3G

3G is the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) specification for the third-generation mobile communications technology that was created for high-speed transfer of data and multimedia content, such as video, downloads, music and interactive games.

802.2

Still in development, 802.20 (MobileFI) promises all the benefits of WiMAX 802.16, but will be optimized for wireless access of ample bands operating at high speeds in mobile environments.

Bluetooth

Simply known as a cable replacement technology, Bluetooth is a radio-frequency standard that functions as a personal-area network (PAN). It replaces cable-based connections, like USBs, with short-range wireless connections.

CDMA

Code-Division Multiple Access (CDMA) is a digital wireless service that transfers data at rates from 40 to 144 Kbps. Unlike GSM, which assigns a specific frequency to each user, CDMA uses every channel to use the full available spectrum.

EDGE

Enhanced Data for Global Evolution (EDGE) is a faster GSM wireless service, that can give data rates upto 384 Kbps. It is based on the GSM standard and uses CDMA.

EV-DO

Evolution, Data Optimized (EV-DO) is a high-speed wireless data connection in the CDMA network. This technology allows users access to high-speed internet through portable devices up to 3.1 Mbps.

GIS

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) compile, combine and analyze different levels of data spacially referenced to the Earth.

GPS

Global Positioning System (GPS) is a satellite-based navigation system funded and controlled by the U.S. Department of Defense that is available to the public. It processes satellite signals in a GPS receiver to very accurately compute position, velocity and direction.

GSM

Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) is a digital cellular system that uses TDMA, allows a frequency to admit multiple calls and simultaneous channels of data.

iDEN

Integrated Digital Enhanced Network (iDEN) uses TDMA technology to give cellular communication of voice, messaging, digital two-way radio and data transfer.

PCS

Personal communication service (PCS) is a second-generation mobile commmunications technology also referred to as digital cellular. The digital service, which works over CDMA and TDMA interfaces, operates at the 1900 MHz frequency range.

TDMA

TDMA
Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) is a digital wireless service divides a radio frequency into time slots and then allocates the slots to multiple calls allowing a single frequency to support multiple, simultaneous data channels.

Wi-Fi

Also known as 802.11, wireless Airport and LAN, Wi-Fi is a wireless network that uses an amplified radio bandwidth transceiver operating in the networks at speeds of 54 mbps to more than 108 mbps, up to 106.68 meters.

WiMAX

WiMAX technology, also known as 802.16, will hit the market in 2006 and will function as a wireless alternative to cable modems (3 Mbps) and DSL (7 Mbps). WiMAX plans to offer wireless connectivity up to 30 miles from an antenna at speeds up to 70 Mbps. It is designed to fill the need for high-speed wireless wide area Internet access to both fixed and mobile devices.

VoIP

Voice over Internet Protocol (also calle d VoIP, IP Telephony, Internet telephony, and Digital Phone) is a technology that allows you to make telephone calls using a broadband Internet connection instead of an analog phone line.

IP

Internet Protocol(IP) is a data oriented protocol used for communication through an Inter network of data packages. IP is a protocol level set in the IP network, and is encapsulated. The two major versions of IP are Version 4 (32-bits long) and Version 6 (128 bits long).

LTE

LTE (Long Term Evolution) will improve the UMTS mobile phone standard to cope with future requirements. Goals include improving efficiency, lowering costs, improving services, making use of new spectrum opportunities, and better integration with other open standards. The LTE project is not a standard, but it will result in the new evolved release 8 of the UMTS standard. The most recent presentation of an LTE demonstrator with data streaming (>150 Mbit/s), video supervision and Mobile IP-based handover between the LTE radio demonstrator and the commercially available HSDPA radio system.

HSPA

HSPA (High-Speed Packet Access) is a collection of mobile telephony protocols that extend and improve the performance of existing UMTS protocols. Two standards, HSDPA and HSUPA, have been established and a further standard, HSOPA, is being proposed. HSDPA provides improved theoretical down-link performance of up to 14.4 Mbit/s. Existing deployments provide up to 7.2 Mbit/s in down-link. Up-link performance is a maximum of 384 kbit/s.

For operational reasons, service providers may cap this rate to lower rates than the typical maximum 3.6 Mbit/s that most HSDPA handsets support. Voice calls are usually prioritized over data transfer.