Wireless and mobile
Terms related to wireless and mobile technology, including definitions about consumer mobile technology devices and communication technologies such as Wi-Fi, WiMAX and LTE.SIN - WIN
- single-user MIMO - Single-user MIMO (SU-MIMO) is a multi-transmitter and receiver technology that lets a wireless access point send multiple, simultaneous data streams to one compatible endpoint at a time.
- SIP trunking (Session Initiation Protocol trunking) - Session Initiation Protocol trunking is a service offered by a communications service provider that uses the protocol to provision voice over IP connectivity between an on-premises phone system and the public switched telephone network.
- Siri - Siri is Apple's personal assistant for iOS, macOS, tvOS and watchOS devices that uses voice recognition and is powered by artificial intelligence (AI).
- SISO (single input, single output) - SISO (single input, single output) refers to a wireless communications system in which one antenna is used at the source (transmitter) and one antenna is used at the destination (receiver).
- SMAC (social, mobile, analytics and cloud) - SMAC (social, mobile, analytics and cloud) is the concept that the convergence of four technologies is currently driving business innovation.
- small cell - A small cell is an umbrella term used to describe a miniature radio access point or wireless network base station with a low radio frequency power output, footprint and range.
- Small Office Home Office (SOHO) - In information technology, SOHO is a term for the small office or home office environment and business culture.
- smart home app (home automation app) - A smart home app, sometimes referred to as a home automation app or a smart home automation app, is an application used to remotely control and manage connected non-computing devices in the home, typically from a smartphone or tablet.
- smart lock - A smart lock is an electronic and mechanical locking device that opens wirelessly with an authorized users’ authentication.
- smart speaker - A smart speaker is a wireless and smart audio playback device that uses several types of connectivity for additional functions.
- smartphone - A smartphone is a cellular telephone with an integrated computer and other features not originally associated with telephones, such as an operating system, web browsing and the ability to run software applications.
- smartphone sensor - A smartphone sensor is any one of a number of different types of sensing devices installed on a user's phone to gather data for various user purposes, often in conjunction with a mobile app.
- smartwatch - A smartwatch is a wearable computing device that closely resembles a wristwatch or other time-keeping device.
- SMiShing (SMS phishing) - SMiShing is a mobile phone security attack in which the user is tricked into downloading a Trojan horse, virus or other malware onto his phone.
- 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.
- 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).
- sniff subrating - Sniff subrating is a Bluetooth feature designed to increase battery life as much as 500 percent for devices whose typical usage involves a significant amount of inactive time.
- soft reset - A soft reset is a restart of a device, such as a smartphone, tablet, laptop or personal computer (PC).
- solar-powered laptop - A solar-powered laptop is a notebook computer that uses built-in photo voltaic solar panels to run and recharge its battery.
- SoLoMo (social, local and mobile) - SoLoMo (social, local and mobile) is a term representing the convergence of collaborative, location-based and on-the-go technologies, primarily used for marketing and discovery purposes.
- SoMoClo (social, mobile and cloud) - SoMoClo (social, mobile and cloud) is the convergence of collaborative, on-the-go technologies that allow users to access data and applications from anywhere at any time.
- spectrum analyzer - A spectrum analyzer is a device that measures and displays signal amplitude (strength) as it varies by frequency within its frequency range (spectrum).
- spectrum efficiency - Spectrum efficiency describes the amount of data transmitted over a given spectrum or bandwidth with minimum transmission errors.
- Splashtop - Splashtop is a vendor that sells remote connection software which lets users access their PCs or Macs from other computing devices.
- spray-on antenna - A spray-on antenna is a conductive material that can be sprayed onto nearly any surface to create a thin, lightweight and flexible antenna.
- spread spectrum - Spread spectrum is a form of wireless communications in which the frequency of the transmitted signal is deliberately varied.
- SS7 attack - An SS7 attack is a security exploit that takes advantage of a weakness in the design of SS7 (Signaling System 7) to enable data theft, eavesdropping, text interception and location tracking.
- star network - A star network is a local area network (LAN) topology in which all nodes -- personal computers (PCs), workstations or other devices -- are directly connected to a common central computer that is often referred to as a hub.
- subcarrier - A subcarrier is a secondary modulated signal frequency modulated into the main frequency (the carrier) to provide an additional channel of transmission.
- Sugar - Sugar is a graphical user interface GUI developed for the $100 laptop (XO).
- Surface (Microsoft Surface tablet) - Surface is a line of tablet computers from Microsoft.
- T1 (T-1) - Also see the T-carrier system, of which the T1 is a part.
- talk time - In customer relationship management (CRM), talk time is the amount of time a call center agent spends with a caller during a transaction.
- telecommunications (telecom) - Telecommunications, also known as telecom, is the exchange of information over significant distances by electronic means and refers to all types of voice, data and video transmission.
- telepresence robot - A telepresence robot is a remote-controlled, wheeled device that has wireless internet connectivity.
- telestroke (telestroke services) - Telestroke is a web-based approach to treating stroke victims who have not been admitted to a hospital.
- tethering - Tethering is the practice of using a mobile device (such as a cell phone) as a modem to connect another device (such as a laptop) to the Internet.
- 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.
- thing (in the Internet of Things) - A thing, in the context of the Internet of things (IoT), is an entity or physical object that has a unique identifier, an embedded system and the ability to transfer data over a network.
- Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) - Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) is a digital modulation technique used in digital cellular telephone and mobile radio communication.
- TKIP (Temporal Key Integrity Protocol) - TKIP (Temporal Key Integrity Protocol) is an encryption protocol included as part of the IEEE 802.
- Top searches of 2008 - What were people searching the WhatIs.
- touch screen - A touch screen is a computer display screen that is also an input device.
- transceiver - A transceiver is a combination transmitter/receiver in a single package.
- transponder - A transponder is a wireless communications, monitoring, or control device that picks up and automatically responds to an incoming signal.
- traveling-wave tube (TWT) - A traveling-wave tube (TWT) is a specialized vacuum tube used in wireless communications, especially in satellite systems.
- tropospheric propogation - Radio waves can propagate over the horizon when the lower atmosphere of the earth bends, scatters, and/or reflects the electromagnetic fields.
- tweet - A tweet is a post on Twitter.
- Uber - Uber is a transportation company with an app that allows passengers to hail a ride and drivers to charge fares and get paid.
- UberFLEET - UberFLEET is a smartphone application that allows partners with Uber, a popular rideshare application, to oversee their fleet drivers.
- ubiquitous networking - Ubiquitous networking is the pervasion of communications infrastructure and wireless technologies throughout the environment such that they enable continuous connectivity.
- ultra wideband - Ultra wideband (also known as UWB or as digital pulse wireless) is a wireless technology for transmitting large amounts of digital data over a wide spectrum of frequency bands with very low power for a short distance.
- ultra-mobile personal computer (UMPC or Ultra-mobile PC) - Ultra-mobile PC (UMPC) is a design specification for a hand-held computer that is larger than a PDA but smaller than a laptop.
- ultrabook - An ultrabook is a category of thin and light laptop computers designed to bridge the market gap between tablets and premium notebook PCs.
- UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications Service) - UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications Service) is a third-generation (3G) broadband, packet-based transmission of text, digitized voice, video, and multimedia at data rates up to 2 megabits per second (Mbps).
- unified endpoint management (UEM) - Unified endpoint management (UEM) is an approach to securing and controlling desktop computers, laptops, smartphones and tablets in a connected, cohesive manner from a single console.
- unique device identifier (UDID) - A unique device identifier (UDID) is a 40-character string assigned to certain Apple devices including the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch.
- Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) - UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) is a so-called "third-generation (3G)," broadband, packet -based transmission of text, digitized voice, video, and multimedia at data rates up to and possibly higher than 2 megabits per second (Mbps), offering a consistent set of services to mobile computer and phone users no matter where they are located in the world.
- URL shortening - URL shortening is the translation of a long Uniform Resource Locator (URL) into an abbreviated alternative that redirects to the longer URL.
- USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) - USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) is a GSM (Global System for Mobile) communications protocol that is used to send text messages.
- vehicle to infrastructure (V2I or v2i) - Vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I or V2X) is a communication model that allows vehicles to share information with the components that support a country's highway system.
- vehicle-to-vehicle communication (V2V communication) - Vehicle-to-vehicle communication (V2V communication) is the wireless transmission of data between motor vehicles.
- Venmo - Venmo is a smartphone app that designed to transfer payments from one user to another through connected bank accounts.
- video telephony - Video telephony is full-duplex, real-time audio-visual communication between or among end users.
- Vine (Vine app) - Vine is a free mobile application that enables users to record and share an unlimited number of short, looping video clips with a maximum length of six seconds.
- visible light communication (VLC) - Visible light communication (VLC) is the use of visible light as a method of wirelessly transmitting data.
- VMware AirWatch - VMware AirWatch is an enterprise mobility software provider based in Atlanta.
- VMware Horizon Workspace - VMware Horizon Workspace is enterprise mobility management software that creates a central repository where users can access corporate data, applications and virtual desktops from a variety of endpoint devices.
- VMware Project AppShift - VMware Project AppShift is technology designed to improve the experience of using virtualized Windows and its applications on non-Windows tablets.
- voice activation detection (VAD) - In Voice over IP (VOiP), voice activation detection (VAD) is a software application that allows a data network carrying voice traffic over the Internet to detect the absence of audio and conserve bandwidth by preventing the transmission of "silent packets" over the network.
- voice control (voice assistance) - Voice control, also called voice assistance, is a user interface that allows hands-free operation of a digital device.
- voice morphing - Voice morphing is the software-generated alteration of a person's natural voice.
- voice search - Voice search is a speech recognition technology that allows users to search by saying terms aloud rather than typing them into a search field.
- voice-to-text - Voice-to-text is a type of speech recognition program that converts spoken to written language.
- VoIP phone - A VoIP phone is a hardware- or software-based telephone designed to use voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology to send and receive phone calls over an IP network.
- VPN (virtual private network) - A virtual private network (VPN) is a service that creates a safe, encrypted online connection.
- VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) - VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) is a satellite communications system that serves home and business users.
- WAN (wide area network) - A wide area network (WAN) is a geographically distributed telecommunications network that interconnects multiple local area networks (LANs).
- 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 while driving around a city or elsewhere.
- warchalking (war chalking) - Warchalking is a grass roots effort to create a standard iconography for public Wi-Fi access.
- WAX (Wireless Abstract XML) - Wireless Abstract XML (WAX) is an abstract markup language and associated tools that facilitate wireless application development.
- Web slate - A Web slate is a wireless Internet appliance that consists of a liquid crystal display (LCD) with a touch screen that allows the user to view and interact with Web pages.
- Web texting - Web texting is two-way text messaging from the Web to a handheld mobile device, usually a cellular phone.
- What is 5G? - Fifth-generation wireless (5G) is the latest iteration of cellular technology.
- What is 6G? Overview of 6G networks & technology - 6G (sixth-generation wireless) is the successor to 5G cellular technology.
- WhatsApp - WhatsApp Messenger is a cross-platform instant messaging application that allows iPhone, BlackBerry, Android, Windows Phone and Nokia smartphone users to exchange text, image, video and audio messages for free.
- white space - White space, in a communications context, refers to underutilized portions of the radio frequency (RF) spectrum vacated in the absence of analog broadcast television.
- White Space Wi-Fi (White-Fi) - White space Wi-Fi, also known as White-Fi, specified in IEEE 802.
- Wi-Fi (802.11x standard) - Wi-Fi is the popular term for high-frequency wireless local area network (WLAN) technology and a standard that has gained acceptance in many companies as an alternative to a wired LAN.
- Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) - Wi-Fi 6 is a standard for wireless internet that replaces the 802.
- Wi-Fi Alliance - The Wi-Fi Alliance is a wireless industry organization that exists to promote wireless technologies and interoperability.
- Wi-Fi calling - Wi-Fi calling is a voice service that lets users place and receive calls over a wireless internet connection, as opposed to using a cellular signal.
- Wi-Fi cell phone (cellular-Internet phone or cell-Internet phone) - A Wi-Fi cell phone (also called a cellular-Internet phone or cell-Internet phone) is a wireless telephone set that can automatically switch between conventional cellular and Wi-Fi VoIP modes, even during the course of a conversation.
- Wi-Fi finder (Wi-Fi signal finder, Wi-Fi seeker or Wi-Fi locator) - A Wi-Fi finder, also called a Wi-Fi signal finder, Wi-Fi seeker or Wi-Fi locator, is a miniature electronic device that can determine whether or not a portable computer user is within range of an access point for a wireless local area network (WLAN).
- Wi-Fi HaLow (802.11ah) - HaLow is based on the WiFi Alliance 802.
- 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, sometimes called a range expander, is a type of wireless repeater used to expand the reach of a wireless LAN.
- Wi-Fi Sense - Windows Wi-Fi Sense allows Windows 10 users to get Internet access from public hotspots and private wireless local area networks (WLANs) that have been shared by friends.