Access Provider: The company that provides you with Internet access and, in some cases, an online account on their computer system.

ADSL (Asynchronous Digital Subscriber Line): High transmission method that sends data at speeds up to 1.5 Mbps downstream - from the carrier to the subscriber's premises - and 16 Kbps upstream. Like DSL, it can simultaneously carry voice and data streams and is able to utilize traditional copper phone wires to make the connection

Bandwidth: The capacity of the transmission medium stated in bits per second or as a frequency. The bandwidth of optical fiber is in the gigabit or billion bits per second range, while Ethernet coaxial cable is in the megabit or million bits per second range.

Bit: The smallest unit of data recognizable by a computer. A bit is in binary form, meaning it can represent only a one or a zero. Bit is a contraction for binary digit.

Broadband: A term that defines the ability of a facility to offer bandwidth in excess of 45 Mbps. These systems are generally fiber-optic based.

DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol): Windows NT Server software that assigns an IP address to each node in a network.

Dialup Connection: A connection to an Internet server or other electronic resource using a telephone, modem, and regular telephone lines.

Direct Connection: A connection made directly to the Internet, which is obviously much faster than a dialup connection.

DSL (Digital Subscriber Line): A means of moving data over regular phone lines that is faster than a regular phone connection. It is essentially a "direct line" to the Internet from one's home. Such a connection allows for transfer rates up to 8 million bits per second. Also called an ISDN, the line utilizes traditional copper telephone lines and can simultaneously transmit both voice and data. See also ADSL.

Ethernet: A common method of networking computers in a local area network (LAN).

Ethernet card: A network adapter that enables a computer to connect to an Ethernet. It is a printed circuit board that is plugged into the computers on the Ethernet or may be built into their motherboards. The Ethernet cards are connected to each other by cables.

Fiber: Very pure glass strands no thicker than a human hair, capable of transmitting data digitally in the form of light. Fiber can transmit much more data, much faster than traditional copper wire. Though very expensive, fiber is currently being deployed in network construction around the world.

Gbps: Gigabits per second. A term attached to a specific number, indicating the amount of data (in gigabits) that can be transmitted through a given medium in one second.

Gigabit: An amount of data equal to one billion bits. See also bit.

Gigabit Ethernet (Gig-E): The latest improvement on the Ethernet, able to support data transmissions at speeds up to 1 Gbps. The Gigabit Ethernet is used primarily as a LAN backbone.

GPS (Global Positioning System): A system that allows a person to find his/her exact location anywhere on earth. Based on a system of tracking satellites in orbit, the GPS is able to keep track of individuals, vessels and other objects and pinpoint them in relation to the rest of the planet. Used already in military, agriculture and fleet management applications, to name a few, GPS is already widely available, and is expected to become increasingly deployed in cars, planes and by individuals.

Internet: The interconnected networks using TCP/IP protocols that evolved from the ARPANet. Can refer to the WWW, email, Usenet, and other resources.

Intranet: A private network inside a company or organization that uses the same kinds of software used on the public Internet, but is only for internal use.

IP Number (Internet Protocol number): A unique number consisting of four parts separated by dots, for example 129.237.247.243. This is the number assigned to a host machine which is retrieved by a DNS when a request for an Internet site is made. These numbers usually correspond to unique domain names, which are easier for people to remember.

ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network): A means to move more data over existing regular phone lines. ISDN can provide speeds of approximately 128,000 bits per second over regular phone lines.

ISP (Internet Service Provider): A company that provides access to the Internet, usually for profit.

Kilobyte: 1024 bytes.

LAN (Local Area Network): A kind of mini network between locally connected computers, often in a business.

Megabyte: 1024 kilobytes; that is, 1,048,576 bytes.

Memory Card: Sometimes called flash memory card or storage card, a memory cards is a small storage medium used to store data such as text, pictures, audio, and video, for use on small, portable or remote computing devices.

Motherboard: The main circuit board inside a computer, which contains the central processing unit, the bus, memory sockets, expansion slots, and other components. Additional boards, called daughter boards, can be plugged into the motherboard.

Optical Network: A data network built on fiber-optics technology, which sends data digitally, as light, through connected fiber strands. Optical networks offer an enormous increase in both transmission capacity and speed from traditional copper wire-based networks.

PDA (Personal Digital Assistant): Small, consumer electronics device that is basically a handheld computer. Usually, it's used for specific purposes like a diary, appointment book, memo taker, or multimedia player. Often, PDAs have communications capabilities, which take place through a phone line or through wireless.

Router: The central switching point for the Internet and most area networks. Routers work as an interface between networks, directing data packets to their intended destinations. They are highly intelligent and able to consider the network as a whole and respond accordingly - which often greatly increases network speed, and reduces traffic.

T1: A leasedline connection capable of carrying data at 1,544,000 bits per second. The standard of many office connections.

T3: A leasedline connection capable of carrying data at 44,736,000 bits per second.

TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol): The communication method or 'protocol' used by all computers on the Internet. TCP/IP allows any computer to communicate with any other computer as long as both computers are running TCP/IP. Also called IP. Many ISPs (Internet Service Providers) automatically enable TCP/IP on your computer when you connect to their server.

WAP (Wireless Application Protocol): A set of applications and protocols designed to allow wireless devices to communicate with the Internet and provide access to other special services.

Wireless Internet: The ability of the latest cellular and handheld products to access the Internet remotely, without the physical connection of copper or fiber lines.