wireless glossary
The following terms are some of the most widely used in the wireless communications industry. For more information, see each full definition in this publication.
1G
First generation wireless: analog cellphones. See cellular generations.
2G
Second generation wireless: digital cellphones. See cellular generations.
2.5G, 2G+
Interim stage between 2G and 3G, providing faster data services. See cellular generations.
3G
Third generation wireless: digital plus high-speed data and global roaming. Known as IMT-2000 by the ITU and implemented in Europe as UMTS and CDMA2000 in North America. Goals are high-quality multimedia and advanced global roaming (inhouse, cellular, satellite, etc.). See cellular generations.
802.1X
IEEE standard for authentication. See 802.1X.
802.11
IEEE standards for wireless LANs.
802.11a
IEEE standard for wireless LANs at 5 GHz with speeds up to 54 Mbps. See 802.11.
802.11b
IEEE standard for wireless LANs at 2.4 GHz with speeds up to 11 Mbps. See 802.11.
802.11g
IEEE standard for wireless LANs at 2.4 GHz with speeds up to 54 Mbps. See 802.11.
802.11i
IEEE standard for wireless security. Supersedes WEP and WPA. See 802.11i.
802.11n
IEEE standard for wireless LANs at 108 Mbps and higher. Uses MIMO technology. See 802.11n and MIMO.
802.15
IEEE standards for wireless PANs (WPAN). See 802.15.
802.16
IEEE standards for fixed wireless ("last mile"). See 802.16.
access point
A base station that plugs into an Ethernet hub, switch or server. Like a cellular phone system cell, users can roam between access points. See wireless LAN.
air interface
An air modulation scheme, equivalent to physical layer in OSI model. See air interface.
AMPS
Analog Mobile Phone System - Analog cellphone system in U.S. See AMPS.
AMPS modem
A wireless modem designed for analog cellular phones. See AMPS.
ARDIS
Prior name of DataTAC network. See DataTAC.
authentication server
A server that contains usernames and passwords and authorizes access to the network. See 802.1X.
authenticator
The device that allows or blocks access to the network. See 802.1X.
Bluetooth
Wireless personal area network (PAN) standard geared for home and office. Uses 2.4 GHz band at 720 Kbps within 30 foot range. See Bluetooth.
broadband wireless
High-speed wireless transmission. See wireless broadband.
CDMA
(Code Division Multiple Access) QUALCOMM's spread spectrum air interface method. It codes each conversation expanding it 128 times, which makes it easy to decipher at receiving end. See CDMA.
cdmaONE
The CDMA Development Group's trademark for CDMA networks. See IS-95.
CDMA2000
A 3G technology that provides up to 2.4 Mbps for voice and data. See CDMA2000.
CDPD
(Cellular Digital Packet Data) Packet overlay on analog cellphone network. Provides 19.2 Kbps and deployed by AT&T and several other carriers. See CDPD.
DataTAC
Low-speed packet data network from Motient noted for its deep penetration within buildings (formerly ARDIS). See DataTAC.
DECT
European cordless telephone standard. See DECT.
dispatch radio
Two-way radio used for taxis, trucks and fleets. Always on. See two-way radio.
dual-mode handset
Cellphone that switches from analog to digital or from land based to satellite or from cordless to cellular.
EDGE
(Enhanced Data rates for Global Evolution) Increased data throughput in GSM and TDMA systems to 384 Kbps. See cellular generations.
FSO
(Free Space Optics) Using infrared lasers to transmit through the air. See FSO.
Globalstar
Second major LEO-based global communications system. Initially for voice, it was launched in late 1999. See Globalstar.
GPRS
(General Packet Radio Service) Adding IP packets to GSM. See cellular generations.
GSM
(Global System for Mobile Communications) Digital cellphone system used throughout Europe based on TDMA. Introduced SIM card and short messaging (SMS). See GSM.
HDML
(Handheld Device Markup Language) Forerunner of WML, developed by Phone.com.
HDR
(High Data Rate) A high-speed CDMA data technology from QUALCOMM for existing cdmaOne voice networks or new data networks. Provides 2.4 Mbps/384 Kbps asymmetric operation. See HDR.
HIPERLAN
European wireless LAN standard at 24 Mbps in the 5 GHz band. Similar to Ethernet but with quality of service (QoS). See HIPERLAN.
HomeRF
Earlier wireless personal area network (PAN). Used 2.4 GHz band at 1 or 2 Mbps within 150 foot range. See HomeRF.
iDEN
(Integrated Digital Enhanced Network) A wireless system from Motorola that integrates voice, data, short messages and dispatch radio. Used by Nextel and others. See iDEN.
i-Mode
Packet-based information service for mobile phones from NTT DoCoMo (Japan). First to provide Web browsing from cellphones. See i-Mode.
IMT-2000
3G wireless from the ITU. See IMT-2000.
Iridium
The first LEO-based global communications system. Launched in 1998, went into Chapter 11 in 1999 and resurrected in 2000. See Iridium.
IS-54
First-generation TDMA in 1991. See TDMA.
IS-95
Standard for CDMA networks. See CDMA and IS-95.
IS-136
Second-generation TDMA in 1994. Also called "Digital AMPS" or "D-AMPS." See IS-136.
ISM band
(Industrial, Scientific and Medical band) Unlicensed spectrum typically in the 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz and 5.7 GHz bands. Requires spread spectrum techniques at 1 watt. See ISM band.
ITFS
(Instructional TV Fixed Service) Licensed spectrum in the 2.5-2.6 GHz band.
LMDS
(Local Multipoint Distribution Service) Licensed spectrum above 20 GHz. Range is about four miles. See LMDS.
MDS
(Multipoint Distribution Service) Licensed spectrum in the 2.1 GHz band.
microbrowser
A Web browser specialized for a smartphone or PDA. See smartphone.
MMDS
(Multipoint Multichannel Distribution Service) Licensed spectrum in the 2.5-2.6 GHz band. Range is 30 miles or more. See MMDS.
MSA
(Metropolitan Service Area) An urban area with at least 50,000 people plus surrounding counties. There are 306 MSAs and 428 RSAs in U.S.
Nextel
Nationwide wireless operator that acquired numerous SMR companies. See Nextel.
NMT
(Nordic Mobile Telephone) First analog cellphone system in 1979 in Scandinavian countries.
NTT DoCoMo
Wireless division of Nippon Telegraph and Telephone, Japan. See NTT DoCoMo.
OpenAir
Earlier wireless LAN standard based on Proxim's RangeLAN2 products. See OpenAir.
Openwave Systems (formerly Phone.com)
Major contributor to WAP and leader in microbrowsers and WAP gateways/application servers. See Openwave.
PAN
(Personal Area Network) A wireless network that serves an individual user. See WPAN.
PCS
(Personal Communications Service) Digital cellphone systems in 2 GHz range. Mostly GSM. See PCS.
PDC
(Personal Digital Communications) Digital cellphone system in Japan. See PDC.
Phone.com
Former name of Openwave Systems. See Openwave.
PHS
(Personal Handyphone System) Microcellular phone service introduced in Japan in mid-1995. See PHS.
RAM network
Earlier name for BellSouth Network. See BellSouth Intelligent Wireless Network.
RangeLAN2
Earlier wireless LAN geared for office from Proxim. See RangeLAN.
Ricochet
Wireless Internet service initially deployed in Silicon Valley, Seattle and Washington, D.C. See Ricochet.
rogue access point
An unauthorized access point either put in place by employees or attackers. See rogue access point.
RSA
(Rural Service Area) There are 428 RSAs and 306 MSAs in the U.S. See MSA.
short messaging
Sending small text messages to cellphones. GSM pioneered Short Message Service (SMS), now used in all digital cellphones. See SMS.
SIM card
Smart card that gives GSM phone its user identity. Allows phones to be easily rented or borrowed. See GSM.
smartphone
A digital cellular phone that has text messaging, Web access and other data services along with voice. See smartphone.
SMR
(Specialized Mobile Radio) Dispatch radio for taxis, trucks and fleets. Nextel aggregated many SMR companies. See SMR and Nextel.
SMS
(Short Messaging Service) GSM coined the phrase, but similar text messaging is used in most digital cellphone systems. See GSM.
supplicant
The client in a wireless authentication session. See 802.1X.
SWAP
(Shared Wireless Access Protocol) Protocol used in HomeRF. See HomeRF.
Symphony
Wireless LAN geared for the home from Proxim. See Symphony.
TACS
(Total Access Communications System) Analog cellphone system in Europe based on AMPS. See TACS.
TDMA
(Time Division Multiple Access) Air interface for digital cellphones that interleaves data in time slots. See TDMA.
UMTS
(Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) European implementation of 3G. See UMTS.
UP.Browser
Former name of Openwave's microbrowser. Versions for HDML and WML are available. See Openwave Mobile Browser.
UP.Link Server
Former name of Openwave's WAP gateway and application server. See Openwave Mobile Access Gateway.
UWC-136
3G data rates for TDMA. See UWC-136.
Velocita Wireless
Nationwide packet network at 8 Kbps. Formerly BellSouth Wireless and Cingular Interactive. See Velocita Wireless and Mobitex.
voice over Wi-Fi
Sending voice over an 802.11 network. See voice over Wi-Fi.
WAP
(Wireless Access Protocol) A wireless communications environment for delivering Web data to wireless terminals with minimal screen display. See WAP.
WAP gateway
Software that takes raw WML data and compiles it for the microbrowser and vice versa. See WAP.
WCDMA
(Wideband CDMA) 3G evolution for GSM carriers. See WCDMA.
WCS
(Wireless Communications Service) Licensed spectrum in the 2.3 GHz band.
Web clipping
Excerpting relevant information from a Web page for display on a smartphone or PDA.
WEP
First 802.11 security protocol, which was superseded by WPA and 802.11i. See WEP.
Wibree
(Wireless Bree) Ultra-low power version of Bluetooth. See Bluetooth.
Wi-Fi
(Wireless Fidelity) Certification for 802.11 wireless compliance. See Wi-Fi Alliance.
WiMAX
(World Interoperability for Microwave Access) Certification for 802.16 fixed wireless broadband service. See WiMAX and wireless broadband.
WIN
(Wireless Intelligent Network) Transaction processing infrastructure for wireless systems. See WIN.
wireless adapter
A device that adds wireless capability to a desktop or laptop machine. Different varieties plug into the PC Card slot, USB port or PCI bus.
wireless bridge
A device used to transmit and receive radio frequencies over the air between two LANs.
wireless broadband
High-speed wireless transmission. See wireless broadband.
wireless energy transfer
Transmitting power to a device over the air. See wireless energy transfer.
wireless gateway
A wireless base station that allows sharing of a single Internet connection. See wireless gateway.
WirelessHD
Transmitting HDTV signals without wires within a room. See WirelessHD.
wireless headset
A telephone headset that transmits wireless to a base station. See headset.
wireless LAN
A local area network that uses radio frequency transmission over the air. Works like a cellular phone system with roaming between cells. See wireless LAN.
wireless modem
Modem and antenna for analog and digital cellphones, CDPD, DataTAC, BellSouth Intelligent Wireless Network, etc. See wireless modem.
wireless portal
A Web site that supports users with smartphones or alphanumeric pagers. See wireless portal.
wireless repeater
A device that extends the range of a wireless signal. See wireless repeater.
wireless reseller
An organization that sells wireless services under its own name, but uses the mobile networks of other service providers.
wireless router
A network device that combines an access point, LAN switch and router. See wireless router.
wireless service provider (WSP)
Any organization that delivers wireless services to its customers.
wireless USB (WUSB)
Wireless version of USB using ultra-wideband (UWB) technology. See wireless USB.
wireless WAN
A wide area network that uses radio frequency transmission of data over the air. It is typically provided by the cellular carriers. See wireless WAN.
WISPr
Technology for making wireless LANs function like a cellphone system. See WISPr.
WLAN
See wireless LAN.
WLIF
(Wireless LAN Interoperability Forum) Earlier membership group that endorsed OpenAir. See WLIF.
WML
(Wireless Markup Language) Language used to design WAP Web pages. See WML.
WMM
(Wi-Fi Multimedia) Prioritization of data in Wi-Fi networks. See Wi-Fi Multimedia.
WPA
(Wi-Fi Protected Access) Wi-Fi Alliance standard for wireless security. Supersedes WEP. WPA provides partial support of 802.11i; WPA2 provides full support. See WPA.
WPAN
(Wireless Personal Area Network) A wireless network that serves an individual user. See WPAN.
WPBX
(Wireless PBX) A PBX that supports cordless telephone calls.
End of Wireless Glossary