Mobile Computing Definitions

This glossary explains the meaning of key words and phrases that information technology (IT) and business professionals use when discussing mobile computing and related software products. You can find additional definitions by visiting WhatIs.com or using the search box below.

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  • P

    push notification

    Push notification, also called server push notification, is the delivery of information from a software application to a computing device without a specific request from the client.

  • What is a personal area network (PAN)?

    A personal area network (PAN) is a small network that interconnects technology devices within a limited range of just a few meters.

  • R

    real-time location system (RTLS)

    A real-time location system (RTLS) is one of a number of technologies used to pinpoint the current geographic position and location of a target.

  • remote wipe

    Remote wipe is a security feature that allows a network administrator or device owner to send a command that remotely deletes data from a computing device.

  • resonance charging

    Resonance charging is a wireless charging method for items that require large amounts of power, such as an electric car, robot, vacuum cleaner or laptop computer. The method works over small distances (3-5 meters)... (Continued)

  • RMON (Remote Network Monitoring)

    RMON (Remote Network Monitoring) provides standard information that a network administrator can use to monitor, analyze, and troubleshoot a group of distributed local area networks (LANs) and interconnecting T-1/E-1 and T-2/E-3 lines from a central site.

  • RPC over HTTP

    Remote Procedure Call over HTTP (RPC over HTTP) is a Microsoft protocol that enables Microsoft Outlook clients to access Microsoft Exchange servers over HTTP.

  • S

    Samsung Galaxy

    Samsung Galaxy is a product line of Android smartphones, tablets and internet of things devices manufactured by Samsung Electronics.

  • satellite

    A satellite is any object that orbits something else, as, for example, the Earth orbits the sun.

  • short message service center (SMSC)

    The short message service center (SMSC) is the portion of a mobile phone network that handles text message operations.

  • sideloading

    Sideloading is the installation of an application on a mobile device without using the device's official application distribution method.

  • SIM card

    A SIM card, also known as a subscriber identity module, is a smart card that stores identification information that pinpoints a smartphone to a specific mobile network.

  • Siri

    Siri is Apple's virtual assistant for iOS, macOS, tvOS and watchOS devices that uses voice recognition and is powered by artificial intelligence (AI).

  • smartphone

    A smartphone is a cellular telephone with an integrated computer and other features not originally associated with telephones, such as an operating system (OS), web browsing and the ability to run software applications.

  • smishing (SMS phishing)

    Smishing -- or Short Message Service (SMS) phishing -- is a social engineering tactic cybercriminals use to trick people into divulging sensitive information over text messages.

  • SMS gateway

    An SMS gateway is a website that allows users to send SMS messages from a web browser to people within the cell served by that gateway. An SMS gateway can also serve as an international gateway for users with roaming capability, allowing SMS communication away from the home network.

  • SMS spam (cell phone spam or short messaging service spam)

    SMS spam (sometimes called cell phone spam) is any junk message delivered to a mobile phone as text messaging through the Short Message Service (SMS). The practice is fairly rare in North America, but has been common in Japan for years. In 2001-2002, the systems at DoCoMo, the country's major service provider, were overcome by the volume of SMS spam, causing users' screens to freeze and spreading programs that caused the phones to dial emergency numbers.

  • Snapchat

    Snapchat is a mobile app that allows users to send and receive "self-destructing" photos and videos. Photos and videos taken with the app are called snaps.

  • spectrum efficiency

    Spectrum efficiency describes the amount of data transmitted over a given spectrum or bandwidth with minimum transmission errors.

  • What is an SSID (service set identifier)?

    An SSID (service set identifier) is a sequence of characters that uniquely names a Wi-Fi network. An SSID is sometimes referred to as a network name.

  • What is SMS (Short Message Service)?

    SMS (Short Message Service), commonly referred to as 'text messaging,' is a service for sending short messages of up to 160 characters (224 character limit if using a 5-bit mode) to mobile devices, including cellular phones, smartphones and tablets.

  • T

    tablet (tablet PC)

    A tablet is a wireless, portable personal computer with a touchscreen interface.

  • telecommuting

    Telecommuting allows an employee to complete work assignments from outside the traditional workplace using telecommunications tools such as email, phone, chat and video apps.

  • Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP)

    Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP) is an encryption protocol included in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11i standard for wireless local area networks (WLANs).

  • text messaging (texting or wireless messaging)

    Text messaging is the act of sending short, alphanumeric communications between cellphones, pagers or other hand-held devices, as implemented by a wireless carrier.

  • tvOS

    TvOS is the operating system that runs on the 4th and 5th generation Apple TV digital media player.

  • U

    unlocked cell phone

    An unlocked cell phone is a cellular telephone that can be used with more than one service provider, allowing a user the flexibility to switch between different networks.

  • unzipping

    Unzipping is the act of extracting the files from a zipped single file or similar file archive.

  • V

    VMware AirWatch

    VMware AirWatch is an enterprise mobility software provider based in Atlanta. AirWatch, a division of virtualization vendor VMware, provides technologies that help IT administrators deploy, secure and manage mobile devices, applications and data, as well as Windows 10 and Apple Mac computers.

  • W

    war driving (access point mapping)

    War driving, also called access point mapping, is the act of locating and possibly exploiting connections to wireless local area networks (WLANs) while driving around a city or elsewhere.

  • wearable technology

    Wearable technology is any kind of electronic device designed to be worn on the user's body.

  • Web texting

    Web texting is two-way text messaging from the Web to a handheld mobile device, usually a cellular phone.

  • What is wireless communications? Everything you need to know

    Wireless communications is the transmission of voice and data without cable or wires.

  • WhatsApp

    WhatsApp is a free cross-platform messaging service.

  • Wi-Fi (802.11x standard)

    Wi-Fi is a term for certain types of wireless local area networks (WLAN) that use specifications in the IEEE 802.11 family of standards.

  • Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA)

    Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) is a security standard for computing devices equipped with wireless internet connections.

  • Wi-Fi range extender (range expander)

    A Wi-Fi range extender is a network device used to increase the effective range of a wireless network.

  • wireless ad hoc network (WANET)

    A wireless ad hoc network (WANET) is a type of local area network (LAN) that is built spontaneously to enable two or more wireless devices to be connected to each other without requiring typical network infrastructure equipment, such as a wireless router or access point.

  • Wireless Application Protocol (WAP)

    Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) is a specification for a set of communication protocols to standardize the way wireless devices, such as mobile phones and radio transceivers, can be used for internet access, including email, the web, newsgroups and instant messaging.

  • wireless backhaul

    Wireless backhaul is the use of wireless communication systems to transport data between the internet and subnetworks.

  • wireless broadband (WiBB)

    Wireless broadband (WiBB) is high-speed internet and data service delivered through a wireless local area network (WLAN) or wireless wide area network (WWAN).

  • wireless charging

    Wireless charging is any of several methods of charging batteries without the use of cables. The three main methods of wireless charging are radio charging, resonance charging and inductive charging... (Continued)

  • wireless distribution system (WDS)

    A wireless distribution system (WDS) is a method of interconnecting access points (AP) in a wireless local area network (WLAN) without requiring that they connect through a wired backbone.

  • wireless ISP (wireless Internet service provider or WISP)

    A wireless internet service provider (WISP) is an internet service provider (ISP) that allows subscribers to connect to the internet at designated hot spots or access points using a wireless connection such as Wi-Fi.

  • Wireless Transport Layer Security (WTLS)

    Wireless Transport Layer Security (WTLS) is a security level for the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP), specifically for the applications that use WAP.