Editing Mobile device

== Definitions ==

A '''mobile device''' 

{{Quote|[is] a [[transmit]]ting [[device]] designed to be used in other than fixed locations and to generally be used in such a way that a separation distance of at least 20 [[centimeter]]s is normally maintained between the [[transmitter]]'s radiating structure(s) and the body of the [[user]] or nearby persons.<ref>47 C.F.R. §2.1091(b).</ref>}}

{{Quote|include[s] [[smartphone]]s and [[tablet computer]]s that support multiple [[wireless network]] [[connectivity]] options (primarily [[cellular]] and [[Wi-Fi]]), and [[host]] [[voice]] and [[data application]]s. The [[device]]s [[run]] [[mobile operating system]]s which are used to [[access]] [[mobile sensor]]s, [[data]] and [[voice]] services.<ref>[[Government Mobile and Wireless Security Baseline]], at 2.</ref>}}

{{Quote|[is a] portable [[cartridge]]/[[disk]]-based, [[removable storage]] [[media]] (e.g., [[floppy disk]]s, [[compact disk]]s, [[USB]] [[flash drive]]s, [[external hard drive]]s, and other [[flash memory card]]s/[[drive]]s that contain [[nonvolatile memory]]).<ref>[[NIST Special Publication 800-53]].</ref>}}
 
{{Quote|[is a] [p]ortable [[computing device|computing]] and [[communications device]] with [[information storage]] [[capability]] (e.g., [[notebook]]/[[laptop computer]]s, [[personal digital assistant]]s, [[cellular telephone]]s, [[digital camera]]s, and [[audio recording device]]s).<ref>''Id.''</ref>}}

{{Quote|[is a] portable [[computing device]] that: (i) has a small [[form factor]] such that it can easily be carried by a single individual; (ii) is designed to operate without a [[physical connection]] (e.g., [[wireless]]ly [[transmit]] or [[receive]] [[information]]); (iii) possesses local, non-removable or removable [[data storage]]; and (iv) includes a self-contained [[power source]]. Mobile devices may also include [[voice communication]] capabilities, [[on-board sensor]]s that allow the [[device]]s to [[capture]] [[information]], and/or built-in features for [[synchronizing]] [[local data]] with remote locations. Examples include [[smart phone]]s, [[tablet]]s, and [[E-reader]]s.<ref>[[NIST Special Publication SP 800-171]], App. B.</ref>}}

== Overview ==

Once associated only with [[voice telephone service]], mobile devices have become the launching pads for new [[data]]-driven technologies and services. Today, mobile devices include portable [[cartridge]]/[[disk]]-based, [[removable storage media]] (e.g., [[floppy disk]]s, [[compact disk]]s, [[USB]] [[flash drive]]s, [[external hard drive]]s, and other [[flash memory card]]s/drives that contain [[non-volatile memory]]) or portable [[computing device|computing]] and [[communications device]] with [[information storage]] capability (e.g., [[notebook]]/[[laptop computer]]s, [[personal digital assistant]]s, [[cellular telephone]]s, [[digital camera]]s, and [[audio recording device]]s). 

Mobile devices are rapidly incorporating [[technology]] such as [[Global Positioning System]], [[accelerometer]]s, [[Bluetooth]], [[Wi-Fi]], enhanced [[graphic]]s and multi-touch [[screen]]s. 

Today, consumers use mobile devices for myriad purposes, including "[[chat]]ting" through [[text messaging]], taking [[photograph]]s, [[browsing]] the [[Web]], making purchases, listening to [[music]], viewing [[video]]s, playing [[videogames]] across [[cyberspace]], and keeping track of friends and relatives. "[T]he use of mobile devices has grown so rapidly that mobile devices now outnumber people in the United States, and nearly as many people have a [[mobile phone]] as have a bank account."<ref>''See'' Cecilia Kang, "A Nation Outnumbered By Gadgets," Wash. Post (Oct. 12, 2011) ([http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/a-nation-outnumbered-by-gadgets/2011/10/11/gIQAhjdhdL_story.html full-text]); [[Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System]], [[Consumer and Mobile Financial Services 2014]], at 4-5 (2014) ([http://www.federalreserve.gov/econresdata/consumers-and-mobile-financial-services-report-201403.pdf full-text]).</ref>

U.S. [[consumer]]s who use their [[wireless device]] to [[access]] the [[Internet]] are particularly interested in obtaining [[information]] about traffic, restaurants, [[movies]], stock quotes, [[map]]s, sports, and weather.

"Mobile devices that [[access]] Government resources or [[data processing|process]] [[Government data]] are subject to [[Federal Information Processing Standards]] ([[FIPS]]), specifically [[FIPS 140-2]], [[FIPS 199]], [[FIPS 200]], and [[FIPS 201]]."<ref>[[Mobile Security Reference Architecture]], at 3.</ref>

== Features ==

The following [[hardware]] and [[software]] characteristics collectively define the baseline characteristics of a mobile device:

* A small [[form factor]]
* At least one [[wireless]] [[network interface]] for [[network access]] ([[data communications]]). This interface uses [[Wi-Fi]], [[cellular network]]ing, or other [[technologies]] that [[connect]] the mobile device to [[network infrastructure]]s with [[connectivity]] to the [[Internet]] or other [[data network]]s.
* Local [[built-in]] (non-removable) [[data storage]]
* An [[operating system]] that is not a full-fledged [[desktop]] or [[laptop]] [[operating system]]
* [[Application]]s available through multiple methods (provided with the mobile device, [[access]]ed through [[web browser]], [[acquire]]d and [[install]]ed from [[third parties]]).

The following list identifies other common, but optional, characteristics of mobile devices. These features do not define the scope of [[device]]s included, but rather indicate features that are particularly important in terms of [[security risk]]. This list is not intended to be exhaustive, and is merely illustrative of common features of interest as of this writing.

* [[Network service]]s:
** One or more [[wireless personal area network]] [[interface]]s, such as [[Bluetooth]] or [[near-field communications]]
** One or more [[wireless network]] [[interface]]s for [[voice communications]], such as [[cellular]]
** [[Global Positioning System]] ([[GPS]]), which enables location services
* One or more [[digital camera]]s/[[video recording]] [[device]]s
* [[Microphone]]
* [[Storage]]:
** Support for [[removable media]]
** Support for using the [[device]] itself as [[removable storage]] for another [[computing device]]
* [[Built-in]] features for [[synchronizing]] [[local data]] with a different location ([[desktop]] or [[laptop computer]], organization [[server]]s, [[telecommunications provider]] [[server]]s, other [[third party]] [[server]]s, etc.)

"Different mobile devices have different technical and physical characteristics (e.g., size, weight, [[processor]] speed, [[memory]] capacity). Mobile devices may also use different types of expansion capabilities to provide additional [[functionality]]. Furthermore, mobile device capabilities sometimes include those of other [[device]]s such as [[handheld]] [[Global Positioning System]]s ([[GPS]]), [[camera]]s ([[Still-image camera|still]] and [[Video camera|video]]) or [[personal computer]]s. Overall, mobile devices can be classified as feature phones that are primarily simple [[voice]] and [[messaging]] [[communication device]]s or [[smartphone]]s that offer more advanced capabilities and services for [[multimedia]], similar to those of a [[personal computer]]."<ref>[[NIST Special Publication 800-101, Rev. 1]], at 4.</ref>

== References ==
<references />

== Source ==

* [[NIST Special Publication 800-124r1]], at 2-3.

== See also ==

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* [[In the Matter of Implementation of the Telecommunications Act of 1996: Telecommunications Carriers' Use of Customer Proprietary Network Information and Other Customer Information]]
* [[Mobile device forensics]]
* [[Mobile device ID]]
* [[Mobile Device Location Data: Additional Federal Actions Could Help Protect Consumer Privacy]]
* [[Mobile device management]]
* [[Mobile Device Theft Prevention]]
* [[Protecting Portable Devices: Data Security]]

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[[Category:Telecommunications]]
[[Category:Definition]]
[[Category:Wireless]]
[[Category:Technology]]