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Wireless Internet Information

Common Terms and Abbreviations

Wireless Internet Information is a glossary of common wireless internet terms and abbreviations you may see as you explore wireless internet. You don't really need to know what all this stuff means to have and enjoy wireless internet.

I still don't know what a lot of it is, and I don't really want to know. I want to turn on my computer and have it give me fast, reliable wireless internet.

Sometimes you might run into some of these terms and need to know in order to put what you are reading into the right context. Maybe you just want to impress your friends with your understanding of useless information? Wireless Internet Information - Terms and Abbreviations

Either way, here is a of common terms you might see.

This is by no means a complete listing but should be enough to help you understand the basics. At the bottom of the page are some of the sources used in compiling this list if you find you need more information or the (ugh) technical explanation.

802.11 (802.11b) (802.11g) (802.11n)
Also known as Wi-Fi -- an over-the-air interface between a wireless client and a base station or between two wireless clients. It applies to wireless LANS and provides 11 Mbps transmission, allowing wireless functionality comparable to Ethernet. 802.11 defines the standard for wireless LANs encompassing three incompatible (non-interoperable) technologies: Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS), Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS), and Infrared.

Access Fee
A 3% federal excise tax carriers are allowed to charge wireless subscribers for the right to connect with the local telephone network. Wireless subscribers are charged a monthly access fee whether they use the telephone or not.

Access Point
In a wireless local area network (WLAN), an access point is a device that serves as a communications hub to provide a wireless connection to a wireless-enabled computer. It connects users within the network and can also serve as the point of interconnection between the WLAN and a fixed wire network. Each access point can serve multiple users within a defined network area; as people move beyond the range of one access point, they are automatically handed over to the next one.

Authentication
A practice used by wireless carriers to reduce fraudulent use of a telephone by confirming the identity of the telephone prior to call completion. The wireless telephone's Electronic Serial Number (ESN) is used for authentication.

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Bandwidth
The transmission capacity of a computer channel or communications line, or the amount of information that a communications system can carry. Bandwidth is expressed in cycles per second (Hertz), the bandwidth being the difference between the lowest and the highest frequencies transmitted. Bandwidth is also expressed in bits per second (bps) or bytes per second (Bps).

Bit
The smallest or basic unit in the digital representation of information, a bit can be thought of a binary digit taking the value of 1 or 0.

BPS / Bits Per Second
Transmission rate for data.

Bluetooth
The code name for a new wireless technology being developed by Ericsson, Intel, Nokia, Toshiba and IBM, that enables data connections between devices such as desktop computers, wireless telephones, electronic organizers, and printers in the 2.4 GHz range

Broadband
A high-speed, high-capacity transmissions channel. Broadband channels are carried on coaxial or fiber-optic cables that have a wider bandwidth than conventional telephone lines, giving them the ability to carry video, voice, and data simultaneously. Broadband is often used to send different types of signals simultaneously.

Browser
A software application that enables its user to access and interact with much of the wireless internet information available on the Internet or World Wide Web.

Byte
A byte is a sequence of bits (usually 8) which represents a single character, such as a letter of the alphabet, a decimal digit, or a punctuation mark.

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Cache
A dedicated bank of high-speed memory or a reserved section of regular memory used to improve performance. The cache provides a temporary storage area for instructions and data that perform closer to the CPU's speed. Generally, the larger the cache, the faster the performance, since there is a greater chance that the instructions or data requested are already in the cache. Sometimes, caches are created and never cleared; cache and semaphore buildups are primary reasons for server "slowness" and restarts.

Cookies
In computing and the Internet, the collective name for files stored on your computer's hard drive that hold information about your browsing habits, user preferences, the last page you visited, login or registration information, "shopping cart" information, and other wireless internet information a Web designer decides to save for future use. Cookies are usually set to expire after a predetermined time.

Coverage Area
The geographical area served by all cells within a wireless system. Some coverage areas are called expanded coverage areas because they encompass multiple wireless systems.

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Dial Up
A configuration where a modem and the Public Switched Telephone Network are used to establish a non-dedicated connection to the Internet or other network. Non-dedicated implies that the connection is established as needed, and then released when service is no longer required.

Digital
Transmission method for wireless service. Voice conversations are converted to binary code, then transmitted and reconstructed for the receiver on the other end. Allows for much greater transmission capacity, as well as increased security for conversations.

Domain
An Internet domain consists of a set of network addresses organized into levels for purposes of identification, routing, and information delivery. The top level generally identifies a type of organization (e.g. ".com" for commercial, ".org" for non-commercial , and ".net" for communications network) or a geographic location such as a country. The second level identifies a unique place within the top level grouping and is equivalent to a unique address on the Internet.

Downlink
Most data-communication connections are bi-directional. The direction toward the remote user is referred to as the "downlink". The direction away from the remote user is referred as the "uplink".

Driver
A driver is a program that controls a device; it acts as a translator between the device and programs that use the device.

DSL
A family of technologies that provides digital data transmission over the wires of a local telephone network. DSL originally stood for digital subscriber loop. In telecommunications marketing, the term Digital Subscriber Line is widely understood to mean Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL), the most commonly installed technical varieties of DSL. DSL service is delivered simultaneously with regular telephone on the same telephone line. This is possible because DSL uses a higher frequency.

Dual Band
Dual band mobile phones can work on networks operating on two different frequency bands. Often urban areas operate on 1800, while suburbs use the 900 band. Dual band phones are especially useful if you travel abroad. Some phones, known as tri-band phones, are able to switch between GSM 900, 1800, and 1900 allowing you full coverage in Europe, America and Asia.

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EDGE
EDGE (Enhanced Data for Global Evolution) is the next step in the evolution of GSM following the release of GPRS, offering two to three times higher data rate capabilities in the existing spectrum. The maximum data rate (per timeslot) for GPRS is 20 kb/s while EDGE offers 59.2 kb/s. The result is an improvement in loading on the network and increased data throughput per user, which allows for new services to be introduced to our Customers.

Encryption
The process by which communication or subscriber information is combined with the appropriate GSM algorithm, which can only be decoded by a system with the appropriate Ki information. Provides the security for all transmissions over the GSM network.

Ethernet
The most widely used LAN access method, which is defined by the IEEE 802.3 standard. Ethernet is normally a shared media LAN meaning that all devices on the network segment share total bandwidth.

Extranet
An extranet is an external extension of a company's intranet that allows limited, external access to defined portions of the intranet.

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Firewall
A system designed to prevent unauthorized access to or from a private network or computer. Firewalls can be implemented in both hardware and software, or a combination of both. Firewalls are frequently used to prevent unauthorized users from accessing private networks connected to the Internet, especially intranets. They are also used to prevent unauthorized access to computers using Wi-Fi networks.

Frequency
In communications, frequency represents the number of times an signal waveform repeats per second. Frequency is measured in Hertz (Hz).

Frequency Band
A frequency band is a continuous range of frequencies over which a signal waveform or carrier is allowed to vary.

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GHz / Gigahertz
One billion hertz. A hertz is the international unit for measuring frequency, equivalent to the older unit of cycles per second. The standard U.S. electrical power frequency is 60 Hz and wireless 802.11 LANs operate at 2.4 GHz.

GSM / Global System for Mobile Communications
GSM technology is the international digital radio standard created by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute. Developed to allow users to roam freely among markets, GSM has become the globally accepted standard since the first systems began commercial operation in 1991. In the United States, GSM-based PCS 1900 has been accepted by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) as a standard for the PCS frequencies allocated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) at 1900 MHz. The GSM system accounts for approximately 55 percent of the world's wireless market, and 65 percent of the total digital wireless market. GSM's proven feature-rich, dominant digital technology and use of SIMs (also known as "smart cards") provide customers with integrated voice, high speed data, fax, paging, and text message capabilities. With full digitally encrypted wireless communications, voice and data calls are private and confidential. GSM technology offers excellent sound quality, too; independent laboratory and field-test reports validate GSM's near-wireline parity.

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Handheld
A compact electronic device whose primary purpose is to store personal database information such as appointments, addresses, and notes. Many handhelds offer phone functionality and the ability to access wireless internet information via WAP and/or HTML browsers. Sometimes called "PDA" or "personal digital assistant".

Hands-Free
An accessory or feature that allows you to use your phone without holding it in your hand. Hands-free headsets, for example, allow you to use your hands for more important tasks--such as keeping them on the wheel while driving.

Hz / Hertz
A unit of measurement for frequency of a cyclical waveform or repeating signal which is equal to one cycle per second. The unit of measurement is named after Heinrich Rudolf Hertz (1857-1894); a German physicist who was the first to produce radio waves artificially.

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Kb / Kilobit
A term denoting 1024 bits

KB / Kilobyte
A term denoting 1024 bytes, roughly equal to 8 kilobits

Kbps / Kilobits Per Second
A measure of data transfer speed

KHz / Kilohertz
A unit of measurement for frequency equal to 1000 Hertz

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LAN / Local Area Network
A communications network that serves users within a confined geographical area, such as an office, a building, or campus. A LAN consists of servers, workstations, a network operating system, and a communications link.

Landline
Traditional telephone service provided on copper circuits or other circuits which are land-based (either aerial, buried, or trans-oceanic)

LNP / Local Number Portability
The ability of subscribers to switch local or wireless carriers while retaining the telephone number from the original carrier.

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Mb / Megabit
A term denoting approximately one million bits. There is some argument as to whether a megabit should signify one million bits or 1,048,576 bits since the latter number more closely adheres to the binary arithmetic that lies at the heart of computer technology. On the other hand "mega" has long signified one million in the decimal system and is most widely understood in this way.

MB / Megabyte
A standard measure of data size. A megabyte is equal to 1024 kilobytes(KB).

Mbps / Megabits Per Second
The rate of transfer of data as measured in megabits.

MHz / Megahertz
In wireless communications, a unit of radio frequency measurement equal to one million Hertz. In computers, megahertz is used to mean one million clock cycles per second.

MMS / Multi-Media Messaging Service
Similar to text messaging but with higher bandwidth capabilities. This technology can be used to wireless internet information in the form of text, audio, and graphics to mobile phones.

Modem
A device which converts digital signals generated by a computer into analog signals for transmission over telephone lines, and then convert the same analog signal into a digital signal so that it may be used by the receiving computer. The term modem is short for modulator-demodulator.

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Network
Two or more computers connected together in order to share resources.

Off Peak
The time after the business day that wireless carriers may offer airtime at reduced rates.

OTA / Over The Air
Physical programming of a telephone (sometimes performed in the retail store where purchased) is not necessary; instead, the wireless internet information; programming is done over the air, electronically.

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PCMCIA Card
Stands for Personal Computer Memory Card International Association, also called a PC Card. A credit-card sized device that was originally designed as a platform for add-on memory for portable computers, but later expanded to include a wide range of peripherals including pagers and radio modems.

PDF
Portable Document Format or Portable Document File is an open standard for document exchange. The file format was created by Adobe Systems in 1993 and is used for representing documents in a manner independent of the application software, hardware, and operating system.

Peak
The time of the business day (between 7:00 am and 9:00 p.m.) when a wireless system carries the most traffic and customers can expect to pay the full-service rate

PIN / Personal Identity Number
A password of several digits used in relation with smart cards.

PIM / Personal Information Management
Applications that provide an individual with support for organizing and storing personal and business related information. These applications may take the form of schedulers (e.g.: Outlook), address books, notepads, to do lists, etc.

POP3
A protocol used to retrieve e-mail from a server. Earthlink and NetZero are examples of POP3-based e-mail services. POP3 stands for "Post Office Protocol, Version 3".

Port Number
TCP and UDP provide an address mechanism, the port number, for identifying different applications communicating from the same IP address. Thus an active Web browser and an independently active mail program operating from the same IP location would typically use different port numbers so that packets are correctly delivered to specific applications.

Prorate
A proportional charge relating to the amount of service a customer uses; for example, you are only charged monthly access for the days a particular service was available to you.

Proxy
In an enterprise that uses the Internet, a proxy server is a server that acts as an intermediary between a workstation user and the Internet so that the enterprise can ensure security, administrative control, and caching service.

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QWERTY
A standard typewriter keyboard.

RF / Radio Frequency
A generic term for radio-based technology. The international unit for measuring radio frequency is Hertz (Hz), which is equivalent to the older unit of cycles per second.

Range
A linear measure of the distance that a transmitter can send a signal.

Rate Plan
A contract between a wireless carrier and a wireless subscriber that details the terms of the wireless service including activation fees, access charges, and per-minute usage. Rate plans provide cost-effective pricing for different types and amounts-of-usage by the subscriber.

ROUTER -- see Wireless Internet Router

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Secure Server
A network-accessible computer that uses SSL (secure socket layers) for encryption to allow private online transactions. Encryption protects on online shopper's credit or debit card and other personal information from being compromised during e-commerce transactions.

SSL / Secure Socket Layer
A protocol for transmitting private documents via the Internet. SSL works by using a private key to encrypt data that's transferred over the SSL connection. Web sites use the protocol to obtain confidential user information, such as credit card numbers. By convention, Web pages that require an SSL connection start with https:// instead of http//:

Serial Cable
A cable used to connect devices through a computer's serial port.

Serial Port
Also known as a communications port or COM port. The serial port is a location for sending and receiving serial data transmissions.

SSID / Service Set Identifier
A common identifier shared by all computers on the same wireless LAN.

SIM / Subscriber Identity Modules
Also known as a smart card. This chip resides in GSM handsets and identifies the caller to the mobile network as a legitimate subscriber. The module stores a mathematical algorithm that encrypts voice and data transmissions, making it nearly impossible to listen to the call or intercept data. You can transfer you SIM from phone to phone, retaining your phonebook and personalized service information.

SMS / Short Messaging Service
A technology used to send wireless internet information; text messages to mobile phones. Also called text messaging.

Sync
Abbreviation of synchronization. Often you can sync a phone with your PC to update e-mail, calendars, and to-do lists.

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T9 Predictive Text input
Software that enables users to easily enter text into small devices with limited size keyboards, like mobile phones. T9 Text Input replaces the traditional "multi-tap" method of entering text providing the ability to enter text using only one keystroke per letter.

Text Messaging
Short messages that can be sent from and received on your phone. You can communicate whenever, wherever, and with anyone who has a wireless phone or an e-mail address.

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Uplink
Most data-communication connections are bi-directional. The direction toward the remote user is referred to as the "downlink". The direction away from the remote user is referred as the "uplink".

URL / Uniform Resource Locator
A combination of a protocol (such as http://), host name, port (optional), path, and resource name. The URL uniquely identifies a resource on the Internet.

USB Cable
A cable allowing a connection between peripheral devices and computers. USB is a more flexible interface standard than the older serial port and supports data transfer rates of 12 Mbps. A single USB port can be used to connect up to 127 peripheral devices.

USB Port
A location for connecting peripheral devices and computers. USB is a more flexible interface standard than the older serial port and supports data transfer rates of 12 Mbps. A single USB port can be used to connect up to 127 peripheral devices.

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VPN / Virtual Private Network
A non-public connection between two computers that sends private corporate data over a shared or public network such as the Internet. VPNs can also be used to give subscribers, clients, and consultants access to corporate resources with security features that can include encryption, authentication, and tunneling.

VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol)
Describes the process of transmitting voice via data IP packages.

WAN
wide area network -- A communications system used to connect computers and other devices across a large area.

WAP / Wireless Application Protocol
This technology standard formats wireless internet information (data) so that it can be sent to and read by mobile devices. Overcoming the constraints of (relatively) slow and intermittent nature of wireless links for mobile communications, together with the limited screen size and computing power of mobile devices, is the central goal of WAP technology.

WAP Browser
A browser designed to run on mobile computing or communications devices that adheres to WAP standards and gives the user access to WAP services and WAP-compatible Web sites.

Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi, or wireless fidelity, is a term that is used generically to refer to any product or service using any type of 802.11 technology. Wi-Fi networks operate in the unlicensed 2.4 and 5 GHz radio bands, with an 11 Mbps (802.11b) or 54 Mbps (802.11a) data rate, respectively. Wi-Fi enabled devices (laptops or PDAs) can send and receive wireless internet information wirelessly from any location equipped with Wi-Fi access.

Wireless
Using the radio-frequency spectrum for transmitting and receiving voice, data, and video signals

WISP / Wireless Internet Service Provider
Like a traditional Internet service provider (ISP), a WISP provides access to the Internet to its customers for a fee. A WISP provides a wireless connection and provides faster speeds than a dial-up connection.

WLAN / Wireless Local Area Network
A flexible data communication system implemented as an extension to or as an alternative for a wired LAN within a building or campus. Using electromagnetic waves, WLANs transmit and receive data over the air, minimizing the need for wired connections.

WYSIWYG
What You See Is What You Get

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Resources:

A lot more of this information can be found on Wikipedia.org if you are so inclined to dig around and read the technical stuff.

The easiest way to find an explanation if you need one is to type the term into Google.

Your mobile internet provider will often have a page buried on their website that has the boring technical explanations pertaining to your specific service. Not a lot of people read the fine print, and this stuff qualifies as fine print.

Did you find this information useful?
Contact me with your questions, comments, and suggestions!

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