Understand the terminology used in the mobile technology and electronic recycling industry.

Glossary

TFF
Tested for Full Functionality

Good LCD
Good LCD is defined as LCD panel and touch are fully functional but the glass may be cracked. Can be refurbished easily.

Bad LCD
Bad LCD means either the display or touch test has failed due to bleeding or damage.

ADISA
Asset Disposal & Information Security Alliance. An accreditation body that focuses on the security aspect of IT asset disposal.

Carrier
The telecommunications company that provides cellular service to a mobile device.

CDMA
Code Division Multiple Access. It’s another platform for mobile communication used by some carriers.

Data Destruction
The process of destroying data stored on tapes, hard disks and other forms of electronic media so that it is completely unreadable and cannot be accessed or used for unauthorized purposes.

Data Wiping
The process of securely removing all information stored on a device.

E-Waste
Electronic waste. Refers to discarded electronic devices or components which can be harmful to the environment if not disposed of properly.

End-of-life Electronics
Electronics that have reached the end of their useful life and are to be recycled or disposed of.

Firmware
Software that is embedded into a device to control its functions.

GSM
Global System for Mobile Communications. It’s one of the leading platforms for mobile communication worldwide.

HSO
Handset Sold Only

IMEI
International Mobile Equipment Identity. A unique identification number for each mobile phone.

Jailbreaking
The process of removing restrictions imposed by the manufacturer on an Apple device.

Kitted / Kit
Comes with a charger, cable, and sim pin inside a box.

Locked Phone
A phone that is tied to a specific carrier and can only be used with that carrier’s SIM card.

LTE
Long Term Evolution. It’s a standard for high-speed wireless communication for mobile phones and data terminals.

Refurbished Phone
A phone that has been returned due to defects and has been restored to its full functionality by the manufacturer or a third-party seller.

Rooting
The process of gaining root access to an Android device, allowing users more control over the device’s functions.

SIM
Subscriber Identity Module. It’s a small card inside your phone that establishes a network connection.

Sim Lock
A restriction placed by the manufacturer or carrier to limit the phone to use only a specific network.

Unlocked Phone
A phone that can be used with any carrier or plan.

BYOD
Bring Your Own Device. A term used to describe the policy of permitting employees to bring personally owned mobile devices to their workplace.

MVNO
Mobile Virtual Network Operator. A wireless communications services provider that does not own the wireless network infrastructure over which it provides services to its customers.

OEM
Original Equipment Manufacturer. In the mobile device world, this refers to the company that originally designed and manufactured the product.

OTA
Over The Air. This refers to various methods of distributing new software, configuration settings, and even updating encryption keys to devices.

ROM
Read-Only Memory. In mobile devices, ROM has come to mean the firmware— that is, the phone’s operating system and bundled applications.

Rugged Phone
A mobile device designed to resist damage from harsh environments and conditions such as shock, dust, rain, extreme temperatures, and more.

VoIP
Voice over Internet Protocol. A technology that allows for voice calls to be made using a broadband internet connection instead of a regular phone line.

Bloatware
Pre-installed software on a device by manufacturers. These are often unnecessary and take up storage space.

Bluetooth
A wireless technology standard used for exchanging data between fixed and mobile devices over short distances.

Dual-SIM
A phone that can hold and use two SIM cards from different carriers simultaneously.

Factory Reset
The act of returning a device to its original state as when it left the manufacturer.

Hotspot
The use of a mobile device’s internet connection to provide internet access to other devices.

IP Rating
Ingress Protection Rating. A standard that defines the level of protection that electrical appliances provide against the intrusion of solid objects or dust, accidental contact, and water.

MAC Address
Media Access Control Address. A unique identifier assigned to a network interface controller for use as a network address in communications within a network segment.

NFC
Near Field Communication. A short-range wireless connectivity technology that allows NFC-enabled devices to communicate with each other and exchange information.

Pixel
Short for “Picture Element”, it’s the smallest unit of a digital image or display that can be controlled.

Root Access
Privileges allowing changes to files that require administrator-level permissions.

SD Card
Secure Digital Card. A portable memory card used in mobile devices for additional storage.

Tethering
The use of a mobile device as a wireless modem to provide internet access to another device, typically a laptop or desktop computer.

UI
User Interface. It’s the means by which the user and a device interact.

VPN
Virtual Private Network. A service that allows you to connect to the internet via an encrypted tunnel to ensure your online privacy and protect your sensitive data.

Wi-Fi
A technology that uses radio waves to provide wireless high-speed internet and network connections.

2G, 3G, 4G, 5G
They stand for Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth Generation of mobile networks. Each generation offers faster internet speeds and more advanced features than the previous one.

Phablet
A term to describe a device that combines the form of a smartphone and a tablet.

APN
Access Point Name. A setting on mobile phones that identifies an external network that the phone can access for data (e.g., 3G or 4G internet service).

OTA Update
Over-The-Air Update. A method of delivering new software or firmware updates to mobile devices.

PPI
Pixels Per Inch. It is a measurement used to quantify the resolution of digital displays.

OS
Operating System. It is the software that communicates with the hardware and allows other programs to run.

QWERTY
Refers to the layout of keys on a standard English computer keyboard or typewriter. Named after the first six letters on the keyboard.

Li-ion Battery
Lithium-ion Battery. It is a type of rechargeable battery commonly used in portable electronics and electric vehicles. It is currently the most popular battery technology in use for smartphones and tablets.

App
Application. It is a type of software that allows you to perform specific tasks. Applications for mobile devices are called mobile apps.

Push Notification
Messages that pop up on a mobile device. App publishers can send them at any time, users don’t have to be in the app or using their devices to receive them.