• Home >
• CIT >
• Website Development
• > Website Support

Mobile Terminology

Key Terms and Concepts

TERM	DEFINITION
2D barcodes	A scannable barcode which can be read by certain mobile applications (by taking a photo of the barcode) and convey information such as URL etc.
3G	Third Generation of mobile communications systems. 3G networks enable network operators to offer users a wider range of more advanced services while achieving greater network capacity.
API	Stands for Application Programming Interface. The resource of protocols and languages used for developing compatible applications.
Basic Phone	Any line of entry level mobile phone.
Bluetooth	A short distance wireless transfer protocol for connecting devices.
Browser	An application used to access and navigate through the Internet.
CGM	Stands for Consumer Generated Media. Another term for Social Media.
Device Detection	The automated process of sorting traffic depending on the device used for access.
GeoTag	When content is tagged with the physical location at which it was created or uploaded.
GPS	Stands for Global Positioning System. Satellite-based positioning technology that allows a GPS receiver to calculate its position anywhere on earth with great accuracy.
LBS	Stands for Location Based Services.
Middleware	Software which communicates between two processors.
PPC	Stands for Pay Per Click ads. The sponsored results for products or services on SERPs. These ads are only paid for when they are clicked, not when they are displayed.
Segmentation	Used to filter visitors into distinct characterised groups to analyse visits.
SEO	Also known as Natural Search, Search Engine Optimisation is about building or tweaking a website to increase the Search Engine ranking, and ultimately the amount of traffic to it from search engines.
Smartphone	These handsets have advanced capabilities and allow users to add applications to their phones. They usually have a QWERTY keypad and include 3G and Wifi capabilities.
SMS	Stands for Short Message Service. Electronic messages sent on wireless network.
Social Media	The media that is published, created and shared by individuals on the Internet, such as blogs, images and video.
Social Network	In the online sense, this refers to a type of website model where individual members become part of a broader virtual community.
Tracking	Measuring the effectiveness of a campaign by collecting and evaluating statistics.
Traffic	This refers to the visitors that spend time on a website.
USSD	Stands for Unstructured Supplementary Service Data. Works on all existing GSM phones. Provides session-based communication, enabling a variety of applications.
VoIP	Also known as IP Telephony, VoIP stands for Voiceover Internet Protocol. Allows for telecommunication over the Internet. Skype and Fring are popular examples of VoIP software.
WAP	Stands for Wireless Application Protocol. A technical set of communication standards for the way wireless devices (like cell phones) connect with the Internet.
Wifi	The wireless technology which is the current standard protocol for networking and