDEN
|
Integrated
Digital Enhanced Network - Cellular technology from Motorola. Supports voice, data, SMS,
and two-way radio.
|
| Kiosk |
A common term
referring to any self-service machine. |
|
LTV
|
LifeTime Value
|
|
LTE
|
Long Term
Evolution - 4G cellular technology standard for high speed data
transmission.
|
| Mag
Stripe |
The black
magnetic stripe on the back of a card (ex. credit card, replenishment
card, etc.). This
is the part of a card that is swiped at the register that contains
encoded information that tells the register where to send the
transaction request. |
| MiFi |
Mobile
hotspot integrating Wi-Fi and mobile/cellular broadband. |
| Mobile-to-Mobile |
Wireless
carriers offer free/included calls when customers call other customers
within the same wireless provider's network.
Ex. Free Verizon to Verizon calls. |
| MoIP |
Mobile
communication over Internet Protocal - Using data services to deliver
voice. Different from VoIP, which uses backend technology to
deliver
voice of data networks, MoIP uses an application on the handset. |
|
MOU
|
Minutes Of Use
- This is the number of minutes used by a customer each month. Low usage can indicate a
non-committed customer who is more likely to churn.
However, high usage can mean high network
costs, especially for unlimited plans where customers don't pay for
each minute they use.
|
|
MVNO
|
Mobile Virtual
Network Operator.
|
| Net
Adds |
The total
number of new customers added after subtracting the total number of
lost customers (i.e. customers that churned). |
|
Non-POSA
|
Non-Point Of Sale Activation - A process
whereby products with value (ex. replenishment cards) maintain their
value and have a high risk of theft.
|
|
OIBIDA
|
Operating
Income Before Depreciation & Amortization - A measure of a
company's profitability. Companies
can have high revenues but have high expenses resulting in low
profitability
|
|
PDA
|
Personal
Digital Assistant
|
|
POS
|
Point Of Sale -
Used to refer to in-store (where purchases are made).
|
|
POSA
|
Point Of Sale
Activation - A process allowing products with value (ex. replenishment
cards) to be displayed without the risk of theft.
Only when the product is activated at the
sales register does the product take on value.
|
| Prepaid
Account
Balance |
The money on a
prepaid phone that can be used to purchase wireless services. |
| Replenishment |
The action of
adding money to a prepaid account using any method (ex. cash, credit
card, debit card, electronic check). |
|
RTR
|
Real Time
Replenishment - Refers to a PIN-less replenishment where money is added
to your account in real time at point of sale.
Often referred to as topup.
|
|
SMS
|
Short Message
Service - Often referred to as text messaging.
Typically a maximum of 160 characters.
|
|
SIM
|
Subscriber
Identity Module - Smart card used in GSM and iDEN phones that stores
customer account information as well as contacts.
Allows you to easily swap your account
information into another phone.
|
|
Topup
|
Term commonly
used to mean PIN-less Real Time Replenishment (RTR).
Also sometimes used to refer generally to
adding money to an account.
|
|
UMTS
|
Universal Mobile Telecommunications System
- 3G wireless service for GSM technology.
Uses WCDMA and HSPA.
|
|
UPC
|
Universal
Product Code
|
| VoIP |
Voice
Over Internet Protocol - Delivering voice calls over data networks. |
|
WCDMA
|
Wideband CDMA
(Code Division Multiple Access) - 3G high speed digital data technology. Compatible with TDMA and GSM
technologies.
|
|
WAP
|
Wireless
Application Protocol - An open international standard used on cellular
phones to enable Internet (HTTP) access.
|
|
Wi-Fi
|
Wireless
Fidelity - High frequency local area network.
Consumer friendly name for IEEE 802.11
standards.
|
|
WiMAX
|
Worldwide
Interoperability for Microwave Access - A wireless telecommunications
technology for providing high speed data over long distances.
No longer used.
|
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