Glossary

Old school. The 80's and early 90's "backpack" and "brick" mobiles were analogue, as opposed to our latest digital mobile phones. Vinyl records were also analogue, as opposed to digital CDs. Analogue means that information is stored and transmitted as variable signals, not 0's and 1's.

This is the phone that everyone has been talking about. Why? Because it combines all the stuff you love about your iPod with a 3G phone, all designed in trademark Apple style. Maybe you'd like to see our latest Apple iPhone 3G deals.

The technical name for mobile towers, which are what send you calls and text flying through the air with the greatest of ease. Check Optus network coverage maps - we use their network so we have the same coverage.

The thing that powers your phone, like when you eat your Corn Flakes in the morning. The latest ones are made out of lithium ion (Li-Ion), which are lightweight and long lasting and don't suffer memory problems, unlike humans. We don't sell batteries separately, but many of our retail outlets do.

The brand of mobile phones with LOTS of buttons on them. That's because they squeeze in a whole alphabet keyboard, not just a number pad. We don't sell them at the moment, but we do have some very cool touchscreen phones, including the Apple iPhone 3G.

A way for electronic devices (computers, mobile phones, hands-free headsets, toasters) to send wireless information to each other over a relatively short distance - up to 50 metres. Check out our latest bluetooth phones

An way of sending signals, intended in Australia to give coverage in rural areas that used to be covered by the old analogue network but didn't have coverage yet using the newer GSM digital network. Check out our latest GSM digital mobile phones.

What Americans call a mobile phone. Also the area around a base station where you get a GSM signal. Check out our latest ?cell' phones.

How robots talk to each other - you know, using 0's and 1's to represent information. Check out our latest digital mobile phones.

Not The Beatles & The Rolling Stones. ?Bands' in mobile-speak are frequencies like radio stations. Dual-band phones use the 900/1800 MHz bands. North America uses the 1900 MHz band, so you need a tri-band phone if you're going there. Check out our latest dual-band, tri-band and even quad-band phones!

GPS is a technology that allows you to know exactly whereabouts on the planet you are at any time. Originally only available in a specialised device, you can now buy mobile phones with inbuilt GPS technology.

A way to download pictures, ring tones, even surf the web on your mobile that is faster and 'always on', unlike the old WAP technology. GPRS is like broadband Internet whereas WAP technology was like dial-up. Check out our latest GPRS phones

The transmission technique used by most digital mobile networks in the world, including Australia, Europe and North America. Get connected to us today

The ID number for your phone, usually printed in really small letters somewhere on the back near where the battery goes. If your phone is nicked or lost, you can ask us to "block the IMEI", which will stop anyone else using that phone. Ah, sweet sweet revenge! Get a new phone with its own IMEI from us today

See Apple iPhone 3G

A way for electronic devices to send wireless information to each other over a very short distance. An old technology, now superseded by Bluetooth. Check out our latest bluetooth phones

A programming language developed by Sun Microsystems, designed to be easily used by many different systems, hence its popularity. For mobile phones, it is used to make applications like games and Festival Buddy. Get a java enabled phone from us today or if you already have one, check out the Virgin Vibe to get set up and download the latest Java content for your phone.

The collective term for sending a text (SMS), photo (MMS) or other kind of information from one mobile to another. Check out our plans with FREE text Virgin to Virgin

MMS is like SMS (text messaging) on steroids. Use it to send messages with pictures, sound or video attached. Check out our messaging options.

See Porting.

The mobile equivalent of an old telephone exchange, controlling a whole area of base stations. Get connected to Virgin Mobile for great coverage

A mobile phone number!! As in, "Let's go for a drink next Thursday, what's your Mobile Station International Subscriber Identity Number?". When you join Virgin Mobile from another phone service provider, you can keep your old MSISDN.

Things connected together! In mobile phone-speak, it's the technology (towers etc) that allow mobile calls to be made. In Australia there are three GSM networks: Telstra, Optus and Vodafone. Virgin Mobile uses the Optus network.

See MMS

One step up in quality from the old-style 'Monophonic' ring tones, polyphonic tones are played through a speaker rather than an ordinary buzzer, and thus give you more melodious ringing tones, message alerts, and gaming sounds. The network must have GPRS & WAP in order to download polyphonic ringtones. These days the very best tones are True Tones.

In the bad old days (before 2001), when you changed mobile phone companies, you also had to get a new mobile number. Luckily, now you don't have to worry about that anymore because you can just take your number with you. That's porting! Cool how do I do that?

A subscription service that lets you talk to several friends at once by pushing a button on your phone - a bit like a walkie-talkie radio. We don't support PTT at the moment, but we do have amazing Free to V plans that let you talk to any other Virgin Mobile customer for free, anytime 24/7.

A number code that unlocks your SIM card in case the PIN is incorrectly entered three times. If the PUK is incorrectly entered ten times it permanently disables the SIM card, which will then have to be replaced. Contact us if you need to get your PUK.

A mobile phone company that is a service provider, but which doesn't own their own network. They buy network capabilities from the company that owns the network and then 'resell' the network service on to their customers.

Taking your mobile phone and SIM overseas and using it just like you normally do, with your same number etc. The only catch is that it costs quite a bit more than using your service in Australia.

A mobile phone company. If your phone service is with us, then Virgin Mobile is your mobile service provider.

The brain of your mobile phone - kind of. Your SIM card contains all the information about your phone, such as phone number, phone book information, account, etc. so that you access the wireless network and use your phone's features. Need a new SIM? You can buy one from us now.

Skype is a popular example of VOIP software.

SMS, commonly known as 'text' allows users to send and receive short alphanumeric messages. When someone is staring at their phone and typing into it, they are usually writing an SMS! Check out our Free to V plans with free SMS to other Virgin Mobile customers.

Ring tones, or just tones, are sounds that your mobile phone can make when it rings, or for message alerts and other features like games. Like all technology, these have improved vastly over the years, from the old monophonic tones to polyphonic and true tones..

One better than dual-band! 'Bands' in mobile-speak are frequencies like radio stations. Dual-band phones use the 900/1800 MHz bands. North America uses the 1900 MHz band, so you need a tri-band phone if you're going there. Check out our latest dual-band, tri-band and even quad-band phones!

Like an answering machine for your mobile phone. One of the many cool things about Virgin Mobile's plans is that we never ever ever charge you a cent to receive or listen to your voicemail messages in Oz. What does your mobile company charge you for voicemail?

A way of making telephone calls using the Internet. If you interested in cheap calls from your landline, why not check out our amazing Broadband At Home offer with unlimited standard local and national calls plus free broadband.

WAP was the attempt to create an internet-style experience over mobile phone networks. It displays simple "mini websites" with only text but no pictures. Phones have now improved in speed and screen size, so browsing the Internet on your phone is now possible.