| Term |
Explanation |
| 3G |
The next generation of wireless
technology beyond personal communications services. |
| Bandwidth |
The speed
at which data is transmitted across networks. It identifies
the maximum data rate a signal can attain on the medium. |
| BPS |
Bits Per Second. A rate
that shows how fast binary digits can be sent through
a channel. |
| Bluetooth |
A wireless
technology that enables a short-range wireless link for
PDAs and mobile phones. Bluetooth offers fast and reliable
digital transmissions of both voice and data. |
| Carrier |
A company that provides
a communications service. |
|
CDMA
|
Code Division
Multiple Access. A spread spectrum air interface technology
used in some digital cellular, personal communications
services and other wireless networks. |
| CDPD |
CDPD stands for Cellular
Digital Packet Data. It is also referred to as "wireless
IP" and is a method of sending and receiving information
via mobile devices. |
| Cradle |
A stand
that your PDA sits in while information is exchanged with
your PC. |
| Cache |
Place where temporary WAP
pages are stored. |
| GSM |
Global
System for Mobile Communications. Digital cellphone system
used through Europe based on TDMA (Time Division Multiple
Access - a digital communication technology). Data transfer
rates of 9.6 kbps. |
| Hot Sync Mode |
A method by which a mobile
device is connected by cradle/bay or cable to a desktop/notebook
computer in order to perform synchronizations. Synchronizations
update data or information from an external source to
the mobile device. |
| iMode |
iMode
is a brand and a service of wireless Internet connection
at the touch of a button on a cell phone. NTT DoCoMo[1]started
this service in February 1999 in Japan and obtained over
six million subscribers 14 month later. |
| LCD |
Liquid Crystal Display. Often found on a wireless handset,
this flat panel screen is used to display characters
and/or numbers.
|
| Offline
mode |
A disconnected
state that does not have an active connection and is not
receiving data or information in real-time. |
| Operating
System |
The OS
acts as a bridge, linking your PDA hardware with various
software applications. |
| PDA |
Personal
Digital Assistant. A portable computing device capable
of storing and transmitting data. |
| Roaming |
This feature allows the
operator of a mobile phone to maintain radio communications
while traveling outside of your usual service area. |
| Serial Port |
Can be used to send information
from a desktop computer to a PDA. |
| Sync,
Synchronize |
See "Hot
Sync Mode" |
| SMS |
Short Message Service. A
feature of PCS phones (primarily GSM) that allows users
to receive and sometimes transmit short text messages
using their wireless phone. |
| USB Connection |
Another
option for transferring info to a PDA from a desktop computer.
Works faster than a serial port. |
| XML |
Extensible Markup Language.
A programming language where XML is a subset of SGML (Standardized
Generalized Markup Language). |
| WAP |
The WAP
(Wireless Application Protocol) is a specification for
a set of communication protocols to standardize the way
that wireless devices, such as cellular telephones and
radio transceivers, can be used for Internet access, including
e-mail, the World Wide Web, newsgroups, and Internet Relay
Chat (IRC). |
| Wireless |
Using the radio-frequency
spectrum for transmitting and receiving voice, data and
video signals for communications. |
| Wi-Fi
(Wireless Fidelity) |
A wireless
data networking protocol generally used to connect PCs
and laptops to a network. Also known as 802.11b and WLAN
(Wireless LAN), it is the most common means of wireless
networking and operates at 2.4 GHz. |
| WISP |
Wireless Internet Service
Provider. Can also be referred to as a portal. |
| WML |
Wireless
Markup Language. Formerly called HDML (Handheld Devices
Markup Language), is a language that allows the text portions
of Web pages to be presented on cellular phones and personal
digital assistants (PDAs) via wireless access. |