Glossary of Mobile Terminology

The mobile and wireless market is moving faster every day. In the high-tech industry known for introducing a new technology just about every day, it's hard enough to keep up with all the new acronyms, let alone the basic terms. Use this tool to help get a foundation for some key mobile technology lingo.

Access profile- a set of parameters for an employee or group of employees that determines the allowable access to data on the enterprise.

Authenticated access - Access to data that is allowed only after the user has been identified by a password or other security measure.

Back-door PDA - Handheld device purchased and supported by employees for personal use but are also used to access corporate enterprise data.

Back-office - Internal corporate functions, such as accounting/billing, purchasing, etc.

Browser-based - Facilitating access to enterprise data through a browser as opposed to a file search, which allows access through a wider variety of hardware or device alternatives.

Client/server - An enterprise environment in which a variety of hardware or device alternatives ("clients") transfer data with a centralized server as opposed to individual PCs or a local network.

Cradle - A stand that holds a handheld device in an upright position to allow work on a desktop and initiate synchronisation with a PC.

CRM - The acronym for Customer Relationship Management (see below).

Custom applications - Software installed on a device that was not part of its original package (or suite) of applications and that has been developed for a specific job or industry (e.g., hospital data).

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) - A generic term for business software applications for the corporate enterprise that help track and manage existing and prospective customers toward enhanced service, responsiveness, and sales opportunities.

Custom applications - Software installed on a device that was not part of its original package (or suite) of applications and that has been developed for a specific job or industry (e.g., hospital data).

Data sharing - Transferring and updating data among devices and/or the network.

Device-agnostic - Open to any brand of device or operating system.

Encryption - A security measure that "scrambles" data so it is unreadable until an approved user is authorized to access it.

Enterprise - The combination of employees, communication devices, and data available within an organisation.

ERP - The acronym for Enterprise Resource Planning (see below).

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) - A generic term for software that facilitates the integration of various existing and future business applications toward a smoother workflow, faster data transfer, and up-to-date data.

Handhelds - Communication devices sized to fit one's hand or palm.

Groupware - Software that facilitates shared data on the enterprise among all or a selected group of users, specifically for Personal Information Management (PIM) data and email. Groupware allows authorized users to update PIM data and communicate via email to update files and information critical to the entire enterprise.

Infrared - A method for transferring data between devices using infrared (line-of-sight) technology instead of cables or other wired connections.

Infrastructure - The matrix of operating systems, software, support, security measures and devices used by the enterprise.

In-house developer - Software application developers within a company or organisation charged with creating or manipulating business solutions that support and evolve the enterprise.

Licensing fees - An up-front and either one-time or annual cost to install software developed by a third-party onto your network.

Mission-critical data - Information critical to a particular task.

Mobile - A device that is designed for use outside the office or in the field.

Off-the-shelf applications - Prepackaged software developed to accommodate common needs and thus not typically customisable.

PDA - The acronym for Personal Digital Assistant (see below)

Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) - A mobile handheld computing/communication device.

Personal Information Management (PIM) - A suite or combination of software applications for mobile handheld devices that typically includes an address book (or contacts), to-do lists, email functionality, and a calendar/datebook.

PIM - The acronym for Personal Information Management (see above).

Platform - The foundation of a strategy from which existing and new applications and devices are supported and integrated into the enterprise, with allowances for future technology and evolving solutions.

Platform vendors - Sellers of off-the-shelf software packages specific to an operating system or device data platform.

Pilot - Implementing a product or solution to a limited, representative group to gain insight and evaluate feasibility for the entire organisation.

Professional Services - Enterprise business consulting that includes: research and analysis; needs assessment and scope of work; strategic planning; solutions design, development, and deployment; testing; training and workshops; maintenance and on-going management toward a total mobile solutions strategy.

Real-time - The ability to immediately transfer and update data at the server and client through a wireless connection.

Return on Investment (ROI) - The time it takes to payback (or recoup) the amount of money invested in a technology or strategy.

ROI - The acronym for Return On Investment.

Rollout - Implementing a product or solution to an entire department, division or organisation upon completion of a successful Pilot (see Pilot, above).

Royalties - Fees paid to the owner of a technology (e.g., a software developer) based on sales of that technology by a reseller or vendor.

Sales force automation (SFA) - A generic term for software applications designed specifically for sales tasks.

Scalability - The ability to add technology, business and custom solutions, users, and devices of any kind to a given solutions platform.

Seats - Number of handheld users or potential users.

Server-based synchronisation - Data transfer through a central server, typically via the Internet.

SFA - The acronym for sales force automation (see above).

Small form - A term used to describe handheld or palm-sized devices.

Smart handheld devices - Handheld devices with more than one function, such as a PDA with cell phone functionality.

Smart phones - Handheld phones that are Internet-enabled through wireless access.

Synchronisation - Automated data transfer.

Total cost of ownership (TCO) - A calculation that considers all costs associated with investment in a technology.

TCO - The acronym for Total Cost of Ownership (see above).

Thin client - A device enabled to access business applications on the enterprise in a client/server environment.

Total Solutions Package - An integrated and comprehensive approach that includes expertise, strategic planning, professional services, and solutions to help enterprise organisations realise their business goals and deliver data to mobile workers anytime, anywhere.

Verticals - Industry-specific (e.g., healthcare or retail sales) markets.

WAP phones - Phones equipped with Wireless Application Protocol (WAP), which enables users to access the Internet (and a portal or browser-based enterprise environment, with authorisation) using a handheld telephone device.

Wireless - A connectivity option requiring no cables or wires to receive and transfer data between devices and/or the network (e.g., Bluetooth, Infrared, Cellular)