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Terms of electronics, telecommunications and IT for smart card

0-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

 

3G
(Third Generation)
  Said of the broadband communications systems that combine high-speed voice, data and multimedia. Intermediate technologies, commonly referred to as 2.5G include GPRS and EDGE See Broadband, UMTS, WCDMA.
3GPP Group that aims to produce specifications for a 3G System based on GSM networks. See http://www.3gpp.com/
802.11b   a high-speed (11 Mbps) wireless networking technology. Also called Wireless Ethernet, AirPort or Wi-FI. See also WLAN

A -
ABS
(Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene)
  The plastic used to make molded (or injected) card bodies for certain cards (See PVC ).
AES
(Advanced Encryption Standard)
A secret-key algorithm that is expected to replace DES.
Algorithm   A mathematical routine used to perform computations (often used for cryptography). See DES, RSA.
Analog Information presented in the form of a continuously varying signal. See Digital.
Anti-collision   (or collision avoidance) A feature commonly used in contactless card systems to prevent conflicts between different signals competing for attention at the same time. See Contactless.
APDU
(Application Protocol Data Unit)
The basic command unit for a smart card. An APDU contains either a command message or a response message, sent from the interface device to the smart card or from the card to the device. See ISO 7816-3 for more information.
API
(Application Programming Interface)
  A definition of calling conventions by which an application program accesses to other services such as the operating system, drivers, databases, or middleware layers. See CryptoAPI, PKCS.
Applet A compact program that can be downloaded quickly and used by a remote computing device. Applets are not allowed to access certain resources on the remote device. See Java, Java Card
ASIC
(Application-Specific Integrated Circuit)
  A chip that has been customer designed.
ATM
(Automated Teller Machine)
A device that can be placed in a public place allowing cardholders to conduct basic banking operations including cash withdrawal.
ATR
(Answer To Reset)
  A message that is returned by a smart card when it is powered up or when its reset pin is activated. The ATR indicates the card type, communication protocol and other basic information. See Session.
Authentication The process whereby a card, terminal or person proves who they are. A fundamental part of many cryptography systems.
External Authentication   The procedure used to authenticate the external world (e.g., terminal) to the card.
Internal Authentication The procedure used to prove that the card is genuine by means of an algorithm, a random value and a secret key.
The authentication process can be further distinguished between passive authentication in which the same values are used each time (e.g., PIN) and active authentication in which an algorithm and variable values are used.

B -    
Bandwidth   The amount of data that can be sent through a connection. Usually measured in bps. A normal page of hypertext ranges from 6,000 to 20,000 bits (not counting graphics).
Baud   A unit of signaling speed. The speed in baud is the number of discrete conditions or signal elements per second. It is now largely obsolete and has been replaced by "bits per second" (Bps).
Biometrics   Identification and authentication techniques based on the physical characteristics of a person such as fingerprints, hand geometry, retina scan or voice print.
BIP
(Bearer Independent Protocol)
  Standardized protocol that lets a SIM card communicate directly with a remote server.
Bluetooth   A technology that allows an array of devices to communicate over short-distance wireless connections. This technology applies to PCs on a local area network as well as cell phones, personal digital assistants and even wristwatches.
Bps
(Bits-Per-Second)
  Data transmission speed, the number of pieces of information transmitted per second. See Baud.
Broadband   A term to describe a high-speed communications channel (usually > 1.5 Megabytes per second). Broadband networks are required to offer 3G services that combine voice, data and multimedia. See Bandwidth, ATM.

C -    
CA
(Certification Authority)
  The organization that issues certificates and takes liability associated with the validity of the holder's identity. Often financial and institutional organizations. See: Certificate, SSL, PKI.
CAP file
(Converted Applet File)
  The file produced when a Java class file is converted for loading into a Java Card.
CASE 
(Computer-Aided Software Engineering)
  Generic term for tools and techniques that are said to offer major productivity gains for analysts and programmers.
CCITT
(Comité Consultatif International Télégraphique et Téléphonique)
  The French acronym that translates to the International Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Committee. This international body renamed itself ITU (International Telecommunications Union).
CDMA
(Code Division Multiple Access)
  A wireless communications technology that uses the spread spectrum communication to provide increased bandwidth. CDMA offers improved performance over the earlier TDMA technology. See also W-CDMA
Cellular Phone Network   See Mobile Phone Network.
Certificate   A file, digitally signed by a Certification Authority. There are many different types of certificates (the most common being X 509 V3).
Checksum   (also called Hash) A count of the number of bits in a transmission unit so that the recipient can make sure the correct number of bits arrived and that the message is intact. See SHA-1, Cryptography.
Chromalin   A printer's proof manufactured by Dupont. Chromalin proofs are the most common way of exchaning final artwork for printing on smart cards.
Class File   The Java executable file produced when source code has been compiled. A class file must be converted into a CAP file before it can be executed on a Java Card.
Client/server   An information system with a client device (usually a PC or a terminal) and a central server that houses all or part of the application.
CMS
(Card Management System)
  Tools and services used to deploy and manage smart card-based applications. CMS is used primarily to manage the lifecycle of cards and applications hosted by the cards.
Comp128-1   The proprietary algorithm that was initially used by default in SIM cards. The GSM Association formally recommends against using Comp128-1, as it has been proven unsecure.
Confidentiality   Guarantee that a message will be legible to no-one other than the intended recipient. Confidentiality is an essential role of cryptography systems.
Contact Smart Card   A smart card that operates by physical contact between the reader and the smart card's different contacts (in comparison to Contactlesssmart cards).
Contactless   A smart card with no visible module that communicates by means of a radio frequency signal. There is no need of physical contact between the card and a reader (in comparison to Contact smart cards ).
Coupler   An electronic system used to read the smart card. It is the basis of a reader. Designed to be integrated in a machine (e.g., gaming machine, gas meter...).
CQL
(Card Query Language)
  A subset of Structured Query Language (SQ)L implemented on a smart card.
CRC
(Cyclic Redundancy Check)
  A popular method of ensuring transmissions have not been garbled.
CryptoAPI
(Cryptographic Application Programming Interface)
  A Microsoft API that offers system-level access to common cryptographic functions.
Cryptography   The science of ensuring that messages are secure. Cryptographic systems are based on the concepts of authentication, integrity, confidentiality and non-repudiation. See Public Key, Secret Key, DES, RSA).
CryptoKI   See PKCS#11.

D -
DCS (Digital Cellular System)   For DCS 1800 See GSM 1800.
DES
(Data Encryption Standard)
  The most widely used secret key encryption algorithm (orginally developed by IBM in 1977). A strengthened version of DES called triple DES (or 3DES) is commonly used in bank cards. See Secret Key.
DF 
(Dedicated File)
  Memory organization for microprocessor cards: A DF is a logical entity that holds a number of elementary files (EF). In multi-purpose cards each DF will normally correspond to a distinct application. See MF, EF.
Digital   Said of systems whose information is represented in binary form. Compare Analog.
Digital Printing   A relatively recent technology that lets you print directly from a digital file. Digital printing is particulary well suited for small production runs.
Digital Signature   (not to be confused with a digital certificate) An electronic signature created using a public-key algorithm. A digital signature can be used by the recipient to authenticate the identity of the sender and to ensure the integrity of the message. See certificates, RSA.
DMZ
(De-Militarized Zone)
  A network added between a protected network and an external network in order to provide an additional layer of security.
DNS
(Domain Naming System)
  The name lookup the Internet uses to convert from alphabetic names such as www.gemplus.com to 32-bit binary IP addresses. See TCP/IP, Domain Name.
Domain Name   The unique name that identifies an Internet site. Domain Names always have 2 or more parts, separated by dots. The part on the left is the most specific, and the part on the right is the most general (e.g., http://www.gemplus.com/ ). See TCP/IP, DNS.
DRM
(Digital Rights Management)
  DRM systems allow the owners of copyrighted material or of intellectual property (such as a music, video, or text file) to specify just what users will be allowed to do with it.
Dual Slot   Said of a smart card reader than can accommodate two cards simultaneously (often one for the end-user and one to identify an authorized professional).

E -
e-Cash   Digital money, typically in the form of downloadable "digital coins" that can be stored in a bank account, on a PC or on a smart card.
e-Commerce
(Electronic Commerce)
  Business that is conducted (up to and including payment) electronically (usually over the Internet).
e-Mail
(Electronic Mail)
  Messages, usually text, sent from one person to another over a LAN or over the Internet.
e-Purse   see e-wallet.
e-Wallet   A small portable device that contains electronic money. e-wallets are generally used for low-dollar transactions.
EAC
(External Authentication Cryptogram)
  Signature computed by an external entity (typically a terminal / host for a smart card).
ECC
(Elliptic Curve Cryptosystem)
  A public-key system that uses a mathematical approach called the elliptic curve problem.
EDGE
(Enhanced Data GSM Environment)
  A high-speed (up to 384 Kbps) 2.5G wireless telecommunications technology. Edge offers higher exchange rates than GSM, but lower rates than UMTS. See GPRS.
EEPROM
(Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory)
  Special non-volatile memory whose contents can be erased and new data can be reloaded electrically. In smart cards EEPROM is typically used for application data and for certain filtered functions. See RAM, Flash Memory, FRAM.
EF
(Elementary File)
  Memory organization for microprocessor cards: The smallest logical entity that can be secured in the operating system. File containing data. (See DF and MF).
Embedding   The operation that consists in placing the module in the cavity of the card body.
EMV
(Europay - Mastercard - Visa)
  Set of specifications defining the main structures for an international debit/credit smart card.
Encryption   A cryptographic procedure whereby a legible message is encrypted and made illegible to all but the holder of the appropriate cryptographic key. See Cryptography, Key.
ETSI
(European Telecommunications Standards Institute)
  The E.U. organization in charge of defining European telecommunications standards. The most well known European telecom standard is GSM. See ITU, GSM.

F -
FAQ
(Frequently Asked Questions)
  Documents that list and answer the most common questions on a particular subject.
Filtered   Said of data or functions that are loaded into the memory of a smart card. Masked data and functions, by comparison, are hardwired into the card's chip.
Firewall   An application or a dedicated computer that protects the resources of one network from users on other networks. See VPN.
Firewire   A communication protocol proposed by Apple and standardized as IEEE 1394; similar to USB. Data rate up to 400 Mbps.
Firmware   Low-level software that is similar to hardware features. This software operates by exchanging commands directly with an external device or with a specific software loaded in the product.
Flash Memory   A non-volatile memory device that can be reprogrammed more quickly than EEPROM. See Non-Volatile, FRAM.
Footprint   (also Memory Footprint) The amount of space taken up by the operating system, an application or data in the memory of a smart card.
FRAM
(Ferroelectric RAM)
  (also called Fe-RAM) A non-volatile memory technology (i.e., it does not lose its data if the power is shut off). FRAM can read data thousands of times faster at far lower voltage than other non-volatile memory devices.

G -
GPRS 
(General Packet Radio Service)
  A packet-based 2.5G (in comparison to 3G) telecommunication technology. GPRS supports exchange rates up to 114
Kbps, allowing wireless Internet and other multimedia services. See Broadband, UMTS, EDGE.
GSM
(Global System for Mobile Communications)
A European standard for digital cellular telephones that has now been widely adopted throughout the world. Under the ETSI standard, GSM telephones contain a SIM smart card that identifies the individual subscriber.
  • GSM 1800 (also DCS 1800 or PCN) network working at1800 MHz. Used notably in Europe, Asia-Pacific and Australia.
  • GSM 1900 (PCS 1900) network working a frequency of 1900 MHz. Used notably in the US and Canada.
  • GSM 900 (also GSM) Used in over 100 countries, particularly in Europe and Asia Pacific.
    See ETSI, ITU.

H -
Hardwired   Said of electronic circuits that perform fixed logical operations, rather than a stored program. See Masked, Filtered.
Hash See SHA-1, Checksum.

I -
IC
(Integrated circuit)
  A set of electronic circuits implemented on a piece of semiconductor material. Common ICs include microprocessors and memory chips. Synonym: Chip
IETF
(Internet Engineering Task Force)
  A body responsible for recommending protocols and procedures to be used on the Internet. The IETF and the W3C are the main standards organizations for the Internet. See also IPsec.
Initialization   First stage of the card issuing process. The goal of this process is to load all the data common to one application into the smart card's EEPROM. See personalization.
Integrity   Guarantee that a data (or code) has not been modified in transit. Integrity is an essential role of cryptography systems.
Interoperability   The ability of products manufactured by different companies to operate correctly with one another.
IP (Internet Protocol)   See TCP/IP.
IP address   A unique number assigned by an Internet authority that identifies a computer on the Internet. The number consists of four groups of numbers between 0 and 255, separated by periods (dots). For example, 172.16.6.129 is an IP address.
IPsec (IP Security)   A body of the IETF that is developing a secure standard for the Internet Proctocol.
ISO 
(International Standards Organization)
  The main international standards organization. ISO works to ensure that chip makers, software developers and smart card companies comply with the same specifications. Standards for the smart card industry include:
  • ISO/IEC 7816-1:1998 Physical Characteristics of IC cards.
  • ISO/IEC 7816-2:1999 Position of Module and Contacts on IC cards.
  • ISO/IEC 7816-3:1997 Exchange protocol with IC cards (i.e., communication between readers and cards).
  • ISO/IEC 7816-4:1995 Command set for microprocessor cards.
  • ISO/IEC 7816-5:1994 Numbering system and registration procedure for application identifiers.
  • ISO/IEC 7816-6:1996 Inter-industry data elements.
  • ISO/IEC 7816-7:1999 Inter-industry commands for Structured Card Query Language (SCQL).
  • ISO/IEC DIS 7816-8 Security related inter-industry commands.
  • ISO/IEC DIS 7816-9 Additional inter-industry commands and security attributes.
  • ISO/IEC DIS 7816-10 Electronic signals and answer to reset for synchronous cards.
  • ISO 14443 Proximity cards (contactless).
ITSEC 
(Information Technology Security Evaluation Certification)
  A set of criteria adopted by Europe and Australia used to evaluate the security of software and computer components.
ITU (International Telecommunications Union)   Successor to CCITT. The international agency in charge of telecommunications coordination. See ETSI, CCITT.

J -
J2EE 
(Java 2 Enterprise Edition)
  A version of Java designed for heavy-duty servers with strong support for integration of back-end systems. See also Virtual Machine, J2SE, J2ME and JVM.
J2ME 
(Java 2 Micro Edition)
  An implementation of the Java operating system for resource restricted devices such as mobile handsets or PDAs. Next generation handsets running J2ME should be able to interact with smart cards running Java Card. See also Virtual Machine, J2SE, J2EE, JVM, and KVM.
J2SE 
(Java 2 Standard Edition)
  A version of Java(tm) 2 designed primarily for individual desktops computers. See also Virtual Machine, J2EE, J2ME and JVM.
Java   A network-oriented programming language invented by Sun Microsystems. Java was specifically designed so that programs could be safely downloaded to remote devices (e.g., Web pages, smart cards, etc.).
Java Card   A set of specifications for running a subset of Java on a smart card. The Gemplus products that implement this standard include GemXpresso and GemXplore 'Xpresso. See Java, Open System.
JCF 
(Java Card Forum)
  An industry association devoted to the advancement of the Java Card specifications to serve the markets for Java card.
JCRE 
(Java Card Runtime Environment)
  The Java Card run-time environment that manages operations such as applet loading and initializing. It also keeps track of the current state of the card. See JVM
JDK 
(Java Development Kit)
  A software development kit (SDK) that is used to produce Java programs. See Java.
Jini   A distributed computing framework introduced by Sun Microsystems. Jini is an extension of the Java application environment. See Java Card, Java.
JVM 
(Java Virtual Machine)
  An essential element of the Java programming language. The JVM is an abstract computing machine with its own instruction set and memory. A JVM is included in each release of Java (J2ME, J2SE and J2EE). See JCRE

K -
Key   A value that is used with a cryptographic algorithm to encrypt (or sign data). The longer the key, the more secure the encryption. See Public Key, Secret Key, Cryptography.
KVM 
(K Virtual Machine)
A Java VM (Virtual Machine) suited for mobile devices. As its name suggests, the VM is measured in tens of KB. See also Virtual Machine, J2ME.

L -
LAN 
(Local Area Network)
  A geographically limited network (generally within a building or small group of buildings) that is managed and owned by a single company. See VPN.
Lifecyle   The time between the issuance of a smart card and its cancellation or expiration.
Linux   An Open Source operating system that is derived from UNIX.

M -
Mapping   (also called memory map) A functional representation of the different blocks in the memory of a chip.
Masked   Said of data or functions that are permanently loaded into the chip on the smart card. See Filtered, Hardwired.
Memory Card   A smart card containing a memory chip with read / write capability and in some cases hardwired security functions (some people do not consider memory cards as smart cards).
MF 
(Master File)
  Memory organization for microprocessor cards: This file is unique and obligatory. It has its own security attributes and may contain DFs and/or EFs.
MIDlet
(Mobile Information Device [App]let)
  An applet designed to run on a mobile device under the MID profile of J2ME.
MMC 
(Multimedia Card)
  A standard for very small (24 x 32 x 1.4 mm) memory units that can be used in portable devices (e.g., PDAs, mobile phones, etc.). They can store up to 64 MB of data. See http://www.mmca.org/ for more information.
Mobile Phone Network   Wireless telephone system where each geographic area is covered by a base station.
Module   (also called micromodule) The unit formed of a chip and a contact plate, with fine connecting wires that is encapsulated in a drop of epoxy resin. The module is embedded in a cavity in the card body.
Multi-application   Said of a smart card that can accommodate more than one application while maintaining separate security conditions.
MultOS   A smart card open operating system developed by MAOSCO, notably for financial transactions. See Open System

N -
Non-Repudiation   Guarantee that a sender cannot falsely deny having sent a message. Non-repudiation is an essential role of cryptography systems.
Non-Volatile Memory Said of memory chips that do not lose their contents when the power is switched off. See Volatile, EEPROM, Flash Memory, FRAM.

O -
OCF 
(OpenCard Framework)
  The framework that provides programmers with an interface for the development of smart card applications in Java.
Off-Line   A transaction during which no direct connection is made to a central computer facility. See On-Line.
On-Line   A transaction during which a direct connection is made to a central computer facility (usually via the public telephone network or computer networks). See Off-Line.
Open System   A system that uses industry standard development approaches. Open systems allow issuers to call upon multiple suppliers for a given product. See Java Card, and MultOS.
OS 
(Operating System)
  A smart card OS ensures secure access to data as well as file management functions, much like the operating systems on a personal computer. See also Open system.
OSI 
(Open Systems Interconnection)
  A model that was proposed by the ISO for communications. OSI uses a modular approach, dividing different functions into distinct layers.
OTA 
(Over the Air)
  Transmission using microwave channels. This acronym is used in the world of wireless telecommunications.

P -
Padding   One or more bits appended to a message in order to ensure that it contains the required number of bits or bytes.
PC Card   Standard architecture-independent extension device. These cards are typically used in laptop computers (formerly called PCMCIA).
PCC 
(Proof-carrying code)
  Mobile code (e.g., an applet) that contains the proof that the code complies with a given security policy. See also verifier, Java Card.
PCMCIA 
(Personal Computer Memory Card International Association)
  (see PC Card).
PCN 
(Personal Communications Network)
  A variant of the GSM wireless phone standard (sometimes called DCS 1800 or GSM 1800).
PCS 
(Personal Communications Services)
  A variant of the GSM wireless phone standard (sometimes called GSM 1900). See GSM.
Peer-to-peer   Said of an information system when the participants are both "users" and "service providers."
Personalization   Process during which a smart card is modified to contain the information for one person.
Graphical personalization modifies the visual aspect of the card (holder's name, photograph)
Electrical personalization modifies the information in the card's chip.
PIN
(Personal Identification Number)
  The number or code that a cardholder must type in to confirm that he or she is the genuine cardholder.
PKCS 
(Public-Key Cryptography Standards)
  RSA Encryption Standard
  • PKCS #3: Diffie-Hellman Key-Agreement Standard
  • PKCS #5: Password-Based Cryptography Standard
  • PKCS #6: Extended-Certificate Syntax Standard
  • PKCS #7: Cryptographic Message Syntax Standard
    Informal inter-vendor standards developed in 1991 under the impetus of RSA. More information at: http://www.rsasecurity.com/rsalabs/pkcs/
  • PKCS #8: Private-Key Information Syntax Standard
  • PKCS #9: Selected Attribute Types
  • PKCS #10: Certification Request Syntax Standard
  • PKCS #11: Cryptographic Token Interface Standard
  • PKCS #12: Personal Information Exchange Syntax Standard
  • PKCS #13: Elliptic Curve Cryptography Standard
  • PKCS #15: Cryptographic Token Information Format Standard.
PKI 
(Public Key Infrastructure)
  The software and/or hardware components necessary to manage and enable the effective use of public key encryption technology, particularly on a large scale. See Public Key, Cryptography.
Plug-In Card   Compact format for SIM cards.
POS Terminal
(Point Of Sale Terminal)
  POS terminals (in comparison to central terminal) are handheld or desktop devices that can conduct transactions with smart or mag-stripe cards.
Pre-Paid Card   A card permitting the holder to buy goods or services usually of a particular type up to the pre-paid value. Some pre-paid cards are reloadable, others are not.
Protocol   1. On the Internet, see TCP/IP 2. A set of rules and procedures governing interchange of information between a smart card and a reader. The ISO defines several protocols, including T=0, T=1 and T=14.
Public Key   A cryptographic system that uses two different keys (public and private) for encrypting and signing data. The most well-know public key algorithm is RSA. See Digital Signature, Secret Key, Certification Authority.
PVC
(Polyvinyl Chloride)
  A type of plastic used to product of laminated card bodies for certain types of smart cards, notably those that require embossing, signature panels or overlays (See ABS).

R -
RAD 
(Rapid Application Development)
  An approach that relies on small teams using joint application development and iterative-prototyping techniques to construct interactive systems within several months.
RAM
(Random Access Memory)
  A volatile memory that is used as a scratchpad by the microprocessor in a smart card.
RMI 
(Remote Method Invocation)
  An addition to Java Card (after version 2.1). Java Card RMI lets developers access resources on both the terminal and the card withot having to manage low-level APDU commands.
Roaming   An arrangement whereby a mobile handset is be recognized by networks other than that of the issuer (notably for subscribers traveling abroad). See GSM.
RSA (Rivest-Shamir-Adleman)   The most widely used public key encryption algorithm, named after its creators. See Cryptography, Public Key.

S -
SAM
(Security Access Module)
  A dedicated microprocessor unit that conducts active authentication with a memory or microprocessor card.
Scratch Card   A card that is produced with special ink that can be scratched away to reveal a number or message.
SDK 
(Software Development Kit)
  A set of development utilities for writing software applications, usually associated with specific environments.
Secret Key   A cryptographic system that uses a single key for encrypting and signing data. See Public Key, DES.
Session   Period of time between two card resets, or between power up and a power down. See ATR.
SET
(Secure Electronic Transaction)
  A multi-party protocol to secure online communications. Sensitive card information is protected from misuse throughout the transaction.
SHA-1
(Secure Hash Algorithm 1)
  A hash algorithm developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the National Security Agency. See Certificate, Digital Signature.
Signed Applets   An applet that incorporates a digital signature to prove that it came from a particular trusted author. See also PKI, Java Card
SIM
(Subscriber Identification Module)
  A smart card for GSM systems holding the subscriber's ID number, security information and memory for a personal directory of numbers thus allowing him to call from any GSM device. See also USIM, UIM.
SIM Toolkit   A data management application for SIM cards, part of which is resident in the SIM card. See GSM.
Smart Card   Also called IC card, chip card or memory card (for certain types). A card formed of a plastic body with a chip (or module) embedded in a special cavity.
SMS 
(Short Message Service)
  A GSM service that sends and receives messages of up to 160 characters to and from a mobile phone.
SSL
(Secure Sockets Layer)
  A protocol designed by Netscape Communications to enable encrypted, authenticated communications across the Internet (e.g., sites beginning with https://). See: Certificate, Cryptography.
Standards   Specifications that are widely accepted by companies and institutions. Standards normally define the physical, electrical or logical characteristics of a device. See ISO, ETSI, ITU, PKCS, 3GPP, JCF, IETF, W3C, IPsec.
STK (SIM Toolkit)   An API that allows secure loading of applets into a SIM.
Symmetric-key   See secret key.
System modeling   Mathematically-based techniques for the specification, development and verification of information systems (e.g., software and hardware).

T -
T1 TC T2 T3 T4   A digital carrier system introduced in the 1960s. T-series speeds include:
  • T1: 1.544 megabits per second (Mbps)
  • T1C: 3.152 Mbps
  • T2: 6.312 Mbps
  • T3: 44.746 Mbps
  • T4: 274.176 Mbps.
    See Bandwidth.
TCP IP (Transfer Control Protocol / Internet Protocol)   The protocol used on the Internet to transfer packets. This protocol can also be used on a LAN (to implement an Intranet). See IP.
TCPA (Trusted Computer Platform Alliance)   An initiative led by Intel to build a computing platform with built-in security functions, notably for DRM and copyright enforcement.
TDMA 
(Time Division Multiple Access)
  A second-generation technology for digital transmission of radio signals. It is the underlying technology for GSM digital cellular networks. See CDMA, GSM.
Terminal   Any device that can communicate with a smart card (e.g., reader, coupler…). Certain terminals can operate in standalone mode, while others must be connected to a central information system to access an application. See POS Terminal.

U -
UIM
(User Identity Module)
  (also R-UIM for "removable" UIM) An identity module for standards other than GSM (notably for CDMA). See also SIM.
UML
(Unified Modeling Language)
  A language used for modeling object-oriented systems. UML is particularly well suited for projects in C++ and Java.
UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System)   A third-generation (3G) system to offer broadband communication over mobile communications networks. See WCDMA, 3G.
USB 
(Universal Serial Bus)
  A standard Input/Output bus that supports very high transmission rates. Up to 120 devices can be daisychained to a USB port. See also Firewire.
USIM (Universal Subscriber Identity Module)   See UIM.

V -
Verifier 
(or bytecode verifier)
  An application that processes incoming code (e.g., applets) and ensures that it complies with security policy. See also Java Card, PCC.
Virtual Machine   A standalone operating environment that acts a a separate device (applets in a Java virtual machine have no access to the host operating system). See also J2SE, J2EE, JVM, and KVM.
Volatile Memory   A memory device (e.g., RAM ) that does not retain stored information when power is switched off. See Non-volatile.
VOP 
(Visa Open Platform)
  A comprehensive system architecture allowing fast development of globally interoperable smart card systems. ("Open Platform" is a variant of this architecture that is not restricted to the banking industry).
VPN 
(Virtual Private Network)
  A system to deliver corporate information over a shared public infrastructure. The remote user session is handled through a firewall using encrypted communications.

W -
W-CDMA 
(Wideband Code Division Multiple Access)
  A 3G technology for wireless systems based on CDMA technology. See Broadband, UMTS, CDMA, GPRS, TDMA.
W3C 
(World Wide Web Coalition)
  The organization that proposes common protocols for the Web.
WAP
(Wireless Application Protocol)
  Protocol used to view a Web page on the display of a mobile phone (visit http://www.wapforum.org/ for more information). See WIM.
WIM
(WAP Identity Module)
  A SIM card that is specifically developed for the Internet. See WAP.
WLAN
(Wireless LAN)
  Any wireless LAN technology. The most widespread WLAN technology is 802.11b.
WML
(Wireless Markup Language)
  A subset of HTML for use on wireless devices. See WAP.

X -
XML 
(Extensible Markup Language)
  A specialized markup language that can be used to define many different document types, each of which uses its own element type names.