(1) An organization that provides communications and networking services. A communications and networking "service provider." See common carrier, private carrier and MVNO.
(2) A waveform that has a fixed center frequency. It is used to contain data and establish a unique channel that can be identified independently of other channels. Carriers are the primary method used to send wireless signals through the air in order to differentiate transmitting stations. For example, AM and FM radio, TV, satellite and Wi-Fi all use carriers. In fact, AM and FM radio actually use the carrier frequency as their station's channel number.
Multiple Carriers - Multiple Data Streams
Carriers are also used to transmit multiple channels simultaneously within a wire or fiber. For example, several voice, data and video signals can travel over the same line, each residing in its own carrier vibrating at a different frequency.
Multiple Carriers - One Data Stream
Instead of sending a separate stream of data in each carrier, multiple carriers can be used for only one channel of data. For example, the widely used orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) method uses numerous carriers (subcarriers) for only one transmitting channel and one stream of data (see OFDM). See modulation and subcarrier.
Carrier Signal
The radio station transmits audio in a carrier, which is altered (modulated) with the analog signal. The receiving tuner latches onto the carrier's center frequency and isolates the audio, which is sent to the amplifier. The amplifier boosts the signal and sends it to the speakers. Carriers are also used to transmit digital data (see modulation).
(2) A waveform that has a fixed center frequency. It is used to contain data and establish a unique channel that can be identified independently of other channels. Carriers are the primary method used to send wireless signals through the air in order to differentiate transmitting stations. For example, AM and FM radio, TV, satellite and Wi-Fi all use carriers. In fact, AM and FM radio actually use the carrier frequency as their station's channel number.
Multiple Carriers - Multiple Data Streams
Carriers are also used to transmit multiple channels simultaneously within a wire or fiber. For example, several voice, data and video signals can travel over the same line, each residing in its own carrier vibrating at a different frequency.
Multiple Carriers - One Data Stream
Instead of sending a separate stream of data in each carrier, multiple carriers can be used for only one channel of data. For example, the widely used orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) method uses numerous carriers (subcarriers) for only one transmitting channel and one stream of data (see OFDM). See modulation and subcarrier.
Carrier Signal
The radio station transmits audio in a carrier, which is altered (modulated) with the analog signal. The receiving tuner latches onto the carrier's center frequency and isolates the audio, which is sent to the amplifier. The amplifier boosts the signal and sends it to the speakers. Carriers are also used to transmit digital data (see modulation).
 | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2009 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
Additional Resources
- News to know: Intel; Microsoft layoffs; Motorola, Palm; Oracle-Sun; MSN
- Here are today's notable headlines. You can get News To Know via email alert and RSS daily. For continuous updates see BNET's around-the-Web tech coverage.: Sam Diaz: New York AG files antitrust charges against Intel; alleges bribery, coercion Mary Jo Foley: Are the Microsoft...
- Blog posts 2009-11-05
- The iPhone is one of the best phones in the world, carriers with it are the problem
- far from perfect indeedIt's a great gadget...until it freezes and you have to wait several minutes while you reboot it. That is if you know how to reboot it, the first time is always accompanied with panic because you think the thing went dead. Don't blame the carriers,...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-04
- The iPhone is one of the best phones in the world, carriers with it are the problem
- I really don't like to link to posts that have over the top headlines just to gain hits and try not to do that myself, but I just had to respond to this UK Crave blog post titled, The iPhone is the worst phone in the world. After reading the...
- Blog posts 2009-11-04
- HTC HD2 coming to major US carrier in early 2010
- I hope Sprint gets the HD2!I'm not holding my breath, but I really hope Sprint gets this phone!Sprint Community member ASM has created a "Petition for HD2" in hopes that a Sprint exec will take notice: http://community.sprint.com/baw/thread/23213RE: HTC HD2 coming to major US carrier in early 2010Well, I would like...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-04
- HTC HD2 coming to major US carrier in early 2010
- I know the latest smartphone market share data shows both Windows Mobile and HTC down over the last year, but there is one HTC Windows Mobile device that has me quite excited and if it comes to the US with support for T-Mobile then I will buy it. HTC today...
- Blog posts 2009-11-04
- Charge When Ship Made Easy 2.2 (Windows)
- Charge When Ship Made Easy is a free tool for Amazon Pro Merchants that makes order confirmation easy. Here's how it works. Start CWSMadeEasy, set a cut off time to confirm only orders received by a certain date/time optional. Click "Confirm all outstanding orders". You can also optionally set a...
- Software downloads 2009-11-03
- Cell Provider Detector for iPhone 1.0 (Mobile)
- Cell Provider Detector for iPhone application detects the cell phone service provider of cell phone numbers within the continental US. Simply enter the cell phone number you would like to find out the carrier for, and hit look up. This app can detect the service provider of over 100 million...
- Software downloads 2009-11-02
- Holiday Gift Guide 2009: Smartphones
- The lineup of cell phones has expanded a bit, but a significant number of what we see in that category are updates to existing models. The real innovation in the mobile phone world is in the area of smartphones where we see the Apple iPhone, Palm WebOS, Google Android, RIM...
- Blog posts 2009-11-01
- Android 2.0 (Eclair) FAQ
- Android 2.0 GPSWill the GPS be functional if I don't buy the expensive Verizon data plan or pay by the Mb.You would need access to the internetto download the maps as needed there would not be enough room on the phone to store the whole country locally. So unless you...
- Discussion threads 2009-10-30
- Mail Man for iPhone 1.0 (Mobile)
- With Mail Man for iPhone, you only enter the information required to schedule a United States Postal Service Carrier Pickup. Best of all, Mail Man for iPhone remembers all of your information so the next time you need a pick up is even faster. You can schedule a pick ups...
- Software downloads 2009-10-30
- Samsung Caliber (U.S. Cellular)
- We've seen plenty of Samsung touch-screen handsets come our way, but not many of them make it to U.S. Cellular, a regional carrier based in Chicago. The only one so far has been the Samsung Delve, which made it to the carrier's lineup late last year. Now another one has...
- Product reviews 2009-10-29
- Motorola Droid hands-on photos (Motorola Droid hands-on photos)
- RE: Motorola Droid hands-on photos (Motorola Droid hands-on photos)It looks nice and I am partial to Motorola, but I think it is too much for me. I have a W755 and use the phone, send a couple of texts now and then, use the camera rarely, and listen to tunes....
- Discussion threads 2009-10-29
- With Motorola Droid, Verizon puts doubts about Google Android platform to rest [review]
- Looks pretty nice, one comment on the article tho...[i]Further, Android 2.0 offers universal search, surfacing Web pages (history, bookmarks, etc.), contacts, applications and more all from the same search field widget. It?s a welcome addition.[/i]This is actually a feature of Android 1.6 and so not exclusive to the Droid or...
- Discussion threads 2009-10-29
- Motorola Droid (Verizon Wireless)
- Editors' note: Over the next few days we will continue to test the Droid and add the results to this review.You have to hand it to Verizon Wireless: though the Google Android operating system now extends to a handful of devices, the carrier was able to get the tech world...
- Product reviews 2009-10-29
- Motorola Droid gets official on Verizon; arrives Nov. 6 for $199
- Verizon has officially announced the Motorola Droid smartphone, which will arrive on the carrier on Nov. 6 for $199.99 after $100 mail-in rebate. by Andrew Nusca
- Blog posts 2009-10-28
- File Encryption XP 1.5.148 (Windows)
- File Encryption XP is password protection software for Windows. Files are encrypted with hack-proof Blowfish algorithm. This tool works with USB drives, flash memory cards, HDDs, ZIP drives, and works with any Windows PC. When encrypting files, the passwords are not "inserted" inside the encrypted files, so if you lose...
- Software downloads 2009-10-28
- Outsourcing the data centre to a carrier neutral data centre operator in Europe
- Should you outsource your data centre? You should if your organization has mission critical IT services, latency dependent Web services, business critical applications, or Internet centric services that need to be constantly available. Hear industry experts as they take a look at how some of today's most successful organizations are...
- Webcasts 2009-10-28
- Use Google Voice with your existing phone number
- Google now gives users of a subset of Google Voice features if they want to simply use their service without getting a brand new "Google Number". Mobile phone users can now forward incoming calls to their "Google Voice" mailbox rather than the one hosted by their carrier. ...
- Blog posts 2009-10-27
- A Net Neutrality Solution: Opinions Wanted
- I’ve been thinking about Net Neutrality for some time and wanted to get your thoughts and feedback on a solution that seems, well, so simple and obvious that I can't believe nobody has proposed it. A bit of background before you dive-in. Before analyzing and tracking...
- Blog posts 2009-10-26
- T-Mobile rolls out new plans, huge monthly fee increases for unlimited voice on family plans
- There have been rumors of new T-Mobile plans, code named Project Dark, and earlier today T-Mobile took the wraps off of their new Even More and Even More Plus plans. The plans include options for obtaining an account with no contract, paying for your phone with monthly no-interest payments, and...
- Blog posts 2009-10-25
Neighboring Terms
Premier Vendor Content Whitepapers, webcasts & resources from our Power Center Sponsors
SmartPlanet
- Thought-provoking progressive ideas on diverse topics that intersect with technology, business, and life, and matter to the world at large. Visit SmartPlanet
- More from IBM
-
- Innovate your business' process model, play against the market, compete against others on our scoreboards and WIN! Try INNOV8 2.0: A BPM Simulator
- Enabling Real-World Business Transformation through IBM Service Management Read the EMA Analyst Report
