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== Definitions ==
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A '''mobile device''' 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 centimeters 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> Today, consumers use mobile devices for myriad purposes, including “[[chat]]ting” through [[text messaging]], taking pictures, [[browsing]] the [[Web]], making purchases, listening to music, viewing [[video]]s, playing games across [[cyberspace]], and keeping track of friends and relatives .
 
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A '''mobile device'''
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  ⚫
{{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>}}
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{{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>}}
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{{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>}}
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{{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>}}
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{{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>}}
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== Overview ==
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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).
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Mobile devices are rapidly incorporating [[technology]] such as [[Global Positioning System]], [[accelerometer]]s, [[Bluetooth]], [[Wi-Fi]], enhanced [[graphic]]s and multi-touch [[screen]]s.
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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>
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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.
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"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>
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== Features ==
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The following [[hardware]] and [[software]] characteristics collectively define the baseline characteristics of a mobile device:
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* A small [[form factor]]
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* 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.
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* Local [[built-in]] (non-removable) [[data storage]]
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* An [[operating system]] that is not a full-fledged [[desktop]] or [[laptop]] [[operating system]]
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* [[Application]]s available through multiple methods (provided with the mobile device, [[access]]ed through [[web browser]], [[acquire]]d and [[install]]ed from [[third parties]]).
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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.
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* [[Network service]]s:
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** One or more [[wireless personal area network]] [[interface]]s, such as [[Bluetooth]] or [[near-field communications]]
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** One or more [[wireless network]] [[interface]]s for [[voice communication]]s, such as [[cellular]]
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** [[Global Positioning System]] ([[GPS]]), which enables location services
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* One or more [[digital camera]]s/[[video recording]] [[device]]s
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* [[Microphone]]
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* [[Storage]]:
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** Support for [[removable media]]
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** Support for using the [[device]] itself as [[removable storage]] for another [[computing device]]
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* [[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.)
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"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 ==
 
<references />
  
<references />
   
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== Source ==
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* [[NIST Special Publication 800-124r1]], at 2-3.
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== See also ==
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<div style="{{column-count|2}}">
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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]]
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* [[Mobile device forensics]]
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* [[Mobile device ID]]
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* [[Mobile Device Location Data: Additional Federal Actions Could Help Protect Consumer Privacy]]
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* [[Mobile device management]]
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* [[Mobile Device Theft Prevention]]
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* [[Protecting Portable Devices: Data Security]]
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</div>
 
[[Category:Telecommunications]]
  
[[Category:Telecommunications]]
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[[Category:Definition]]
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[[Category:Wireless]]
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[[Category:Technology]]

Latest revision as of 19:17, 26 September 2016

Definitions[]

A mobile device

“ [is] a transmitting 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 centimeters is normally maintained between the transmitter's radiating structure(s) and the body of the user or nearby persons.[1] ”
“ include[s] smartphones and tablet computers that support multiple wireless network connectivity options (primarily cellular and Wi-Fi), and host voice and data applications. The devices run mobile operating systems which are used to access mobile sensors, data and voice services.[2] ”
“ [is a] portable cartridge/disk-based, removable storage media (e.g., floppy disks, compact disks, USB flash drives, external hard drives, and other flash memory cards/drives that contain nonvolatile memory).[3] ”
“ [is a] [p]ortable computing and communications device with information storage capability (e.g., notebook/laptop computers, personal digital assistants, cellular telephones, digital cameras, and audio recording devices).[4] ”
“ [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., wirelessly 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 sensors that allow the devices to capture information, and/or built-in features for synchronizing local data with remote locations. Examples include smart phones, tablets, and E-readers.[5] ”

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 disks, compact disks, USB flash drives, external hard drives, and other flash memory cards/drives that contain non-volatile memory) or portable computing and communications device with information storage capability (e.g., notebook/laptop computers, personal digital assistants, cellular telephones, digital cameras, and audio recording devices).

Mobile devices are rapidly incorporating technology such as Global Positioning System, accelerometers, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, enhanced graphics and multi-touch screens.

Today, consumers use mobile devices for myriad purposes, including "chatting" through text messaging, taking photographs, browsing the Web, making purchases, listening to music, viewing videos, 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."[6]

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

"Mobile devices that access Government resources or process Government data are subject to Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS), specifically FIPS 140-2, FIPS 199, FIPS 200, and FIPS 201."[7]

Features[]

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

The following list identifies other common, but optional, characteristics of mobile devices. These features do not define the scope of devices 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.

"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 devices such as handheld Global Positioning Systems (GPS), cameras (still and video) or personal computers. Overall, mobile devices can be classified as feature phones that are primarily simple voice and messaging communication devices or smartphones that offer more advanced capabilities and services for multimedia, similar to those of a personal computer."[8]

References[]

  1. ↑ 47 C.F.R. §2.1091(b).
  2. ↑ Government Mobile and Wireless Security Baseline, at 2.
  3. ↑ NIST Special Publication 800-53.
  4. ↑ Id.
  5. ↑ NIST Special Publication SP 800-171, App. B.
  6. ↑ See Cecilia Kang, "A Nation Outnumbered By Gadgets," Wash. Post (Oct. 12, 2011) (full-text); Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Consumer and Mobile Financial Services 2014, at 4-5 (2014) (full-text).
  7. ↑ Mobile Security Reference Architecture, at 3.
  8. ↑ NIST Special Publication 800-101, Rev. 1, at 4.

Source[]

See also[]

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