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 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 method nearly all smartphones and mobile computers access the internet via a signal from a mobile internet service provider. It is referred to as 3G because it is the 'third generation' of mobile technology.  [LeadingPrimary] European and American internet service providers have 3G available for mobile subscribers.

Anti-spam: This term refers to computer software programs that help protect cell phone and computer email inboxes from unwanted 'spam' the digital equivalent of junk mail. Anti-spam programs are only required if using an email client, for example Microsoft Outlook, that downloads messages directly to the computer, laptop or smartphone. On the other hand, webmail, like Hotmail or Google Mail, should have anti-spam software features already included.
Anti-spam techniques are broken into four broad categories: those that need actions from individuals, those that are automated by systems 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 guard computers, notebooks, and smartphones from malicious internet (including email) transferred malware.  Malware is malicious software applications normally intended to be intrusive or damaging.  Computer viruses, Trojan horses and worms are common forms of malware.

Malware is not just an annoyance, it often damages computers and smartphones while potentially stealing personal data.

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

Namebrand anti-virus software applications like Norton or McAfee are sometimes bundled by mobile internet service providers and offered for free.  Other people rely on free versions of products like Avast and AVG.  One way or another – the reality is an anti-virus software application is necessary to protect computers, notebooks, and mobile phones.

Anti-spyware: Spyware is broad category of malicious software that will insert itself on computers, 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 does other malicious things such as slow down processes and change programs and settings. Some internet service providers include good quality anti-spyware in broadband packages.  Many anti-virus packages include anti-spyware.

Capping:  In mobile internet connection  terminology capping describes a cap, or limitation, on the data allowed to download on a certain contract.  IF the cap is exceeded, additional fees often apply.

Dongle: In mobile broadband  terminology dongle is the word that typically is used to to describe the small device that plugs into another internet-enabled device to pick-up a mobile network  signal.  Also sometimes called a 'stick', these devices plug easily into a USB port on a laptop or PC and contain a SIM card from a mobile network provider, in the same way a smartphone accesses data and the internet.

Bandwidth Download speed: Bandwidth Download speed refers to how quickly a file (of information) can be downloaded from a remote source.  This mobile internet connection 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'.    This is typically from a website that has the file that you want, or from another user that allows you to download the file directly from them.  Similarly, anything going the other way from the computer to the internet is being 'uploaded' , for example sending  photos to a website.

Femtocells: Femtocells use internet connection and boost the 3G signal to make handsets - and devices with a dongle – perform better.   A femtocell is a wireless access point that delivers localized 3G broadband coverage.  Often it is very small base station that receives data connection provider or ISP signals and boosts it around a small area, such as your house, office or event center.  They very likely are going to become very common and will play an integral role in location based services and marketing.

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

Firewall virus software programs are often included with anti-virus software programs as well as sometimes being available free versions.  Malicious software can sometimes get around  firewall protection and a firewall alone is not sufficient to  keep computer  and mobile phone protection.

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 internet connection signal network.

Gb (or gigabit): Giga means one billion. Gb  (note the small b) a contraction of   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 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. For comparison, 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 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 stands for internet service provider.

KB (or Kbps, or kilobyte): KB is short for  kilobyte, which is a term used to express  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 reputed 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 describe 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.

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, laptop, or cell phone is considered to be 'uploaded'.

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 means any electronics that work wirelessly over a Wi-Fi network, technically but seldom labelled a WLAN.  Because of the close relationship with its underlying standard, the abbreviation Wi-Fi is often used synonymously for IEEE 802.11 technology.

WiMAX: This term is a contraction of Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access - a new broadband technology that has potential to offer a wireless broadband alternative without the need for cables. Similarly to LTE, WiMAX is being promoted as the next generation of mobile broadband.
WLAN: WLAN is short for for wireless local area network, and is more commonly called Wi-Fi.

An interesting software suite for Mobile Phone SMS Monitoring, GPS Location Tracking, MMS Monitoring and Phone Event Log archive with a Web Account is PhoneBeagle.  Follow this link if you are interested in    Cell Phone Monitoring Software that is compatible with BlackBerry  and  Android  Smartphones,.    Visit this link for more information regarding the latest software for  
Parental Control and Employee Monitoring of Mobile Phones .