Any software system that allows users to make financial transactions over the Internet. E-commerce systems normally feature large databases to manage customer and stock details, as well as security features to allow banking details to be exchanged safely.
Java is a powerful and highly versatile programming language used to write computer software. Many of today's mobile phones can run Java programs, making it a popular choice for developing new software to run on phones.
Any software that tailors the information it offers the user based on their location. The user's location may be determined by global positioning satellite (GPS) or from the mobile phone network. GPS positioning is much more accurate: a common example of a GPS service is the satellite navigation ("sat-nav") systems found in cars. Systems based on the mobile phone position include restaurant, hotel and cinema finders, and the live traffic information services offered by most mobile phone networks.
Any software system that allows users to make financial transactions from a mobile phone. A typical m-commerce system will allow users to store credit and debit card details securely on their phone, and transmit them safely to a retailer.
A very short-range radio technology used to prove your identify by "swiping" a phone or other device across a pad. NFC is becoming an important part of m-commerce.
A security patch is a small piece of software, typically downloaded from the Internet, which modifies an existing application or operating system to protect it from a specific threat, such as a virus.
Recent versions of Microsoft Windows come with a system for automatically downloading security patches as they become available.
WAP is a world-wide information system for mobile phones. It is often described as "the mobile Web", but the comparison can be misleading. WAP is very much tailored to mobile phones, and hence lacks many of the "bells and whistles" of the web, such as the rich graphical interface of some websites. All the mobile phone network operators have their own WAP "portals", offering users a single, easy route to access a range of WAP services such as news, sport and games.
Radio technology that enables you to connect to a network, such as your office network, without using a cable. Many portable computers, such as laptops and handhelds, now come with Wi-Fi technology built in as standard. Additionally, many areas such fast food restaurants, hotels and airport business lounges now offer wireless "hot-spots" which give Wi-Fi users a convenient way to connect to the Internet.