Buying a Mobile Phone or accessories can become a bit of a task, it's important that you get the product that best suits your lifestyle. This section takes you through all the terminology used throughout, helping you to make an informed decision on your purchase. 

Attachable camera
Some camera phones have a camera that is a separate piece of equipment that can be clipped onto your phone. Once it is attached to your phone you can take photos. Most of the latest phones have a built in cameras which you can read about below.

Built-in camera
A number of phones now have a camera as an integral part of the phone. This built-in capability allows you to take photos without having to carry an attachable camera in addition to your phone.

Colour screen
The number of colors and pixels your phone has in it (on the screen and pixel for the camera) will reflected in the quality of the image that you can see and image taken for the camera on you phone. More colours give you a better experience. Typically phones have either 4,000 or 65,000 colours, and about 1.3 mega pixels

Compatible phone
Any GSM phone that is not locked to another mobile phone network will work with any other network sim card. If your phone is locked or if you are not sure, call your current network service provider and they will be able to unlock it.

GPRS
General Packet Radio Service. A technology which is getting really popular and thank to GPRS you can now access the internet on your mobile. You can also refer to it as 2.5G, this allows customers to remain connected to the network between calls for the receipt and transmission of data. When using GPRS, charges are based on the volume of data you send and receive.

IMEI Number
The IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) is a unique 15-digit code used to identify individual mobile phones. The IMEI can be displayed on most phones by dialing the code *#06#. Also, it is usually printed on your phone under the battery.

In-car charger
An in-car charger is attached to the phone and then plugged in to the car's cigarette lighter. This enables you to charge your phone while driving.

In-car kit
A full hands free car kit provides radio mute and voice dialling features. An alternative to a full hands free car kit is an easy-to-use mobile holder, which can be used with a mobile charger and a plug-in hands free car kit.

Java™ games
Java™ is the technology that lets you download and store games on your phone. Downloading games is quick and easy - all you need is have a phone that supports Java™.

Media messaging
Media messaging is also known as picture messaging and multi media messaging (MMS). It is the ability to send and receive picture and video messages.

Megabyte (MB)
GPRS data usage is measured in megabytes (MB). One megabyte is a million bytes, or a thousand Kilobytes.

Mobile web
Mobile web is a service that allows you to surf the net and stay in touch with emails while you're on the move. As long as your mobile phone allows you to, T-mobile has made it easier by bring out the web n Walk tariffs which includes talk time and internet surf time.

Hands free
A standard personal hands free kit plugs into your phone and has a one-touch button to answer and terminating calls. You may also purchase blue tooth headset which doesn’t require a wired connection and connect to your phone via blue tooth as long your handset is a blue tooth phone.

Predictive text input
For typing messages, predictive text input, also known as T9 Text Input, is twice as fast as multi-tapping. This feather predicts the word your typing buy the letters you input.

SIM only
Your SIM Card is the brain of any mobile phone. The sim card determines your mobiles phone number and without this you couldn’t dial or receive calls. Your sim card only works in phones that are compatible with your sim card which depends on the network the sim is provided from.

SMS
This is sometimes known as text messaging, which enables mobile telephone users to send and receive text written messages on their handsets.

Stand-by Time
This is the amount of time you can leave your fully charged phone turned on before the phone battery becomes completely flat.

Talk Time
The length of time you can talk on your phone without recharging the battery.
With a compatible handset you can now send a video, a sound clip and a text wherever you want - in-country or abroad. Video Messaging is simple & fun to use just like Text Messaging and Media Messaging. Just create your video using the camera on your mobile and include it into a message.

Video calling
The ability of some 3G phones to make calls whilst showing a live video stream of the person you are speaking to so that you can see as well as hear them.

WAP
"WAP" Wireless Application Protocol.  A global, open standard for accessing online services through mobile devices. WAP gives you text-based information from the web in a format that is easy for a mobile screen to display and quick to download. O2 WAP service is available on both GSM and GPRS. The only difference is how you pay for using the service.