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By Stephen Schifini

Wireless terminology can be tricky! So many products sound alike in name and function; finding what you need can be overwhelming. Luckily, Cricket Wireless has compiled this short list of commonly confused wireless terms so you can focus on the products and services you really need. Let us help you understand what some of these wireless buzzwords mean so you don’t need a dictionary.

What is the difference between international roaming (aka Cricket Passport™) and International Long Distance (ILD)?

Short answer:

  • International Long Distance (ILD): Calling another country while you’re still in the United States. For example, calling from Florida to the Dominican Republic is International Long Distance.
  • International Roaming (aka Cricket Passport™): Calling from another country while traveling abroad. For example, if you’re traveling and you call from the Dominican Republic, you’re roaming, meaning your calls, text, and data are on another network. Be sure to check with your provider to see if you have roaming before your next big trip.

Good to know:

  • Some wireless providers have unique names for their roaming services. For example, Cricket Passport is what we call our International Roaming add-on feature. It’s easy to remember because you need your passport when traveling abroad.
  • Need a good memory hack? For International Long Distance, use this phrase: I’m Local, Dude (ILD). For International Roaming, try: “If you’re in Rome, you are Roaming.”
  • Some carriers include Canada and Mexico in standard phone plans.

What’s the difference between Wi-Fi and mobile data?

The short answer:

  • Wi‑Fi: Internet through a local wireless router/network.
  • Mobile data: Internet through your carrier’s cellular network.

Wi‑Fi connects your device to the internet through a nearby network—usually at home, work, or a public hotspot—and it typically doesn’t count against your cellular data allowance. Mobile (cellular) data uses your carrier’s network when you’re away from Wi‑Fi, and it can be subject to data limits, slowdowns, or roaming charges if you’re traveling.

What’s the difference between Mobile Hotspot and Tethering?

Short answer:
 

  • Mobile Hotspot (Hotspot data): A feature that lets your phone share its data connection as a Wi‑Fi network.
  • Tethering: The broader concept of sharing internet from one device to another (Wi‑Fi, USB, or Bluetooth.)

Mobile Hotspot is, in fact, a common type of tethering: your phone basically becomes a mini‑Wi‑Fi router so a laptop or tablet can get online through your phone’s cellular data. Tethering includes Mobile Hotspot but also covers connecting via USB or Bluetooth. Certain providers have different names for this feature. For example, at Cricket, we offer Hotspot Data which can be added to most Cricket plans.

What's the difference between SIM and eSIM?

Short answer:

  • SIM: Physical card that identifies your line on a network it’s sometimes called pSIM, meaning physical SIM. 
  • eSIM: Digital SIM built into the device, which is activated by software. 

Both SIM and eSIM do the same job: they tell the network who you are and what line/plan your device should use. A physical SIM can be moved from phone to phone, while an eSIM is downloaded/activated digitally.

What's the difference between an unlocked and a locked Phone?

Short answer:

  • Unlocked: Works with multiple carriers (if compatible.)
  • Locked: Restricted to a specific carrier until unlocked.

A locked phone is tied to one carrier, meaning you typically can’t activate it on a different carrier’s network. An unlocked phone gives you more flexibility to switch carriers, add a second line, or use a local SIM/eSIM when traveling.

What's the difference between coverage and signal strength?

  • Coverage: Whether service exists in an area at all.
  • Signal strength: How strong/usable your connection is where you are.

What's the difference between throttling and deprioritization?

Short answer:

  • Throttling: Your data speed is intentionally capped after a set limit.
  • Deprioritization: You may slow down when the network is busy.

Don’t get throttled! Throttling is when a network slows down your data after it hits its limit or “cap.” It’s important you know what your data limit is because if you go over, you may be subject to throttling. Deprioritization is situational. You could notice slowdowns in crowded areas or peak times because other traffic gets priority. See our blog post How to Pick the Best Wireless Plan for your Family for more information.

What's the difference between a warranty and phone insurance/protection plans?

Short answer:

  • Warranty: Covers manufacturing defects.
  • Protection plans/phone insurance: Generally more comprehensive than a manufacturer’s warranty. Phone insurance or protection plans can cover major accidents, loss or theft, as well as more common accidents such as a cracked screen, liquid damage, or hardware issues.

Details on protection plans, phone insurance, and warranties vary significantly, so make sure you check with your provider or insurance company to see what’s covered before an accident happens. Cricket Protect can be added to any of our monthly unlimited plans.

What's the difference between reset and a restart?

Short version:

  • Restart/reboot: Turns the phone off and back on (keeps your data.)
  • Reset (factory reset): Erases data and returns to default settings.

And finally, we can’t overstate the importance of knowing these crucial yet diabolically similar-sounding terms. A restart is simply turning your phone on and off. A reset (aka “factory reset”) will erase all data, pics, songs, and files from your phone. Your phone would be exactly like it was the day you brought it home. But lucky for you, you’re a customer in the know, and you’ve already backed up your files to the cloud or an external device, so nothing to worry about!

Now you can cut through the buzzwords and focus on what matters most — phone coverage where you live and work, the right amount of data, and features you’ll use every day. Bookmark this page and refer to it for your next purchase. Wireless doesn’t have to be confusing. You can save money and frustration now that you know the language.