Broadband Glossary
3G stands for third generation and is a reference generally used by wireless carriers to refer to wireless data networks capable of downloading data in the neighborhood of up to 1.4 megabits per second (Mbps). The exact number is not as important in understanding the term as is understanding that 3G networks enabled the explosion of smart phones and data devices in the marketplace by delivering very usable speeds for most internet services. US carriers started rolling out 3G networks around 2002.
Bits: Typically encountered as a measurement of the speed of a connection. Bits represent the smallest unit of data. There are 8 bits in a byte. Note: Bits are always abbreviated with a lowercase b.
Bytes: Typically encountered as a measurement of the amount of data. For example, a 1.5 megabyte (MB) file or 4 gigabytes (GB) of data. Note: Bytes are always abbreviated with a capital B. There are 1,024,000 bytes in a megabyte (MB).
Megabytes: We display data usage in megabytes (MB). 1,024,000 bytes. There are 1,024 megabytes (MB) in a gigabyte.
Gigabytes: Cricket rate plan data allowances are advertised in gigabytes (GB).
Short for Full-Speed Data Add-Ons. Full-Speed Data Add-Ons, like Add-Ons in general, can be added to compatible rate plans to purchase additional service. Full-Speed Data Add-Ons allow you to conveniently purchase additional Full-Speed Data that will be available each month. Full-Speed Data Add-Ons are the best option when you know you will need more Full-Speed Data on a regular basis and there is not a suitable alternate rate plan for you.
Full-Speed Data Add-Ons are available for $10 and include an additional 1GB of Full-Speed Data.
If you seldom need additional Full-Speed Data, turning on Pay As You Go Data in My Account and funding your Flex Bucket or prepaid account balance may be a better option for you.
Mobile data transferred between a device and our network. Includes using the Internet, receiving or sending multimedia messages and email, etc.
Please refer to our Fair Use Policy.
Full-Speed Data is data usage at the best available speeds. Note that best available speeds are always affected by your device, signal strength, environmental conditions, and cell site congestion.
Mobile Data is the name of Cricket’s data service. Put simply, Mobile Data is access to the internet over the Cricket Nationwide cellular network. Rate plans with Mobile Data can browse the internet, use email, use Twitter, use Facebook, download applications, and generally use any applications installed on your phone or broadband device that require access to the internet. Cricket’s smartphone and broadband (data only) rate plans include Mobile Data.
Mobile Data is typically sold with a specific amount of Full-Speed Data access (Data Allowance) and unlimited Reduced-Speed Data access. The amount of included Full-Speed Data is noted for each rate plan in its list of features.
Data usage is generated whenever the Mobile Data service is used to transfer data between your device and the Cricket Nationwide cellular network.
A Cricket modem is a device that allows you to connect your laptop or desktop computer to the Internet wirelessly, wherever broadband service is available. Cricket's 3G Broadband Internet modems plug in to your desktop or laptop computers using the USB port.
The "core" software that controls the basic operation of electronic devices such as computers and cell phones. Examples of popular operating systems for computers include Windows Vista or Windows XP for PCs, and Mac OS X Snow Leopard for Apple Macintosh computers.
Short for Full-Speed Pay As You Go Data. Pay As You Go Data is an optional service that can be turned on to automatically purchase additional Full-Speed Data using funds from your Flex Bucket or prepaid account balance when your Full-Speed Data allowance is reached.
Pay As You Go Data is a great option to use when you seldom go over your Full-Speed Data allowance (including any Full-Speed Data Add-Ons you may have added to your rate plan) but when you do you don’t want to have Reduced-Speed. Pay As You Go Data will automatically charge $1 for an additional 50MB of Full-Speed Data – only when you need it. Flex Bucket or funds are needed ahead of time. Pay As You Go Data is prepaid and not an overage charge that you pay in arrears.
Pay As You Go Data can be turned on/off at any time through:
1-800-CRICKET
Cricket company stores and dealers
If you regularly find yourself using Pay As You Go Data you may want to look for a rate plan with more Full-Speed Data or add a Full-Speed Data Add-On to your plan, if available. Those options will likely be a better value.
We know it is difficult to be completely disconnected. At Cricket, when you use all of the Full-Speed Data you have purchased within a paid service period we don’t cut you off. Instead, we allow you to continue using Reduced-Speed Data for the remainder of your service period. Reduced-Speed Data gives you access to all the same applications and services as Full-Speed Data but at slower speeds. We believe this is the fairest way to keep everyone connected while allowing us to manage data usage on our network to provide the best experience for customers still using the Full-Speed Data they have purchased.
Reduced-Speed Data is typically equivalent to analog dial-up speeds.
USB (Universal Serial Bus) is an industry-standard connection type used to connect devices such as phones or modems to a desktop or laptop computer.
Wi-Fi is a connectivity technology. It refers to standardized technologies (IEEE 802.11) that allow devices to connect to each other (usually to connect to the internet) using radio waves instead of physical connections with cables and cords.
A device enabled with Wi-Fi, such as your smartphone or tablet, can connect to the internet via a wireless network access point. An access point (or hotspot) has a range of about 65 ft. (20 meters) indoors and a greater range outdoors. Hotspot coverage can comprise an area as small as a single room with walls that block radio signals or a large area, as much as many square miles, covered by multiple overlapping access points.
Using Wi-Fi hotspots and compatible Cricket devices you can connect to the internet and not have the data usage count towards your Full-Speed Data allowance.
