Mobile Broadband  and  Mobile Internet Connection Glossary

Broadband:  Broadband or high-speed Internet access allows users access to the internet and internet-related services. Broadband services for residential customers typically provide faster downstream speeds (from the internet to computer) than upload speeds (from computer to internet).

3G broadband: What is 3G broadband? It’s currently the preferred method nearly all cell phones and mobile computers access the web using a signal from a mobile internet service provider. It is called 3G because it is the ‘third generation’ of mobile technology.  [LeadingPrimary] European and American internet service providers have 3G available for mobile users.

Anti-spam: Used to prevent e-mail spam; which is also called junk e-mail or electronic junk mail.   Email spam typically involves transmitting nearly identical messages sent to numerous recipients using e-mail. A common synonym for spam is UBE which stands for unsolicited bulk e-mail. There are various anti-spam techniques.
Anti-spam approaches can be divided into four broad categories: those that require actions by individuals, those that are automated by e-mail administrators, those that can be automated by e-mail senders and those employed by researchers and law enforcement officials.

Anti-virus: This is software that attempts to protect computers, laptops, and smartphones from malicious internet (including email) transmitted malware.  Malware is malicious software programs often intended to be intrusive or damaging.  Computer viruses, Trojan horses and worms are typical types of malware.

Malware is not just an annoyance, it typically ruins computers and cell phones while potentially stealing personal data.

There are many bad people out there making problems and some kind of anti-virus software application is mandatory on a broadband-enabled computers, laptops, and or mobile phones.   

Namebrand anti-virus software applications like Norton or McAfee are often included by mobile internet service providers and supplied for free.  Many people rely on free versions of products like Avast and AVG.  One way or another – the reality is an anti-virus software program is essential to protect computers, notebooks, and mobile phones.

Anti-spyware: Spyware is broad category of malicious software that will insert itself on notebooks, and mobile phones across broadband internet connections. Spyware is designed to intercept or take partial control of a computer or smartphone operation without permission from the device’s owner or legitimate user.  Spyware is nasty computer software programs that surreptitiously obtain, monitor and report information from a user’s computer without their knowledge or consent.  This can include sensitive information such as details of sites visited, and even e-mail.

Capping:  In mobile data connection  terms capping describes a cap, or limitation, on the allowable quantity of data to download under terms a certain contract.  When the cap is exceeded, additional fees often apply.

Dongle: In mobile data connection  terminology dongle has been almost universally adopted to describe the small device that plugs into another internet-enabled device to pick-up a mobile data connection  signal.  Often just referred to as a stick, the dongle allows devices to access mobile internet connection just like a smartphone.

Bandwidth Download speed: Bandwidth Download speed refers to how quickly a file (of information) can be downloaded from a remote source.  This mobile broadband term  describes how fast a connection can deliver data to a computer.  A download can be anything from emails or a web page to live, streaming television, video or a software application.    The download speed is measured by how much of the file is transferred to you over a certain amount of time.  It used to be most download speeds were measured in kb/s, kilobytes per second, or thousands of (data) bytes per second; but fortunately now it is more likely to measure this connection speed it megabytes or millions of bytes per second.

Femtocells: Femtocells use broadband and boost the 3G signal to make handsets – and devices with a dongle – work better.   A femtocell is a wireless access point that delivers localized 3G broadband coverage.  Often it is very small base station that receives broadband supplier or ISP signals and boosts it around a small area, such as your house, office or event center.  They are expected to become quite common and will be important in location based services and marketing.

Firewall: A firewall is a software component used to stop outside access on computers, laptops or cell phones via the internet. The firewall will evaluate incoming data that connect to the computers, laptops or mobile phones, and if it doesn’t meet the settings allocated to it, the data connection will be suspended.

Firewall virus software programs are often included with anti-virus software programs as well as sometimes offered as free versions.    Firewall software applications   should work with anti-spyware, anti-virus, and anti-spam software to be most effective.

Fixed-line: Fixed-line broadband is a term used to describe either cable or ADSL internet connections.  The term is mostly used to differentiate fixed-line broadband from mobile broadband which is wireless and uses a mobile data connection signal network.

Gb (or gigabit): Giga means one billion. Gb  (note the small b) short for   gigabit, a unit used to express the speed at which data travels across an internet connection (also sometimes written as Gbps, or gigabits per second). Current broadband connections are measured in Mb (megabits per second) – there are 1024Mb in 1Gb.

GB (or Gbps, or gigabyte): GB is an abbreviation of  gigabyte, which is often used to express the size of computer files and memory storage capacity. There are 1024 bytes in a kilobyte (KB), 1024 kilobytes in a megabyte (MB), and 1024 megabytes in a gigabyte. To provide and example, a small Notepad file is typically measured in bytes, a basic Word document in kilobytes, a music file in megabytes and a DVD movie in gigabytes.

HSPA, HSDPA, HSUPA: HSPA stands for ‘high speed packet access’. HSDPA stands for ‘high speed download packet access’ and HSUPA stands ‘high speed upload’ packet access’, each expresses the same technology either sending or receiving data.  It is the latest advancement in quality for mobile broadband usage, working on various 3G mobile network networks to improve the speed of data transfer.

HSPA Evolved, HSPA+: The next generation of HSPA is Evolved HSPA (or HSPA+) with possible mobile broadband speeds up to 42Mb.

ISP:ISP is an acronym for internet service provider.

KB (or Kbps, or kilobyte): KB is a contraction of  kilobyte, which is a term used to describe  the size of computer files and storage capacity.

LTE: LTE stands for Long Term Evolution, and is one of the next generation of mobile broadband technology.  It is supposed to be capable of data transfer rates 15 to 100 times faster than current 3G mobile networks.

Mb (or Mbps, or megabit): Mb is a contraction of Megabit, and also written as Mbps, which stands for megabits per second.  Mb commonly is used to express the measurement of internet speeds. A Mb is 1024Kb, while there are 1024Mb in a Gb.

MB (or megabyte): MB is a contraction of for megabyte, which is a term used to describe the size of computer files and storage capacity.

Usage allowance: This expression describes the quantity data allowed to transmit through a mobile broadband connection. Usually it is either a fixed monthly quota, or a pay as you go. Using more data than contracted can be subject to surcharges.

Wi-Fi: Pronounced ‘why-fye’, Wi-Fi is short for Wireless Fidelity. It is a trademarked term of the Wi-Fi Alliance that refers to certified products that belong to a class of wireless local area network (WLAN) devices based on the IEEE 802.11 standards.

However, commonly it is taken by most to mean any electronics that work wirelessly over a Wi-Fi network, technically but less likely labelled a WLAN.  Because of the close relationship with its underlying standard, the the term Wi-Fi is often used as a synonym for IEEE 802.11 technology.

WiMAX: This expression is an abbreviation of Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access – a new broadband technology that has potential to provide a wireless broadband alternative without the need for cables. Like LTE, WiMAX is being touted as the next generation of mobile broadband.
WLAN: WLAN is an abbreviation of for wireless local area network, and is more commonly known as Wi-Fi.

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