Mobile Broadband  and  Mobile Internet Connection Glossary

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

3G broadband: What is 3G broadband? It's currently the most common way the majority of mobile phones and mobile computers access the internet via a signal from a mobile internet service provider. It is called 3G because it is the 'third generation' of mobile technology.  nearly all of the US, UK and Europe is now supported by 3G network signals from the leading suppliers.

Anti-spam: This term refers to computer software applications that help protect cell phone and computer email programs from unsolicited 'spam' electronic junk mail. Anti-spam applications are only required if using an email client, such as Microsoft Outlook, that downloads messages directly to the computer, laptop or mobile phone. On the other hand, webmail, for example Hotmail or Google Mail, should have anti-spam software features already built in.
Anti-spam approaches can be broken into four broad categories: those that need actions by individuals, those that are automated by systems administrators, those that are automated by e-mail senders and those used by researchers and law enforcement officials.

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

Malware is not just an annoyance, it often damages computers and cell phones while potentially copying personal data.

There are many bad people out there looking to make trouble and some kind of anti-virus software program is required on a broadband-enabled computers, laptops, and or smartphones.   

Namebrand anti-virus software programs such as Norton or McAfee are sometimes bundled by mobile internet service providers and supplied for free.  Other people rely on free versions of services such as Avast and AVG.  One way or another – the reality is an anti-virus software program is necessary to protect computers, notebooks, and mobile phones.

Anti-spyware: Spyware is broad category of malicious software that can implant itself on laptops, and smartphones via 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 malicious computer software programs that surreptitiously obtain, monitor and report information from a person’s computer without their knowledge or permission.  This can include sensitive data such as details of sites visited, and even e-mail.

Capping:  In mobile internet connection  terms capping describes a cap, or limit, on the allowable quantity of data to download per conditions a specific contract.  When the cap is exceeded, additional charges often apply.

Dongle: In mobile internet 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 network  signal.  Often just referred to as a stick, the dongle allows devices to access mobile internet connection just like a mobile phone.

Bandwidth Download speed: Bandwidth Download speed refers to how quickly a file (of data) can be downloaded from a remote source.  This mobile network term  describes how fast a connection can deliver data to a computer.  Anything that moves across the internet to a computer is considered to be 'downloaded'.    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 typical to measure this connection speed it megabytes or millions of bytes per second.

Femtocells: Femtocells use internet connection and boost the 3G signal to make smartphones - and devices with a dongle – perform better.   A femtocell is a wireless access point that provides localized 3G broadband coverage.  Typically it is very small base station that receives network provider 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 play an integral role in location based services and marketing.

Firewall: A firewall is a software component used to stop outside access on computers, laptops or smartphones over the internet. The firewall will evaluate incoming data that connect to the computers, laptops or handsets, and if it doesn't meet the settings allocated to it, the data transfer will be stopped.

Firewall virus software applications are often bundled with anti-virus software applications as well as sometimes being available free versions.  Malicious software can sometimes get around  firewall restrictions and a firewall alone cannot  assure computer  and cell phone safety.

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 broadband signal network.

Gb (or gigabit): Giga means one billion. Gb  (note the small b) a contraction of   gigabit, a unit used to express internet data speed (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 a contraction of  gigabyte, which is often used to describe 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 could be measured in bytes, a basic Word document in kilobytes, a music file in megabytes and a DVD movie in gigabytes.

HSPA, HSDPA, HSUPA: HSPA is an acronym for 'high speed packet access'. HSDPA is an acronym for ‘high speed download packet access' and HSUPA is an acronym 'high speed upload' packet access’, each describes the same technology either sending or receiving data.  It is the latest advancement in quality for mobile broadband usage, working on various 3G mobile internet connection 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 kilobit): Kb is short for  kilobit, which is a term used to describe internet data speed also written as Kbps, or kilobits per second.  It was typically used to measure dial-up internet speeds and still  appears with slower mobile broadband connections.

LTE: LTE stands for Long Term Evolution, and is one of the next generation of mobile broadband technologies.  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 an abbreviation 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 an abbreviation of for megabyte, which is a term used to express the size of computer files and storage capacity.

Upload speed: This term expresses how fast a broadband connection can send data from computers or mobile phones. Anything that goes across the internet from a computer, notebook, or cell phone is considered to be 'uploaded'.

Wi-Fi: Pronounced ‘why-fye’, Wi-Fi is a contraction of 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.

In mobile data connection terms, the most common usage is when referring to Wi-Fi hotspots:  public areas that offer internet connectivity either free or for a fee.  Because of the close relationship with its underlying standard, the abbreviation Wi-Fi is often used as a synonym for IEEE 802.11 technology.

WiMAX: This term is an abbreviation of Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access - a new broadband technology that has potential to offer 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 short for for wireless local area network, and is more commonly called Wi-Fi.

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