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Wireless Glossary of Terms
A-B C-D E-F G-I L-M N-P Q-S T-V W-Z
WAN (Wide Area Network): A general term referring to a large network spanning a country or around the world. The Internet is a WAN. A public mobile communication system such as a cellular or PCS network is a WAN.
WAP (Wireless Application Protocol): Wireless Application Protocol is a set of standards that enables wireless devices, such as phones, pagers and palm devices, to browse content from specially-coded Web pages.
W-CDMA: Wideband Code Division Multiple Access, one of two 3G standards that makes use of a wider spectrum than CDMA and therefore can transmit and receive information faster and more efficiently.
Wi-Fi® (Wireless Fidelity): Wi-Fi provides wireless connectivity over unlicensed spectrum (using the IEEE 802.11a or 802.11b standards), generally in the 2.4 and 5 GHz radio bands. Wi-Fi provides wireless Internet access to the immediate local area and is used in homes, businesses and other similar settings to allow people to go online without using a cord or wire. Wi-Fi offers local area connectivity to Wi-Fi enabled computers and devices, typically smart phones.
Wi-Max (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access): A wireless technology based on the IEEE 802.16 standard providing metropolitan area network connectivity for fixed and mobile wireless access at broadband speeds.
Wireless Internet: A general term for using wireless services to access the Internet, e-mail and/or the World Wide Web.
Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN): Using radio frequency (RF) technology, WLANs transmit and receive data wirelessly in a certain area. This allows users in a small zone to transmit data and share resources, such as printers, without physically connecting each computer with cords or wires.
Wireless Private Branch Exchange (PBX): Equipment that allows employees or customers within a building or limited area to use wireless devices in place of traditional landline phones.
WLL (Wireless Local Loop): WLL is a system that connects wireless users to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) using wireless technology and other circuitry to complete the "last mile" between the wireless user and the exchange equipment. Wireless systems can often be installed faster and cheaper than traditional wired systems.
Last Updated: September 2010
