AC adapter
A connector that provides external (not battery) power to a mobile device.

ActiveSync
A program that manages synchronization between a mobile device and desktop computer and/or a server.

Alphabetical index
An alphabetical index that allows for quick location of sections in the list of contacts.

Authentication
Validates a user's logon information using user name and password.

Backup file
A file containing the program information on a mobile device. This file does not include information stored in ROM, such as settings and factory-installed software.

Beam
A process using infrared (IR) or Bluetooth to send and receive information between mobile devices.

Bluetooth
A short-range wireless communication technology.

Bluetooth service
A program that performs a specific function in a Bluetooth-enabled device, which is available to other connecting Blutooth-enabled devices.

Broadcast channel
A number assigned to each channel for specific types of information that is available on each channel.

Cable connection
A communications method by which a cable is used to connect a mobile device to another device.

Call Barring
A feature that can block incoming and/or outgoing calls.

Call Forwarding
A feature that allows for automatic forwarding of incoming calls.

Call History
A list that contains dialed, received, and missed calls.

Call Waiting
A service that notifies a user that a call is coming in while the user is in a call.

Caller ID
A service that discloses the incoming caller's identity.

Category
A keyword a user creates to organize items in Calendar, Contacts, and Tasks on a mobile device, used to easily find, sort, filter, or group items.

CDMA
Code Division Multiple Access.

Cell broadcast
A feature where a cell tower can broadcast news or data (such as weather and traffic information, for example) to phones connected to that tower.

Cellular line
A modem option used to connect to an Internet service provider (ISP) or work network.

Certificate
A certificate is sent when a message is digitally signed. The certificate proves the sender's identity and supplies the recipient with a public key with which to decrypt the sender's encrypted message.

Certificate revocation list (CRL)
A document maintained and published by a certification authority that lists certificates that have been revoked.

Channel list
A list that is broadcast from the cell tower to the phone, specifying the types of information that is available on each channel.

Channel number
A number assigned to each channel for specific types of information that is available on each channel.

CHAP authentication
Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol verifies the identity of the requesting computer or device by sending a challenge message, and if the response matches an expected value, the authentication succeeds.

Clear memory
A process that erases all information stored in RAM on a mobile device.

COM port
A serial communications port used to connect a device, such as a modem, printer, or mobile device, to a computer.

Compact Flash card
A modem, network, or storage card that plugs into a mobile device.

Conflict
An item that has been changed on both the mobile device and desktop computer.

Conflict resolution
A process that allows viewing an item that has been changed on both the desktop computer and mobile device, and allows selecting which version of the item to keep.

Connection
The ability to interact with another device, computer, network, or the Internet by means of a serial cable, infrared, modem, or network (Ethernet) card.

Contacts
A program that tracks contact information.

Data restoration
Return data from a backup to its original location or to its successor.

Domain Name System (DNS)
A hierarchical, distributed database that contains mappings of DNS domain names to various types of data, such as IP addresses. DNS enables the location of computers and services by user-friendly names, and it also enables the discovery of other information stored in the database.

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)
An industry standard method for simplified and dynamic configuration of IP addresses for computers on TCP/IP networks.

Encrypt
To encode (scramble) information in such a way that it is unreadable to all but those individuals possessing the key to the code.

Event
An occurrence about which a user needs to be notified.

Event log
A persistent representation for synchronization events. Not all events are logged.

Favorites
A list of links to Web sites accessed from the Favorites menu in Internet Explorer and Internet Explorer Mobile.

File conversion
A process of converting Windows-compatible files on the desktop computer to Windows CE-compatible files on the mobile device, and vice versa.

GPRS
General Packet Radio Service.

GSM
Global System for Mobile Communications.

Host database
The database containing the source data that is used to create a database or synchronize with another database.

IMAP4
Internet Message Access Protocol 4

Inbox
The location on the device to view messages received on all supported messaging accounts.

Incoming mail server
The server that is used for storing and transporting messages that the user receives.

Incoming type
Information that is grouped for the purpose of synchronization. Items are synchronized based on synchronization settings for their information type.

Infrared connection
A communication method by which a mobile device is connected to another device (such as another mobile device, a desktop computer, or a printer) using the infrared (IR) port on each device.

Instant message (IM)
A method of real-time communication over the Internet in which a sender types a message to one or more recipients and the recipient immediately receives the message in a pop-up window.

Internet e-mail account
An e-mail account with an Internet service provider (ISP).

Internet Message Access Protocol 4 (IMAP4)
An Internet e-mail protocol.

Internet service provider (ISP)
An Internet e-mail protocol.

IP address
The Internet Protocol address that uniquely identifies a computer that is connected to the Internet.

ISDN
ISDN is a circuit-switched telephone network system, that also provides access to packet switched networks, designed to allow digital transmission of voice and data over ordinary telephone copper wires, resulting in better voice quality than an analog phone.

Messaging
A program that allows sending and receiving e-mail messages, text messages, and multimedia messages.

Mobile phone
A mobile phone (also known as a wireless phone, cell phone, or cellular telephone) is a long-range, electronic device used for mobile voice or data communication over a network of specialized base stations known as cell sites.

Mobile phone tools
A program allows mobile users to connect their cellular phones to their personal computer.

Mode
The operational state of a computer or a program. For example, edit mode is the state in which a program accepts changes to a file.

Modem card
A card that is inserted into a mobile device to connect to a phone line.

Modem connection
A connection between a mobile device and a remote computer or network that is established using a modem installed on the device.

Multimedia message
A message that can combine text, sounds, pictures.

Multimedia Message Service (MMS)
Allow pictures and other types of messaging.