AMPS |
Advanced Mobile Phone System, an analog standard for wireless service. |
|
Accessories |
Mechanical devices, such as cable clamps, added to connector shells and other such hardware |
which is attachable to connectors to make up the total connector configuration. |
|
A/D |
Analog-to-digital. |
|
|
Alloy |
A mixture of two or more metals combined to achieve properties, such as a lower melting point or greater |
strength, that the individual metals do not possess. |
|
Ambient |
The atmospheric conditions surrounding a given item. Normally in terms of factors which influence or |
modify, such as temperature, humidity, etc. |
|
|
Amplitude |
The magnitude of variation in a changing quantity from its zero value. The word required modification - as |
with adjectives such as peak, maximum, rms, etc. - to designate the specific amplitude in question. |
|
Back Mounted (rear mounting) |
When a connector is mounted from the inside of a panel or box with its mounting flange inside the equipment. |
|
Backplane Panels |
An interconnection panel into which PCB cards or other panels can be plugged. These panels come in a |
variety of designs ranging from a PC motherboard to individual connectors mounted in a metal frame. |
Panels lend themselves to automated wiring. |
|
Bandwidth |
The range of frequencies for which performance falls within specific limits. |
|
Base Material |
Metal from which the connector, contact or other piece part accessory is made and on which one or more |
metals or coatings may be deposited. |
|
Baonet Coupling |
A quick coupling device for plug and receptacle connectors, accomplished by rotation of a cam operating |
device designed to bring the connector halves together. |
|
B-CDMA |
Broadband - Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) |
|
Bending Radius |
The mnimum permissible radius for fixed installation of the cable. This radius is mainly used in climatic |
tests. Minimum dynamic: The minimum permissible radius for flexible applications of the cable. |
|
BNC |
Coaxial connector with bayonet coupling mechanism. Available in 50 Ohm and 75 Ohm versions. |
Frequency range DC - 4 GHz (50 Ohm) and DC-1 GHz (75 Ohm), respectively. Named after Amphenol |
Engineer Carl Concelman, and Bell Labs Engineer Paul Neill. |
|
Body |
Main, or largest, portion of a connector to which other portions are attached. |
|
Braid |
Woven wire used as sheilding for insulated wires and coaxial cables. Also, a woven fibrous protective outer |
covering over a conductor or cable. |
|
Braid Coverage |
A calculated percentage which defines the completeness with which a braid or shield covers the surface of |
the underlying component. |
|
Bulkhead |
A term used to define a mounting style of connectors. Bulkhead connectors are designed to be inserted into |
a panel cutout from the rear (component side) or front side of the panel. |
|
Butted Contact |
When two conductors come together end-to-end, but do not overlap, with their axis in line. |
|
|
|
Cable Assembly |
A completed cable and its associated hardware (e.g. connector). |
|
Capacitance |
The property of an electrical conductor (dielectric in a capacitor) that permits the storage of energy as a |
result of electrical displacement. The basic unit of capacitance is the Farad, however measurement is more |
commonly in microfarads or picofarads. |
|
Closed Entry Contact |
A specially designed connector interface which controls the entry of the male pin from damaging the female |
contact. |
|
Coaxial Cable |
A transmission line consisting of two concentric conductors insulated from each other. In its flexible form it |
consists of either a solid or stranded center conductor surrounded by a dielectric. A braid is then woven over |
the dielectric to form an outer conductor. A protective plastic covering is placed on top of the braid. |
|
Contact |
The conducting part of an interconnect at the interface between the connector and the lead on the device |
being connected. |
|
Contact Alignment |
Defines the overall radial play which contacts shall have within the insert cavity so as to permit self- |
alignment of mated contacts. Sometimes referred to as amount of contact float. |
|
Contact Cavity |
A defined hole in the connector insert or housing into which the contact must fit. |
|
Contact Durability |
The number of insertion and withdrawal cycles that a connector must be capable of withstanding while |
remaining within the performance levels of the applicable specification. |
|
Contact Engaging & Separating Force |
Force needed to either engage or separate pins and socket contacts when they are in and out of connector |
inserts. Values are generally established for maximum and minimum forces. Performance acceptance |
levels vary by specification and/or customer requirements. |
|
Contact Plating |
Deposited metal applied to the basic contact metal to provide the required contact-resistance and/or wear- |
resistance. |
|
Contact Pressure |
Force which mating surfaces exert against one another. |
|
Contact Resistance |
Measurement of electrical resistance of mated contacts when assembled in a connector under typical |
service use. Electrical resistance is determined by measuring from the rear of the electrical area of one |
contact to the rear of the mating contact (excluding both crimps) while carrying a specified test current. |
|
Contact Retention |
Defines minimum axial load in either direction which a contact must withstand while remaining firmly fixed |
in its normal position within a an insert. |
|
Convection |
The transfer of heat by movement of hot air. Often used in conjunction with infrared radiation to reduce the |
effect of IR shadowing. |
|
Coplanarity |
The distance between the lowest and highest lead when the connector is laying in its seating plane. |
|
Crimp |
Act of compressing (deforming) a connector ferrule around a cable in order to make an electrical |
connection. |
|
Crimping Dies |
A term used to identify the shaping tools that, when moved toward each other, produce a certain desirable |
shape to the barrel of the terminal or contact that has been placed between them. Crimping dies are often |
referred to as die sets or as die inserts. |
|
Crimping Termination |
Connection in which a metal sleeve is secured to a conductor by mechanically crimping the sleeve with |
pliers, presses or crimp dies. |
|
Crimping Tool |
A term commonly used to identify a hand held mechanical device or table press that is used to crimp a |
contact, terminal or spice. |
|
CTIA |
Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association. |
|
Cut-off Frequency (fc) |
The frequency, above which other than the TEM mode may occur. The transmission characteristics of |
cables above their cutoff frequency may be unstable. |
|
Cycle |
One complete sequence of values of an alternating quantity, including a rise to maximum in one direction |
and of return to zero. The number of cycles occuring in one second is called the frequency. |
|
|
|
Dielectric |
In a coaxial cable, the insulation between inner and outer conductor. It significantly influences electrical |
characteristics such as impedance, capacitance, and velocity of propagation. |
|
Dielectric Constant |
Electrical property of a material that describes its behavior in an electric field. The dielectric constant of the |
dielectric is the most important design parameter for coaxial cables and determines dimensions, losses |
and propagation characteristics. |
|
Dielectric Loss |
In a coaxial cable, the losses caused by transformation of electromagnetic energy into heat within the |
dielectric material. |
|
Dielectric Strength |
The voltage which an insulating material can withstand before breakdown occurs. |
|
Dielecric Withstanding Voltage |
The maximum potential gradient that a dielectric material can withstand without failure. |
|
Digital |
Pertaining to the utilization of discreet integral numbers in a given base to represent all the quantities that |
occur in a problem or a calculation. It is possible to express in digital form all information stores, transferred |
or processed by a dual-state condition; e.g., onoff open-closed and true-false. (2) Compare with analog. |
|
Dust Cap |
A device attached to a connector to provide protection against dust and foreign debris. |
|
Distortion |
An unwanted change or addition to a signal or waveform when it is amplified. This definition excludes noise |
which is an extraneous signal super-imposed on the desired signal. |
|
Direct Current (DC) |
An electric current which flows in only one direction. |
|
|
|
Ferrule |
A short tube to make solderless connections to shielded or coaxial cable (e.g. as in crimping). |
|
Flange |
A projection extending from, or around the periphery of, a connector and provided with holes to permit |
mounting the connector to a panel, or to another mating connector half. |
|
Footprint |
The pattern on the printed circuit board to which the leads on a surface mount component are mated. Also |
called a land or a pad. |
|
Frequency Modulation (fm) |
A scheme for modulating a carrier frequency in which the amplitude remains constant but the carrier |
frequency is displaced in frequency proportionally to the amplitude of the modulating signal. An fm |
broadcast is practically immune to atmospheric and manmade interference. |
|
Fretting Corrosion |
A form of accelerated oxidation that appears at the interface of contacting materials undergoing slight cyclic |
relative motion. All nonnoble metals (tin) are susceptible to some degree of fretting corrosion and will suffer |
contact resistance increases. |
|
Front Mounted (front mounting) |
A connector is front mounted when it is attached to the outside or mating side of a panel. A front mounted |
connector can only be installed or removed from the outside of the equipment. |
|
|
|
GPS |
Global Positioning System |
|
GSM |
Global System for Mobile communication, a digital standard for wireless service for high-performance cell |
phones; European and defacto world standard. |
|
Heat Shock |
Test to determine the stability of a material when exposed to a sudden high temperature change for a short |
period of time. |
|
Heat Treating |
A process that uses precise heating and tooling of metals in order to optimize internal stresses and spring |
properties. |
|
Hermetic Seal |
Hermetically sealed connectors provide contacts bonded to the connector by glass. They permit maximum |
leakage rate of gas through the connector of 1.0 micron ft/hr at one atmosphere pressure for special |
applications. |
|
Hertz (Hz) |
International standard term for cycles per second. Named after the German physicist Heinrich R. Hertz (e.g. |
60 cycles per second is equal to 60 hertz or 60 Hz). |
|
|
|
IEEE |
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. |
|
Impedance (characteristic, Z0) |
Characteristic property of a transmission line describing the ratio between electric and magnetic fields. |
|
Impedance Match |
A condition in which the impedance of a component or circuit is equal to the internal impedance of a |
transmission line. This gives maximum transfer of energy from the source to the load, as well as minimum |
reflection and distortion. |
|
Inductance |
The property of a circuit or circuit element that opposes a change in current flow, thus causing current |
changes to lag behind voltage changes. It is measured in Henrys. |
|
Insert |
The part which holds the contacts in their proper arrangement and electrically insulates them from each |
other and from the shell. |
|
Insertion Loss |
The loss in load power due to the insertion of a component, connector or devise at some point in a RF |
transmission system. Generally expressed in decibels as the ratio of the power received at the load before |
insertion of the apparatus, to the power received at the load after insertion (for more information please refer |
to Appendix). |
|
Insulation |
A material having high resistance to the flow of electric current. Often called a dielectric in RF cable. |
|
Insulation Resistance |
The electrical resistance of the insulating material (determined under specified conditions) between any |
pair of contacts, conductors, or grounding device in various combinations. |
|
Interconnection |
Mechanically joining assemblies together to complete electrical circuits. |
|
Interface |
The two surfaces on the contact side of both halves of a multiple-contact connector which face each other |
when the connector is assembled. |
|
Interference |
An electrical or electromagnetic disturbance that causes undesirable response in electronic equipment. |
|
Intermodulation (IMD) |
A phenomenon that occurs when two or more fundamental frequencies are present in an electronic circuit. |
|
ISO |
International Standards Organization. |
|
|
|
Jack |
A connecting device into which a plug can be inserted to make circuit connections. The jack may also have |
contacts which open or close to perform switching functions when the plug is inserted or removed. See |
also: receptacle. |
|
Jacket |
An outer non-metallic protective cover applied over an insulated wire or cable. |
|
LAN |
Local Area Network. A data communication network confined to a limited geographic area (up to 6 miles or |
about 10 kilometers). |
|
Levels of Interconnection |
Device to board or chassis. The connection point between components (tubes, transistors, IC packages) |
and the PC board or chassis. Board to motherboard or backplane. The connection point between PC |
boards or sub-circuit modules and the motherboard or a backplane Board. |
|
Backplane wiring. Connections between levels to each other and to other sub-circuits. Input/output. |
Connections for power and signals into and out of a system. Connections may be between subassemblies |
within the same enclosure or between individual units. |
|
Line Impedance |
Impedance as measured across the terminals of a transmission line; frequently the characteristic |
impedance of the line. |
|
Low Noise Cable |
Cable specially constructed to avoid spurious electrical disturbances caused by mechanical movements. |
|
|
|
Mating Face Seal |
A mating face seal is a seal preventing the passage of moisture or gases into or out of the connecting |
interface of two connectors in mated condition. |
|
MCX (Micro coaxial) |
Micro coaxial connector with snap on coupling mechanism. Available in 50 ohm and 75 ohm versions. |
Frequency range DC - 6 GHZ. |
|
MHV (Miniature High Voltage) |
Coaxial connector with bayonet coupling mechanism. Working voltage 2.2 kV DC. |
|
Microwave |
That portion of the electromagnetic spectrum lying between the far infrared and conventional radio frequency |
range. The microwave frequency range extends from 1 GHz to 300 GHz. Microwaves are usually used in |
point-to-point communications because they are easily concentrated into a beam. |
|
Microstrip |
A type of transmission line configuration which consists of a conductor over a parallel ground plane, and |
separately by a dielectric. |
|
MMCX |
Miniature Microcoax connector with snap on coupling mechanism. Available in 50 ohm and 75 ohm |
versions. Frequency range DC - 6 GHz. |
|
Moisture Resistance |
The ability of a material to resist absorbing moisture from the air or when immersed in water. |
|
Motherboard |
A printed board used for interconnecting arrays of plug-in electronic modules. |
|
N (Neill) |
Coaxial connector with screw type coupling mechanism. Available in 50 ohm and 75 ohm version. |
Frequency range DC - 18 GHz (50ohm) and DC-1 GHz (75 ohm), respectively. |
|
Noise |
Random electrical signals, generated by circuit components or by natural disturbances. |
|
OEM |
Original Equipment Manufacturer. |
|
Ohm |
The unit of measurement for electrical resistance. A circuit is said to have a resistance of one ohm when an |
applied emf of one volt causes a current of one ampere to flow. |
|
|
|
Panel Seal |
A panel seal is a seal preventing the passage of moisture or gases through the gap between the mounting |
hole of the panel and the connector body of the fixed connector. |
|
Pin Contact |
A male type contact, usually designed to mate with a socket or female contact. It is normally connected to |
the "dead" side of a circuit. |
|
Plug |
In coaxial RF connectors the plug is usually the movable portion, and is usually attached to a cable or |
removable assembly. Plugs mate with receptacles, jacks, outlets, etc. |
|
Press-Fit Contact |
An electrical contact which can be pressed into a hole in an insulator, printed board (with or without plated- |
through holes), or a metal plate. |
|
Printed Circuit Board (PCB) |
An epoxy glass and metal composite on which circuits are etched and to which active, passive and |
hardware components are attached. Also called PCB or PC Board. |
|
Receptacle |
Usually the fixed or stationary half of a two-piece multiple contact connector. Also the connector half usually |
mounted on a panel and containing socket (female) contacts. |
|
RF |
Radio frequency. |
|
|
|
Screening Effectiveness |
Ratio of the power fed into a coaxial cable to the power transmitted by the cable through the outer conductor. |
|
Screw Machine Contact |
A contact which is machined from solid bar stock. |
|
Semi-Rigid |
A cable containing a flexible inner core and a relatively inflexible sheathing. |
|
Shielding |
The metal sleeve surrounding one or more of the conductors, in a wire circuit to prevent interference, |
interaction or current leakage. |
|
SMA (Subminiature A) |
50 ohm - subminiature coaxial connector with screw type coupling mechanism. Frequency range DC-18GHz. |
|
SMB (Subminiature B) |
Subminiature coaxial connector with snap-on coupling mechanism. Frequency range DC - 4 GHz. |
|
SMC (Subminiature C) |
Subminiature coaxial connector with screw type coupling mechanism. Frequency range DC - 10 GHz. |
|
Snap on |
Used to describe the easy removal or assembly of one part to another. A connector containing socket |
(female) contacts into which a plug connector having male contacts is inserted. |
|
Solder Contact |
A contact or terminal with a cup, hollow cylinder, eyelet or hood to accept a wire for a conventional soldered |
termination. |
|
Surface Mount Technology(SMT) |
The process of assembling printed circuit boards with components soldered to the surface rather than |
fastened to printed circuit board through-holes. |
|
|
|
TNC (Threaded Neill Concelman) |
Coaxial connector with screw type coupling mechanism. Available in 50 ohm and 75 ohm versions. |
Frequency range DC - 11 GHz (50ohm) and DC - 1 GHz (75 ohm), respectively. |
|
UG |
Symbol used to describe coaxial connectors that were made to a government specification. This |
specification is now obsolete. |
|
UHF |
Coaxial connector with screw type coupling mechanism invented in the 1930's by Amphenol engineer E. |
Clark Quackenbush for use in the radio industry. Non-defined impedance. Frequency range DC. |
|
Ultra High Frequency (UHF) |
A Federal Communications Commission designation for the band from 300 MHz to 3,000 MGz (3GHz) on |
the radio spectrum. |
|
VSWR |
See Voltage Standing Wave Ratio and Standing Wave Ratio. |
|
|
|
Wireless Glossary |
3G |
3G (third generation mobile telephony gives you high-speed access (up to 2mb/s). This may enable live |
pictures, camera etc. on your phone. Preceding 3G is analogue (1G). Then came GSM (2G). Currently GSM |
is now tested with GPRS(a "light version" of 3G.) |
|
AIN |
Advanced Intelligent Networks |
|
ASP (Active Server Pages) |
Serverside scripting technology to make interactive web pages. Based on VBScript. |
|
ATDMA |
Advanced Time Division Multiple Access |
|
AuC |
Authentication Center |
|
|
|
B (Byte) |
1 byte = 8 bits. A byte is the smallest directly addressable memory unit in modern computers. |
|
Base Transceiver Station |
The network base station that talks to the mobile. |
|
Bluetooth |
Get the name from the Danish king Harald 1 Bluetooth who reigned from 940-985 A.D. .A radio |
echnology built around a new chip that makes it possible to transmit signals over short distances |
between computers and handheld devices without the use of wires. |
|
bps |
Bits per second |
|
BS |
Base Station |
|
BSC |
Base Station Controller |
|
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Card |
A WML card must exist inside a WML deck containing one or more cards. |
|
CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) |
A technology for digital transmission of radio signals between, for example, a mobile telephone and a |
base station. The system uses the same frequency to allow multiple conversations. Each conversation |
is cut into snippets and then remodulated in reassembled in the other end. |
|
CLIP |
Caller Line Identity Presentation |
|
CLIR |
Caller Line Identity Restriction |
|
Control Channel |
The channel the phone and cell base station first communicate on. |
|
|
|
D-AMPS (Digital Advanced Mobile Phone System) |
Earlier designation of American standard for digital mobile telephony used primarily in America, |
Australia and parts of Russia and Asia. |
|
Deck |
A collection of WML cards. |
|
DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications) |
A standard for cordless telephony. |
|
DTD |
Document Type Definition. A DTD defines the names and contents of all elements that are permissible |
in a certain document. A DTD is used to specify XML document structure. |
|
Dual band |
Dual band mobile phones can work on networks operating different frequency bands. Often urban |
areas operate on 1800, while suburbs use the 900-band. This is especially useful if you travel abroad. |
Some phones are able to switch between GSM 900,1800,1900 (tri-band) allowing you full coverage in |
Europe, America and Asia. |
|
|
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EIR |
Equipment Identity Register |
|
ESN |
Electronic Serial Number |
|
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|
FDMA |
Frequency Division Multiple Access |
|
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HDML |
Handheld Markup Language. Invented by phone.com, predecessor to WML. |
|
HLR |
Home Location Register |
|
HSCSD |
(High Speed Circuit Switched Data). A circuit-linked technology for higher transmission speed by |
combining several GSM channels at the same time. This may allow speeds up to 58 bps,far faster than |
original GSM (9.6bps). For upload HSCSD is limited to half the speed. This technology is the |
predecessor of GPRS, which may deliver up to 115kbs. |
|
|
|
IEMI |
International Equipment Mobile Identity |
|
IMEI |
The IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity)is a 15 digit Code used to identify the GSM/DCS/PCS |
phone to the network. |
|
IWF |
Interworking Function (Modem) |
|
|
|
Ki |
Individual subscriber authentication key |
|
|
|
LAI |
Location Area Identity |
|
|
|
MAN |
Metropolitan Area Network. A MAN allows areas the size of cities to be connected. |
|
MB (Megabyte) |
1MB = 1024 kilobytes (KB) |
|
MO-SMS |
Mobile-Originated Short Message Service |
|
MSC |
Mobile Switching Centre - The computer that places the calls, and takes and receives data from the |
subscriber or from PSTN (Public switched Telephone Network) |
|
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OMS |
Operation and Maintenance Subsystem of the GSM network. |
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PAN |
Personal Area Networks. |
|
PDA |
Personal Digital Assistent. Usually a hand-held device, such as the Palm Pilot or Psion. |
|
PDC (Personal Digital Cellular) |
A Japanese standard for digital mobile telephony (800 MHz and 1500 MHz bands). |
|
PE |
Primary Exchange |
|
PHS (Personal Handyphone System) |
Digital mobile telephone system according to Japanese standard (1900Mhz). |
|
PIN |
Personal Identity Number |
|
PUC |
PIN Unblocking Code |
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Reverse Control Channel |
The opposite frequency, 45 MHz lower than the control channel. Used by the mobile. |
|
Roaming |
Means that your mobile phone automatically sets up communication procedures with different radio |
base stations when you are on the move. International roaming means that you can use networks other |
than your own when travelling abroad. Some phones allow for example switching between 900/1800 in |
Europe to 1900 in US. |
|
Router |
A data switch that handles connections between different networks. A router identifies the addresses |
on data passing through the switch, determines which route the transmission should take and collects |
data in "packets" which are sent to their destinations. |
|
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SET |
SET (Secure Electronic Transaction) is a system for ensuring the security of financial transactions over |
the Internet. SET, may authenticate both user and merchant in order to approve the transaction. |
|
SGML |
Standardised Generalised Markup Language. The mother of all markup languages. XML is "SGML |
light". HTML is a loose application of SGML. |
|
SMD-PP |
Short Message Delivery Point-to-Point |
|
SMS |
Short Message Service |
|
SMS (Short Message Service) |
A service for sending messages of up to 160 characters to mobile phones that use Global System for |
Mobile (GSM) communication. GSM and SMS services are primarily available in Europe. |
|
SMSC |
Short Message Service Centre |
|
SMS-IWMSC |
SMS Interworking Mobile Switching Center |
|
SS7 |
Signaling System 7 |
|
SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) |
Protocol for managing the security of message transmissions in a network. The idea is that the |
programming for keeping your messages confidential ought to be contained in a program layer |
between an application (such as your Web browser) and the Internet’s TCP/IP layers. The current rate |
of SSL cryptation is 128. |
|
|
|
TAP |
Telocator Alphanumeric Protocol |
|
TDMA |
Time Division Multiple Access |
|
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|
UA |
User Agent. Software that interprets WML, WMLScript, WTAI and other forms of code. Explorer, |
Netscape and Opera, are examples of UA´s) |
|
UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) |
The name for the third generation mobile telephone standard in Europe. Also described as 3G. |
|
|
|
VLR |
Visitor Location Register |
|
Voice channel |
The channel you are assigned by the switch to commence the call on after the exchange of subscriber data. |
|
VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) |
Describes the process of transmitting voice via data IP packages. |
|
|
|
W3C |
World Wide Web Consortium. |
|
WAE |
Wireless Application Environment. WAE specifies an environment that allows operators and service |
providers to build applications and services that can reach a wide variety of different platforms. WAE is |
part of the Wireless Application Protocol. |
|
WAP |
The Wireless Application Protocol is a family of protocols allowing mobile devices to access wireless services. |
|
WAP Forum |
WAP Forum, an organization of several big internet and telecom companies, develops the WAP protocol. |
|
WAP Gateway |
WAP gateway is a two-way software. Its main function is to offload the WAP mobile device from a lot of |
computational layers. |
|
WAP Server |
A WAP server is a web server. The computer programmers use WML instead of HTML. |
|
WCDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access) |
Technology for wideband digital radio communications of Internet, multimedia, video and others described |
as 3G. |
|
WDP |
Wireless Datagram Protocol |
|
WML |
A programming language that use for develop a WAP application. |
|
WMLScript |
Scripting language for WAP devices. Based on JavaScript, but less powerful. |
|
WSP |
Wireless Session Protocol. Provides the upper-level application layer of WAP with a consistent interface |
for two session services, a connection-mode service that operates above a transaction layer protocol, |
and a connectionless service that operates above a secure or non-secure datagram transport service. |
|
WTLS |
Wireless Transport Layer Security. The "equivalent" to SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) widely used in the |
HTML world - although not identical in functionality. |
|
WTP |
Wireless Transaction Protocol |
|
WYSIWYG |
What You See Is What You Get. |
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