w w w. q u a l c o m m .

c o m / e n t e r p r i s e

Wireless
TERMINOLOGY GUIDE
ABOUT QUALCOMM

QUALCOMM is a leader in developing and delivering innovative

digital wireless communications products and services based on
the company’s CDMA digital technology. Today, QUALCOMM is
enabling the rapid deployment of 3G networks, devices and
applications.

Headquartered in San Diego, California, QUALCOMM is a 2003

FORTUNE 500® company and included in the S&P 500 Index.
QUALCOMM is traded on The Nasdaq Stock Market® under the
ticker symbol QCOM.

To learn more about QUALCOMM visit, www.qualcomm.com.

INTRODUCTION

QUALCOMM® Incorporated developed this guide to help you learn

the acronyms and terms frequently used in the wireless
communications industry. We hope that this guide will prove useful
as you define and lead your organization’s wireless data strategy.

To learn more about the innovative ways in which enterprises are

integrating 3G CDMA mobility solutions into their businesses,
please contact us at 1-888-888-8101 or send email to
qc.enterprise@qualcomm.com.

For information on how 3G CDMA can go to work for your business,

visit www.qualcomm.com/enterprise. For additional information on
commercial 3G wireless applications, services and devices, go to
www.3gtoday.com.

i
TERMINOLOGY

1G
First Generation. Wireless networks based on analog technology.
1G wireless networks were designed to carry only voice traffic and
were limited by network capacity constraints. 1G networks were
typically based on AMPS. See also AMPS.

1X
See CDMA2000.

2G
Second Generation. Wireless networks based on digital technology.
2G systems offer increased voice quality and capacity over
1G systems. Historically, 2G systems provided voice and 9.6 to
14.4 Kbps circuit-switched data service. Today, 2G systems are
being replaced by 2.5G and 3G networks.

2.5G
2.5G refers to technology that is more advanced than 2G, but
which does not meet the requirements for 3G. 2.5G technology
is added to a 2G network to provide packet-data service and
data rates that range from 20 to 40 Kbps. In practice, 2.5G is
synonymous with the GPRS networks.

3G
Third Generation. Wireless networks designed to increase voice
capacity and provide high-speed data over 2G and 2.5G networks.
According to the official ITU definition, a 3G network must provide a
minimum of 144 Kbps. CDMA provides the basis for 3G technology,
which has been implemented as CDMA2000 and WCDMA (UMTS).
Visit www.3gtoday.com.
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3DES
Triple Data Encryption Standard. A private symmetric cryptographic
algorithm for the protection of unclassified computer data issued as
a Federal Information Processing Standard Publication. DES was
initially developed by IBM in the late 1970s and later promulgated
by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. 3DES is an
updated version of DES that encodes the data three times for triple
security. See also DES.

802.11
Commonly referred to as “Wi-Fi,” 802.11 refers to the standards
issued by IEEE for WLANs. 802.11 transmits data over the air in an
unlicensed frequency, such as the 2.4 GHz band. Wireless access
points are connected to an Ethernet hub or server, transmitting a
radio frequency of approximately one hundred feet.
Common extensions of the 802.11 standard include:
802.11a – uses the 5 GHz band and an orthogonal frequency
division multiplexing as the signal modulation technique rather
than FHSS or DSSS.
802.11b – uses the 2.4 GHz band and DSSS for signal modulation.
802.11g – allows for faster data rates than 802.11b in the 2.4 GHz
band. 802.11g is compatible with both 802.11a and 802.11b and
uses similar modulation techniques for both standards.
Coverage is limited and transmission speeds are dependent upon
the specification, location and backhaul. 802.11 standards are
complementary to WWANs. See also WLAN, WWAN, FHSS and DSSS.

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 A
Access Point
A network device that acts as a communication hub for wireless
devices to connect to a wired LAN.

AES
Advanced Encryption Standard. A standard for encryption which is
intended to replace the DES. AES supports key lengths ranging
from 128 to 256 bits. See also DES.

Air Interface
Refers to the radio frequency portion of the circuit between the
cellular handset or wireless modem and the active base station.

Aircard®
Term is a registered trademark owned by Sierra Wireless and has
become synonymous with a WWAN card. Synonymous with a
wireless PC card. See also PC Card.

AMPS
Advanced Mobile Phone Service. Refers to the first analog
cellular phone system commercially deployed in the 1980s.
See also Analog.

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Analog
Wireless network technology involving the modulation of radio
signals, whereby information is transmitted as sound waves via
radio signals. Analog only permits one call per channel, in contrast
to digital technology, equipped to handle multiple calls per channel.
Most wireless transmission is now done digitally.

ANSI
American National Standards Institute. A standards-setting, non-
governmental organization that serves as the official United States
member body to the world’s leading standards bodies, such as the
International Organization for Standardization (ISO). ANSI develops
and publishes standards for transmission codes and protocols for
use in the United States. See also ISO.

API
Application Programming Interface. A set of standard software
interrupts, calls and data formats that application programs can
use to initiate contact with network services, mainframe
communications and program-to-program communications.
For example, BREW provides an API for the development of
applications for wireless devices. See also BREW.

ARPU
Average Revenue Per User. Commonly used by carriers and
telecommunications/wireless analysts to estimate ROI measures
for investments in network infrastructure and end-user services.

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 B
Backhaul
In the context of wireless communications, refers to
transporting data or voice between the wireless network
and the PDSN, or the Internet or Ethernet in the case of an
enterprise WLAN implementation.

Band
In wireless communications, band refers to a frequency or
contiguous range of frequencies. Currently, wireless communication
service providers use the 800 MHz and 1900 MHz bands for
transmission in the United States.

Bandwidth
In wireless communications, bandwidth refers to the range of
available frequencies that can carry a signal. For digital, bandwidth
is usually expressed in bps or Kbps. For analog, bandwidth is
expressed in Hertz (Hz). See also bps, Kbps and Hertz.

Base Station
Often referred to as a cell site, a base station is a transmitter/
receiver location, through which radio links are established between
the wireless system and the wireless device. The cell site is
comprised of an antenna tower, transmission radios and radio
controllers. Each cell in a cellular network requires a base station.
See also BSC and BTS.

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BSC
Base Station Controller. A component of a Base Station. BSCs
supervise the functioning and control of multiple Base Transceiver
Stations and act as a small switch. See also BTS.

BTS
Base Transceiver Station. The electronic equipment coupled
with the antenna that comprises a PCS facility or single cell site.
See also Cell Site.

bps
Bits Per Second. The de facto standard for measuring the
smallest unit of information in communications and data
processing. See also Kbps.

Blackberry ®
Two-way wireless device that allows users to check email and
voice mail (via text), and page other users using a wireless network
service. Blackberry users must subscribe to a wireless service that
provides data transmission service. Also known as a Research in
Motion (RIM) device.

Bluetooth™
A short-range wireless communications standard that operates
using Frequency Hopping Spread System (FHSS), spreading data
packets across the designated frequency range of 2.45 GHz.
Bluetooth provides a short-range distance of approximately 10
meters and raw data transmission rates of up to 1Mbps. Based on
radio frequency transmission, Bluetooth supports both voice and
data and transmits signals between phones, computers and other
devices to allow for connectivity without a wireline connection.

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BREW ™
Binary Runtime Environment for Wireless. QUALCOMM’s BREW
solution is an open application development platform that makes
it possible for developers to create portable applications that will
work on wireless devices. BREW enables users to download and
install applications including games, ring tones and content to
BREW-enabled phones. BREW runs in between the application
and the chip operating system. Visit www.qualcomm.com/brew.

Broadband
Generic term for high-speed digital Internet connections, such
as DSL or cable modems in the wireline world. Broadband can
carry multiple channels at once, enabling voice, data and
video services simultaneously. Broadband refers to download
speeds of approximately 2 Mbps, 40 times faster than speeds
of a 56K modem.

C
Carrier
Another name for wireless service provider or wireless operator.
Verizon and Sprint are examples of US carriers. See also Channel.

CDG
The CDMA Development Group is an international consortium of
companies that are working together to develop the necessary
products and services to lead the adoption and evolution of CDMA
wireless systems around the world. The more than 100 member
companies will help ensure interoperability among systems, while
expediting the availability of CDMA technology to consumers.
Visit www.cdg.org.
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CDMA
Code Division Multiple Access. CDMA is a digital wireless technology
that works by converting speech into digital information, which is
then transmitted as a radio signal over a wireless network. Using a
unique code to distinguish each call, CDMA uses spectrum efficiently,
enabling more people to share the airwaves simultaneously without
static, cross-talk or interference. In 1999, the ITU selected CDMA
as the industry standard for new 3G wireless systems.

cdmaOne ®
A brand name, trademarked and reserved for the exclusive use
of CDG member companies. cdmaOne was a term coined for
QUALCOMM’s original CDMA systems based on the IS-95A and
IS-95B standards, which made use of 1.25 MHz channels to deliver
voice and data.

CDMA2000 ®
A direct evolution from cdmaOne technology. CDMA2000 provides
a set of specifications which offer enhanced voice and data
capacity. The CDMA2000 family includes: CDMA2000 1X,
CDMA2000 1xEV-DO and CDMA2000 1xEV-DV standards.
CDMA2000 is recognized by the ITU as a global standard for 3G
wireless systems. It is also known as IS-2000. See also IS-2000.

CDMA2000 1X
Commonly referred to as 1X or sometimes as 1XRTT, CDMA2000 1X
is a 3G technology that is commercially available today. 1X is 21
times more efficient than analog cellular and 4 times more efficient
than TDMA networks. Typical 1X networks provide peak rates of
144 Kbps for packet data and provide an average throughput range
of 60-90 Kbps on a loaded network.

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CDMA2000 1XEV-DO
1xEV-DO is short for First Evolution, Data Optimized. 1xEV-DO
provides peak data rates of up to 2.4 Mbps in a standard 1.25 MHz
channel used exclusively for data. 1xEV-DO provides average
throughput speeds of over 700 Kbps—equivalent to cable modem
speeds—and fast enough to support applications such as streaming
video and large file downloads. Future releases will increase to 3.08
Mbps for the forward link.

CDMA2000 1xEV-DV
1xEV-DV is short for 1X Evolution, Data and Voice. This standard is
under development and is expected to be commercially deployed in
2005. CDMA200 1xEV-DV will support voice as well as data.
Release C supports a forward link of 3.08 Mbps and a reverse link
of 153 Kbps. Release D supports a forward link of 3.08 Mbps and a
reverse link of approximately 1.0 Mbps.

CDPD
Cellular Digital Packet Data. An add-on technology that enables
first-generation analog systems to provide packet data. CDPD is
an IP network that runs at 19.2 Kbps with throughputs typically
less than 10 Kbps. Today, CDPD is being phased out with 2.5G
and 3G systems.

Cell
The geographic area encompassing the signal range from one base
station. Wireless transmission networks are comprised of many
hexagonal, overlapping cell sites to efficiently use radio spectrum
for wireless transmissions.

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Cellular
Analog or digital communications in which a subscriber has a
wireless connection from a mobile handset to a relatively nearby
transmitter. The transmitter’s span of coverage is called a cell.
Generally, cellular telephone service is available in urban areas
and along major highways. As the cellular telephone user moves
from one cell or area of coverage to another, the telephone is
effectively passed on to the local cell transmitter at a base station.
See also Roaming.

Cell Site
A fixed transmitter/receiver location also known as a base station,
the cell site establishes communications between a wireless
system and a wireless device using radio links. The cell site is
comprised of an antenna tower, transmission radios and radio
controllers. See also Base Station.

Channel
The amount of wireless spectrum occupied by a specific technology
implementation. For cellular, there is a transmit side and a receive
side. For example, a 5 MHz channel uses 5 MHz to transmit and
5 MHz to receive, using a total of 10 MHz of wireless spectrum.

Circuit-Switched Network
A network that establishes a physical circuit temporarily on
demand and keeps that circuit reserved to the user until it receives
a disconnect signal. A dial-up modem is an example of a circuit-
switched connection.

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CMX
Compact Media Extension. A simple and economical way for
service providers to send multimedia to handsets. CMX is a
software-based system that permits MIDI music to be combined
with text, graphics, animation and voice—all time-synchronized
and transmitted together in a file format small enough to be
practical for a wireless handset. CMX is available on certain
QUALCOMM mobile chipsets. Visit www.cdmatech.com.

Coverage Area
Geographic area served by a cellular system in which service is
available to wireless users.

CRM
Customer Relationship Management. An integrated information
management system that is used to plan, schedule and control the
pre-sales and post-sales activities in an organization. CRM
solutions comprise of software, hardware and networking tools to
improve customer tracking and communication. Today, many
enterprises are extending their CRM solutions to include wireless
connectivity to home databases. Remote access to a corporate
database, for example, enables sales professionals to access timely
customer data, leading to increased productivity and better
customer service.

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 D
DES
Data Encryption Standard. A 56-bit, private key, symmetric
cryptographic algorithm for the protection of unclassified computer
data issued as a Federal Information Processing Standard
Publication. See also 3DES.

Digital
A form of transmission that transforms analog signals—speech, for
example—into a series of electrical or optical pulses that represent
the binary digits 0 and 1. This numerical data is then converted into
various forms depending on the type of network, such as electronic
pulses for a wired network, optical light waves for fiber optics or
radio waves for wireless transmission. Digital networks offer
superior Quality of Service (QoS), secure transmission and more
bandwidth than analog lines.

DSSS
Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum. A technique used in radio
transmission systems, such as in WLANs and in some PCS
systems. DSSS involves the conversion of a data stream into a
stream of packets, which are then transmitted over a wide range of
frequencies using a “scattering” approach. In a WLAN environment,
DSSS typically operates in the 2.4 GHz band. See also 802.11,
WLAN and PCS.

Dual Band
Refers to certain models of phones equipped to use both the 800
MHz cellular and 1900 MHz PCS frequencies to send and receive
calls. The device can switch between these bands.
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Dual Mode
A dual mode wireless device uses both the analog and digital
frequencies, using the 800 MHz and 1900 MHz channels.

E
E911
Enhanced 911 service that automatically provides the caller’s
geographic location and wireless phone number to the 911
call center. The FCC’s wireless E911 rules seek to improve the
effectiveness and reliability of wireless 911 service by providing
emergency dispatchers with precise location information,
within 50 to 100 meters of the caller’s exact location. Visit
www.fcc.gov/911/enhanced.

EDGE
Enhanced Data Rates for Global Evolution. An ITU recognized 3G
technology which is an upgrade to GPRS in the Americas. EDGE
data rates are expected to be less than 100 Kbps. Most European
operators will migrate directly from GPRS to UMTS/WCDMA. See
also TDMA.

Encryption
In security, encryption is the ciphering of data by applying an
algorithm to plain text. Symmetric encryption uses the same
key to encrypt and decrypt the message. Asymmetric encryption,
also known as public key encryption, equips each user with two
keys—a private key and a public key—both of which are
provided by a trusted third party.

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End-to-End Security
In wireless communications, refers to safeguarding information
in a network by cryptography and encryption to ensure secure
data transmission from the point of origin to the point of destination.
See also Encryption.

ERP
Enterprise Resource Planning. A business management system that
integrates all major facets of a business such as manufacturing,
finance, sales and human resources functions. ERP software
links together various back-office computer systems including
SFA and CRM applications. Typically, ERP software incorporates
heavy use of telecommunications and may include mobility
interfaces. See also SFA and CRM.

F
FCC
Federal Communications Commission. The government agency
responsible for regulation of the communications industry. Visit
www.fcc.gov/aboutus.html.

FFA
Field Force Automation. Refers to information technology solutions
designed to help companies improve communication with
employees in the field and yield increased productivity. FFA
solutions typically comprise of integrated software, hardware and
networking components. Today, the utilities and insurance sector
provide examples of industries that are successfully deploying field
force automation solutions to better manage remote employees.

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FHSS
Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum. A technique used in radio
transmission systems, such as in WLANs, and in some mobile
networks. FHSS involves the conversion of a data stream into a
stream of packets in which short bursts of packets are transmitted
over a range of 75 or more frequencies. The data is sent via
transmitters and receivers that move from one frequency to
another in a “hop” sequence. See also 802.11, WLAN and PCS.

Firewall
A combination of hardware and software which limits the exposure
of a computer or group of computers to an attack from an outside
network. A firewall is a system or combination of systems that
enforce a boundary between two or more networks.

FOMA
Freedom of Mobile Multimedia Access. FOMA is the brand name
of NTT DoCoMo’s 3G WCDMA service and a modified version of
WCDMA. It is expected that NTT DoCoMo will transition to the final
release of WCDMA (UMTS) in 2004 or later.

Frame Relay
An access standard defined by the ITU. Frame relay technology
employs a form of packet-switching and multiplexes data. The key
advantage to a frame relay network is its ability to accommodate
data packets of various sizes associated with virtually any native
data protocol. See also ITU and Packet-Switched Network.

Frequency
The rate at which an electromagnetic waveform alternates, usually
measured in Hertz (Hz) or Megahertz (MHz).

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 G
GAIT
GSM ANSI-136 Interoperability Team. A technology that enables
GSM and TDMA networks to interoperate. Special handsets must
be manufactured (often called “GAIT phones”) and used in
conjunction with GAIT networking.

Gateway
A network point that acts as an entrance to another network.

GPRS
General Packet Radio Service. A standard that is an upgrade to a
GSM network, adding packet data to the existing voice network.
GPRS uses the same time slots as voice calls, with each time slot
providing approximately 9.6 Kbps of data throughput. A GPRS
network that offers 28.8 Kbps down to the phone and 9.6 Kbps from
the phone back to the network is using three time slots down and
one slot up. GPRS peak rates are less than 50 Kbps. See also 2.5G.

GPS
Global Positioning System. A worldwide radio-navigation system
that was developed by the US Department of Defense to enable
users to determine their exact location anywhere on the globe from
land, air or sea. GPS works via radio signals sent from orbiting
satellites to receivers on the ground. Radio signals are collected
from various satellites and used to calculate the distance between
the receiver and each satellite. GPS receivers are becoming
increasingly smaller and more economical, allowing them to be
used in a wider range of commercial applications including fleet
management, fraud management and security applications.
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gpsOne
A solution combining Global Positioning System satellite and
wireless network infrastructure to provide position location
services. The gpsOne solution enhances location services
availability, expands terrain coverage, accelerates the location
determination process and provides better accuracy for callers,
whether during emergency situations or while using GPS-enabled
commercial applications. Visit www.snaptrack.com.

Groupware
A category of enterprise software that allows employees to work
more collaboratively. Groupware includes email and Personal
Information Management (PIM) functionality such as calendar,
to-do-lists and contact information, and allows employees to
share data. Examples of groupware include Microsoft® Exchange/
Microsoft® Outlook® and Lotus® Domino/Lotus® Notes. See also PIM.

GSM
Global System for Mobile Communications. A 2G wireless
telecommunications standard for digital cellular services deployed
first in Europe. GSM is based on TDMA technology and provides
circuit-switched data connections at 9.6 Kbps. See also TDMA.

GSM1X
A technology that enables the convergence of GSM-MAP and
CDMA2000 1X networks. GSM1X overlays the current GSM/GPRS
core network, maintaining all key features and services in the
existing system, combined with CDMA2000 1X radio access
equipment. GSM1X provides the spectral efficiency of CDMA
technology, increasing voice and data capacity and making global
roaming possible today. Visit www.qualcomm.com/GSM1X.

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 H
Handoff
The process by which a cellular phone conversation is transferred
from one BST to another without interruption. When a cellular user
is in motion, in a car for example, and travels out of range of the
original cell site, the BSC acts as a switch and ensures that the call
is effectively passed over to the next cell site.
There are two types of handoffs: hard and soft. A hard handoff
requires the connection to first be broken in the original cell before
it is made in the successor cell. Hard handoffs are required in
TDMA and GSM systems because these systems employ different
frequencies in adjacent cells. A hard handoff may affect data
communications adversely as information may be lost when the
connection is broken before it is transferred.
Conversely, a soft handoff does not require the original connection
to be broken when entering an adjacent cell. Soft handoffs employ
a “make and break” handoff algorithm. Soft handoffs are used in
CDMA systems which do not require the use of different frequencies
in adjacent cells. See also BSC, BTS, TDMA and CDMA.

Handset
A wireless device that contains a transmitter and receiver.
Also known as a terminal or mobile phone.

Hertz
The international unit for measuring frequency, equivalent to cycles
per second. One megahertz (MHz) is one million Hertz. One gigahertz
(GHz) is one billion Hertz. WLANs operate at 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz.

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Hot-Spot
A scattered location, such as a coffee shop, airport or bookstore,
where a user can establish a WLAN or “Wi-Fi” connection with its
service provider. Hot spots provide a wireless access point for the
user and limited coverage of up to approximately 100 hundred feet,
depending on the location. See also 802.11, Wi-Fi and WLAN.

I
iDEN ®
Integrated Dispatch Enhance Network. A proprietary technology
based on the TDMA standard that allows users to access phone
calls, two-radio transmissions, paging and data from one wireless
device. Nextel Communications® uses the iDEN standard as the
basis for its networks.

IEEE
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. The largest global
technical professional society, the IEEE is a standards body
responsible for developing computing and electronics standards.
The IEEE developed 802.11 standards for WLANs that are widely
followed today. Visit www.ieee.org. See also WLAN and 802.11.

IETF
International Engineering Task Force. The IETF is a large international
volunteer community of network designers, operators, vendors and
researchers. The IETF’s charter is to set the technical standards
that run the Internet, focusing on issues such as routing and security.
Examples of IETF standards include Dynamic Host Configuration
Protocol (DHCP) and Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP).

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IMT-2000
International Mobile Telecommunications for the Year 2000. A set
of ITU specifications for 3G wireless networks that includes five
radio access technologies such as CDMA2000 (Multi-Carrier)
and WCDMA/ UMTS (Direct Sequence). Visit www.3gtoday.com.
See also 3G.

i-Mode
Internet Mode. i-Mode is a proprietary cell phone service based
on cHTML technology developed by Japan’s NTT DoCoMo. i-Mode
allows for delivery of Web content and services that can be pushed
to wireless handsets. i-Mode services include mobile banking,
email, news reporting and other services.

IP
Internet Protocol. IP is the most important of the protocols on
which the Internet was based and part of the TCP/IP protocol.
See also TCP/IP.

IPsec
IP Security Protocol. A collection of IP security measures that
comprise an optional tunneling protocol. IPsec supports
authentication to verify the validity of the originating address
in the header of every packet of a packet stream.

IS-95 A/B
Interim Standard 95. A standard for North American cellular systems
based on CDMA technology. IS-95A defines what is generally known
as cdmaOne, which supports voice and 14.4 Kbps data rates. IS-95B
supports data rates up to 64 Kbps. Now known as ANSI 95 A/B.
See also cdmaOne. IS-2000 and ANSI.

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IS-136
Interim Standard 136. Known as TDMA and ANSI 136. See also
TDMA and ANSI.

IS-2000
Interim Standard 2000. The Interim Standard for CDMA2000, the
3G wireless mobile standard for cellular networks based on CDMA
technology. See also CDMA2000.

ISO
International Organization for Standardization, chartered by the
United Nations. The ISO’s mission is to define and promote the
development of various international standards. The ISO is best
known for its seven-layer OSI model. Visit www.iso.ch.

ITU
International Telecommunications Union. An agency of the United
Nations with the goal to establish standardized communications
practices. Visit www.itu.int/home.

J
J2EE
Java 2 Platform, Enterprise Edition. The standard Java platform
geared towards the development of multi-tier enterprise applications.

J2ME
Java 2 Platform, Micro Edition. The standard edition of the Java
development platform that is geared toward applications on small,
standalone or connectable consumer and embedded devices.
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 K
Kbps
Kilobits per second or 1,000 bits per second. Commonly used as a
speed for data transmission.

L
L2TP
Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol. An IETF standard tunneling protocol for
VPNs. See also IETF and VPN.

LAN
Local Area Network. A small data network covering a limited area,
such as within a building or group of buildings.

LBS
Location Based Services. Enables personalized services to be
offered to a user based on the user’s particular location. Examples
of location based services used in corporate settings include
geographic mapping information for real estate agents and asset
tracking solutions used by service representatives at logistics and
transportation companies.

M
Mbps
Megabits per second, or 1 million bits per second. A measurement
of data speed.
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Megahertz
Megahertz (MHz) is a unit of frequency equal to one million Hertz
or cycles per second. Wireless mobile communications within the
United States occurs in the 800 MHz and 1900 MHz bands.

Microbrowser
A web browser specialized for a phone, smartphone or PDA that is
optimized to run in the low-memory and small-screen environment
of a handheld device.

Middleware
Middleware refers to a type of software that connects two
otherwise separate applications. Middleware sits between the
layers of software to make the layers work with each other,
essentially “gluing” together applications across the network. For
example, a database access middleware solution would allow a
remote user to request data from a corporate database using a
form displayed via a Web browser, enabling the Web server to
return dynamic Web pages based on the individual user's profile
and requests.

MMS
Multimedia Messaging Service. MMS allows wireless device users
to send multimedia, such as video or digital photos, from one
device to another.

MPEG-3/MP3
Moving Picture Experts Group-3. MPEG-3 is more commonly known
as MP3. Both terms are synonymous and refer to the family of
digital audio compression standards and file formats developed by
the group. MP3 is a standard for high-quality audio streaming and

24
transmission and the technology compresses digital music by an
average ratio of 10:1. This enables digital music to be transmitted
and stored efficiently within the constraints of a limited bandwidth
network, such as in the context of a mobile environment.

MPEG-4/MP4
Moving Picture Experts Group-4. MPEG-4 is more commonly known
as MP4. Both terms are synonymous and refer to the standard for
audio and video streaming and complex media manipulation.
Analogous to MP3 technology for audio, MP4 is the technology
used for the mobile transmission and storage of images and
video clips. See also MP3.

MSC
Mobile Switching Center. Provides services and coordination
between mobile users in a network and external networks.

N
Network Layer
Third layer of the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model
of data communications, sometimes called the packet layer.
See also OSI Standards.

Node
A point of connection into a network. In packet-switched
networks, it’s one of the many packet switches which form
the network’s backbone.

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 O
OFDM
Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing. Refers to a wireless
communications technology and modulation technique in which
available spectrum is divided into multiple RF channels. In OFDM,
each channel is independent (orthogonal) of the other channels
that can be used to transmit data, allowing data streams to be
transmitted simultaneously across multiple frequencies in a parallel
fashion. See also Channel.

Operating System
Commonly referred to as OS or O/S, it is software that manages
the basic operations of a computer system. These operations
include memory apportionment and the order and method of
handling tasks. The OS also controls the flow of information to
and from the main processor, as well as data to peripherals.
Some examples of various operating systems include UNIX,
Windows, Symbian and Palm OS.

OSI Model
A reference model developed by the International Organization for
Standardization. The OSI model provides an accepted framework
of standards for communication between different systems and
vendors. In short, the model organizes the communications
process into seven different categories. Layers 1 through 3 deal
with network access. Layers 4 through 7 deal with end-to-end
communications between the message source and the message
destination.

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OSI Standards
Open Systems Interconnection. Reference model established by
the ISO to provide a network design framework to allow equipment
from different vendors to be able to communicate.

P
Packet
A digital “package” of data that allows for more efficient use of
radio spectrum and routing over a network, such as the Internet
or wireless networks. Each packet is assigned a unique number
for routing along with the Internet address which identifies the
packet’s destination. Packets differ in size and in the amount of
bits/bytes that they hold.

Packet-Switched Network
Networks that transfer packets of data. Packet-switched networks
are “always on,” eliminating the need to dial-in to a network to
send or receive data. See also Packet.

Palm OS ®
Palm® operating system for handheld devices, including PDAs and
smartphones. Palm licenses its software to leading handset and
handheld manufacturers.

PC Card
A wireless modem that can be used in a laptop or other mobile
computing device. A PC card is compatible with the Personal
Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) PC
Card standard. PC cards are removable and approximately the
size of a credit card. See also PCMCIA.
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PCMCIA
Personal Computer Memory Card International Association.
International Association that standardizes credit-card size
hardware that can be inserted into a computing device such as
a laptop for plug-and-play utility. A Type II PC Card is the most
common PCMCIA and is typically used for input/output such as
a modem or LAN connection. See also PC Card.

PCS
Personal Communications Services. PCS refers to the 1900 MHz
cellular frequency band. However, PCS is commonly used as a
marketing term to describe an array of two-way digital wireless
service offerings in the Americas, regardless of the particular
frequency band being used.

PDA
Personal Digital Assistant. A portable computing device capable of
transmitting data. PDAs are commonly used for text messaging,
email, stock quotes, personal computing, calendar and contacts,
and a wide range of other applications.

PDC
Personal Digital Cellular. The 2G TDMA-based protocol used in
Japan, but is incompatible with other wireless networks. PDC
services operate in the 800 and 1500 MHz band. See also GSM.

PDSN
Packet Data Serving Node. Refers to the routers used in
CDMA2000 networks which comprise the backbone of the
network. See also Node.

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PIM
Personalized Information Manager. Refers to a type of software
used by individuals or groups for keeping track of contacts
(including addresses and phone numbers), appointments, project
schedules, to-do lists and reminder notes. Also called contact
managers. See also Groupware.

Pocket PC ®
A handheld computer that runs a Microsoft Pocket PC Operating
System or Microsoft Windows Mobile 2003 for the Pocket PC. The
typical Pocket PC includes features such as word processing and
spreadsheet applications, handwriting recognition and wireless
Internet access. See also Windows Mobile.

POP
Persons of Population. Refers to total population coverage
according to a wireless service provider’s license. In wireline
communications, POP means Point of Presence, which is defined
as the connectivity point between two networks.

POTS
Plain Old Telephone Service. Refers to the basic service supplying
standard single-line telephones, telephone lines and access to the
PSTN. See also PSTN.

PPTP
Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol. A protocol that enables virtual
private networking—enabling secure remote access to corporate
networks via the Internet. The PPTP specification builds on
standards such as PPP and TCP/IP. See also VPN, PPP and TCP/IP.

29
PPC
Pay Per Call. In contrast to flat monthly rates offered by carriers for
service provided. PPC is also a commonly used abbreviation for the
Pocket PC.

PPP
Point-to-Point Protocol. Protocol that allows two peer devices to
transport packets over a simple data link.

Protocol
A protocol refers to a specific set of rules related to data
transmission between two devices. Protocols such as TCP/IP set
standard procedures that enable data devices to recognize and
communicate with each other.

PSTN
Public Switched Telephone Network. Refers to the local, long-
distance and international phone system. In the United States, PSTN
refers to the entire collection of interconnected phone companies.

PTT
Push-To-Talk.® In two-way radio communications, refers to an
instant connection made between two cell phones. PTT requires
transmitters to use the same frequency and features “walkie-talkie”
like functionality. Nextel’s Direct Connect® service and QChat-
enabled handsets are examples of PTT technology. See also QChat.

30
 Q
QChat ™
QChat is a software application developed by QUALCOMM. QChat
enables communication over 3G CDMA systems with the press of
a Push-To-Talk button on a handset. This application creates a call
by combining separate point-to-point connections between each
IP endpoint at a managing entity known as the QChat Applications
Server. The QChat client is deployed as an application on the
BREW platform. See also BREW and PTT.

QoS
Quality of Service. A measure of the telephone service quality
provided to a subscriber.

R
RF
Radio Frequency. Measured in Hertz, MHz and GHz.

Roaming
Refers to when a subscriber travels outside of his/her specified
home coverage area.

ROI
Return On Investment. A financial performance measure to evaluate
and quantify the relative attractiveness of a particular project. ROI
is typically measured in monetary terms, such as dollars, but can
also be measured by benefits that are more difficult to quantify,
such as increased customer satisfaction.
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R-UIM
Removable User Interface Module. Also known as a CDMA SIM
card. Refers to a removable card built into certain CDMA phones,
“smart cards” and other devices that makes global roaming
possible across CDMA and GSM networks. The SIM can identify
the user as well as the services to which the individual
subscribes. It can also store data, such as telephone numbers
and addresses. See also SIM.

S
SCM
Supply Chain Management. Refers to the electronic link between
a company and its suppliers and distributors/customers. SCM
solutions typically comprise of integrated software, hardware and
networking components. Today many enterprises are utilizing the
Internet and private corporate intranets for their SCM solutions.

Service Provider
A “carrier” or “operator” that provides communication services,
content and/or subscriptions to telephone, mobile phone and
Internet users.

SFA
Sales Force Automation. System which allows the salesperson to
record account and contact information, send form letters and
schedule activities to be performed in the future.

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SIM
Subscriber Identity Module. A removable card built into all GSM
phones, as well as certain “smart cards” and other devices. The
SIM can identify the user as well as the services to which the
individual subscribes. It can also store data, such as telephone
numbers and addresses. A CDMA SIM is referred to as R-UIM.
See also R-UIM.

Smartphone
A category of mobile phones that integrates wireless data and
voice capabilities on one handset. Using a smartphone, a
salesperson might make calls, send emails and access corporate
databases remotely via this device. Smartphones are equipped with
enhanced software and applications, including operating systems
such as the Palm OS, Symbian and Windows Mobile. See also
Palm OS, Symbian and Windows Mobile.

SMS
Short Messaging Service. SMS is a store-and-forward message
service available on many 2G and all 3G wireless networks. It
allows users to send and receive short text messages—usually
160 characters or less—to and from wireless handsets.

Spread Spectrum
A method of transmitting a signal by “spreading” it over a broad
range of frequencies. This technology allows for reduced
interference and increased capacity within a particular radio
frequency band. CDMA is based on spread spectrum.

33
SS7
Signaling System 7. The protocol used in public-switched telephone
systems for establishing calls and providing services such as 800
numbers, call forwarding, caller ID and number portability.

SSL
Secure Sockets Layer. A transport level technology for authentication
and data encryption between a Web server and a Web browser. SSL
sends data over a secure channel at the connection layer existing in
most TCP/IP applications.

Symbian ® OS
Refers to a popular operating system for cell phones licensed by
Symbian to leading handset manufacturers. Symbian is owned by a
consortium of wireless hardware manufacturers and promotes the
development of advanced, open systems for data-enabled phones.

T
TCO
Total Cost of Ownership. A financial measure commonly used by
enterprises to calculate total relevant costs of a particular project,
such as investing in a SFA solution. TCO goes beyond the actual
purchase price or cost of implementation and would include
relevant costs such as administration, maintenance, support,
software and training.

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TCP/IP
Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol. A communications
protocol that has become the de facto standard protocol for the
Internet. TCP provides transport functions, ensuring that the total
amount of data sent is correctly received. IP provides the routing
mechanism. TCP/IP is a routable protocol, which means that all
messages contain the address of the destination network.

TD-SCDMA
Time Division-Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access. TD-SCDMA
is one of the three international CDMA standards accepted by the
ITU for 3G mobile communications. To date, TD-SCDMA has been
promoted for use in China and for unpaired spectrum elsewhere.
See also 3G and ITU.

TDMA
Time Division Multiple Access. A digital wireless communications
technique that divides traffic into specific time intervals or slots.
Multiple 2G wireless standards use TDMA technology including
GSM, PDC and iDEN.

Terminal
Device, such as a laptop or handset, used to access the network.
Also referred to as a mobile terminal or mobile station.

Tri-Mode
Triple Mode. A combined analog and digital mobile phone that
allows for service in multiple frequencies.

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Two-Way Paging
The ability to send and receive data via the Internet by way of the
paging network. Commonly referred to as interactive paging.

U
UI
User interface, as in GUI, or graphical user interface.

UMTS
Universal Mobile Telecommunications System. UMTS is also known
as WCDMA. See also WCDMA.

UWB
Ultra Wideband. A wireless technology for transmitting large
amounts of digital data over a wide spectrum of frequency bands
with very low power for short distances. UWB is sometimes
compared to Bluetooth, a standard for connecting handheld
wireless devices with other similar devices and with desktop
computers. See also Bluetooth.

V
Voice Recognition
The technology found on some wireless phones, PCs and other
communication devices that enables the phone to respond to
spoken commands.

36
VPN
Virtual Private Network. A network that is constructed by using
public wires to connect nodes. VPNs use encryption and other
security mechanisms to ensure that only authorized users can
access the network. VPNs are an essential component to secure
wireless computing for the enterprise. See also Encryption.

W
WAN
Wide Area Network. A geographically dispersed telecommunications
network. A WAN may be privately owned or rented, but the term
usually refers to a public network.

WAP
Wireless Application Protocol. A set of standards that enables a
wireless device to browse content from specially-coded Web
pages via handheld wireless devices such as phones, pagers
and Palm devices.

WCDMA
Wideband CDMA. Recognized by the ITU as a 3G technology
that uses 10 MHz of wireless spectrum—a 5 MHz uplink and
5 MHz downlink to the mobile terminal. WCDMA is based
on IMT-2000. The European version is referred to as UMTS.
Visit www.3gtoday.com. See also IMT-2000 and UMTS.

37
WEP
Wired Equivalency Privacy. An optional feature for Wi-Fi and
802.11b. WEP offers privacy that is on par with the privacy offered
by most LAN connections, using an encryption algorithm that
scrambles data before any data is transmitted. Most WLANs do
not use WEP. See also Wi-Fi, 802.11 and WLAN.

Wi-Fi
Short for “Wireless Fidelity” and another name for WLAN.
Synonymous with the 802.11b wireless Ethernet standard in the
2.4 GHz range. See also 802.11 or WLAN.

Windows Mobile ™
Microsoft’s new global brand for its Pocket PC Operating System.
Windows Mobile supports various Pocket PC devices. The
rebranded software platform includes new features such as a
simplified Wi-Fi connection, Bluetooth capabilities and improved
email synchronization. Visit www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile.
See also Pocket PC and Smartphone.

WLAN
Wireless LAN. A local area network that transmits over the air
typically in an unlicensed frequency such as the 2.4 GHz band.
Wireless access points (base stations) are connected to an
Ethernet hub or server and transmit a radio frequency over an
area of several feet. Complementary to WWAN. See also 802.11,
Hot-Spot and WWAN.

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Wireless Portal
A web site that supports a user with a smartphone or alphanumeric
pager. It may offer a variety of features, including the ability to
select content that can be pushed to the user’s device.

Wireless Node
A computer with a wireless network interface card, also known
as an adapter.

Wireless Spectrum
A band of frequencies in which wireless signals travel carrying
voice and data information.

WWAN
Wireless Wide Area Network. A radio-based voice or data network
that covers an entire metropolitan area. In contrast, a WLAN is
generally confined to a building or campus, such as a Wi-Fi Hot
Spot. See also WLAN, Wi-Fi and Hot Spot.

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Notes
Notes
© 2003 QUALCOMM Incorporated. All rights reserved.