| 1XRTT |
A 2.5G network standard that has been adopted by Sprint and Verizon in the US for initial deployments in test markets towards the end of 2001. |
| 2.5G |
Faster than today's wireless networks, but slower than 3G, 2.5G technologies face limited trial deployments in 2001, and are promoted by carriers as stepping stones to eventual 3G deployments. |
| 3G |
An industry term used to describe the next generation of public wireless voice+data networks. To qualify as 3G, a network must meet certain requirements for speed, availability, reliability and other criteria set forth by the International Telecommunications Union. There are many 3G network technologies being developed, generally they are packet-based "always on" networks. |
| 802.11 |
A family of wireless Local Area Network specifications. The 802.11b standard in particular is seeing widespread acceptance and deployment in corporate campuses, and at commercial facilities such as airports and coffee shops that want to offer wireless networking to their patrons. |
| AMPS |
Advanced Mobile Phone Service. A term used for the first generation of analog wireless technology. It is based on waveform transmission unlike digital technologies, which broadcast ones and zeros. |
| Analog |
A traditional method of modulating radio signals allowing the transfer of voice or data information. |
| ATM |
Asynchronous Transfer Mode is a network technology based on transferring data packets of a consistent size. These packets are typically small allowing for high-speed data transmission. |
| Authentication |
The process of identifying an individual, usually based on a user name and password. The process ensures that the individual is who he or she claims to be. |
| Bandwidth |
The size of the network "pipe" or channel for communications in wired networks. In wireless networks, it is determined in part by the range of frequencies that can carry a signal, as well as efficiency of the wireless network for supporting multiple "conversations" on any given frequency. Measured in Kbps or Mbps. |
| Bluetooth |
A short-range wireless specification that allows radio connections between devices within a 10 meter range of each other. Bluetooth is designed as a Personal Area Network technology with a wide variety of theoretical uses … though few products have been released which incorporate the technology. |
| Broadband |
Descriptive term for evolving digital technology that provides consumers a single switch facility offering integrated access to voice, high-speed data service, video demand services, and interactive delivery services. |
| CDMA |
Code Division Multiple Access. US carriers such as Sprint PCS and Verizon use CDMA technology to power their wireless networks. CDMA allows for multiple transmissions to be carried simultaneously on a single ireless channel. CDMA is a 2G wireless technology that is an alternative to GSM - the standard in Europe and Asia. |
| CDPD |
Cellular Digital Packet Data. Allows telecommunications companies to transfer data over existing cellular networks to users. CDPD is a common choice for wireless data in the US currently. |
| Cellular |
General name for analog and digital networks that divide large areas into smaller coverage areas called cells. As a user moves from cell to cell their connection is theoretically handed off without interruption. |
| Cell Splitting |
A method of increasing the capacity of a cellular system by dividing a large cell into two or more smaller cells. |
| Circuit Switched |
A classification for networks where the device connects to the network only when placing or receiving a call, such as with a traditional phone line. Next generation wireless networks will use packet-based networks, which are "always connected." |
| Compression |
Allows for optimization of communication time and storage capacity by reducing the size of the data being transmitted or stored. |
| Digital |
The use of binary code (0s and 1s) to encode information. Today, most wireless phones and networks use digital networks. |
| Dual Band Mobile Phone |
A mobile phone that picks up analog signals when a digital signal fades. The handset operates on both 800 MHz cellular and 1900 MHz PCS frequencies. |
| EDGE |
Enhanced Data for GSM Evolution. A faster technology for GSM and TDMA networks that may offer wireless data transfer of up to 384 Kbps. |
| Encryption |
The process of translating data into a "scrambled" code to prevent the data from being read by unauthorized users. It is the most effective way to provide for data security. |
| GPRS |
General Packet Radio Service. A 2.5G technology being implemented in GSM networks. It is a packet-based "always on" technology with data transfer speeds of up to 114Kbps. |
| GPS |
Global Positioning System. A worldwide navigational satellite system formed by a collection of 24 satellites. The satellites continuously orbit the earth and send digital radio signals back to receivers on earth. Using the signals from three satellites GPS can calculate the longitude and latitude of the receiver based on where the three signals intersect. |
| GSM |
Global Systems for Mobile Communications. A digital cellular or PCS standard for how data is coded and transferred through the wireless spectrum. It is the 2G wireless standard throughout the world - except the US. GSM is an alternative to CDMA. |
| HDML |
Handheld Device Markup Language. Technology based on HTTP, the underlying Web protocol, that allows for the display of text versions of web pages on wireless devices. |
| I-Mode |
A very popular service in Japan for transferring packet based data to handheld devices. It is based on a compact version of HTML and does not use WAP standards. AT&T Wireless and the creator of I-Mode - NTT DoCoMo - may bring the I-Mode service to the US in the future. |
| IDEN |
Integrated Digital Enhanced Network. A TDMA based technology that allows users to access phone calls, two way radio transmissions, paging and data transmissions on one device. Developed by Motorola, the Nextel service in North America uses it, as do some carriers in South America and parts of Asia. |
| Interoperability |
The ability of software and hardware from different vendors to share data across different platforms. |
| Infrared |
The ability to transmit data via light waves. This allows the information to move from one device to another without the use of wires. |
| Packet |
A way of organizing data for transmission to break larger data streams up into smaller bundles that are pieced back together by the recipient based on header, text, and trailer information in each packet. Packet based networks are typically "always on" and do not require the user to initiate a dial-in to connect to the server. |
| PCS |
Personal Communication Services. A general category for two way digital networks with integrated voice, data, and messaging capabilities. |
| PDA |
Personal Digital Assistant. A small computing device based on the Microsoft Pocket PC standard or Palm OS. Generally PDA means the same as "handheld," a term that is more frequently used as the devices have taken on a growing role in corporate computing. Typically available with embedded Email, calendaring, address book, tasks, and memo applications. 3rd party and custom developed software can extend the functionality of the device. |
| Smartcard |
Small credit card-sized device that stores electronic data. |
| Smartphone |
A combination of a mobile phone and a PDA. Smartphones differ from normal phones in that they have an open operating system and local storage, so that the user or corporation can add information and applications to the phone as they could with a PDA. |
| SMS |
Short Messaging Service. A service through which users can send text based messages from one device to another. The message is limited to 160 characters. This is typically the delivery mechanism for "Email" to digital phones today. The Email is converted to an SMS message, truncated to 160 characters, and delivered to the user's handset. |
| Telematics |
Integrating wireless technologies and communications into vehicle monitoring devices. |
| TCP/IP |
Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol is the standard for communicating data over networks. Includes being the protocol for transmitting data between hosts on the internet. |
| TDMA |
Time Division Multiple Access. A wireless technology that allows for increased bandwidth over digital cellular networks. Similar to CDMA, the call stream is broken into fragments so that multiple calls can take place over a single frequency. |
| WAP |
Wireless Application Protocol. A set of protocols that provide optimized web access on digital wireless devices such as mobile phones. WAP is designed to work over existing wireless networks including CDMA and GSM, and typically involves a WAP microbrowser on the device and a WAP gateway server at the carrier facility to connect to the Internet. |
| Wireless Spectrum |
A band of frequencies where wireless signals travel carrying voice and data information. Wireless spectrum is typically auctioned or assigned to carriers by each national government. |
| WML |
Wireless Markup Language. A version of HDML, WML is based on XML and will run with its own version of JavaScript. Wireless application developers use WML to re-purpose content for wireless devices. WML is the markup standard associated with the WAP protocols. |
| XML |
Extensible Markup Language. A technology that is rapidly becoming the global method of choice for creating web content. It operates over multiple devices and network platforms. |
