The IoT Glossary
Working in the Internet of Things (IoT) industry, you’re bound to come across terminology and acronyms that are not clear. We’re here to help. Below are the top terms you need to know!
API
API at a Glance What is an API? An Application Programming Interface (API) is a set of defined rules and protocols that allow software applications to interact with each other....
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APN at a Glance What is an Access Point Name (APN)? An Access Point Name (APN) is the configuration that allows a device on a mobile network (such as LTE...
Read moreArtificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence (AI) at a Glance What is Artificial Intelligence (AI)? Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a branch of computer science focused on creating systems that can perform tasks that typically...
Read moreBig Data
Big Data at a Glance What is Big Data? Big Data describes datasets so large, fast-moving, and varied that they cannot be handled by conventional databases or analytics systems. Instead,...
Read moreBluetooth
Bluetooth at a Glance What is Bluetooth? Bluetooth is a wireless communication standard designed for short-range data exchange between devices. Originally developed in the 1990s, it has become one of...
Read moreCat M1
Cat M1 at a Glance: What is Cat M1? Category M1 (Cat M1), also known as LTE-M, is a Low Power Wide Area (LPWA) cellular technology designed specifically for IoT....
Read moreCellular IoT
Cellular IoT at a Glance What is Cellular IoT? Cellular IoT refers to the use of cellular networks (such as 2G, 3G, 4G LTE, LTE-M, and NB-IoT) to connect Internet...
Read moreCloud Computing
Cloud Computing at a Glance What is Cloud Computing? Cloud computing is the on-demand delivery of IT resources such as data storage, computational power, and software services via the internet. Instead...
Read moreEUICC
EUICC at a Glance What is eUICC (Embedded Universal Integrated Circuit Card)? eUICC is a SIM technology that allows devices to store multiple carrier profiles at once and download or...
Read moreFirmware-Over-The-Air (FOTA)
FOTA at a Glance What is Firmware-Over-the-Air (FOTA)? Firmware-over-the-air (FOTA) is a remote update technology that allows device firmware – the core software controlling hardware functions – to be updated...
Read moreICCID
ICCID at a Glance: What is an ICCID? An Integrated Circuit Card Identifier (ICCID) is a globally unique identification number assigned to every SIM card, including IoT SIMs and embedded...
Read moreIMEI
IMSI at a GlanceIMEI at a Glance What is an IMEI? The International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) is a globally unique, 15-digit number assigned to every cellular-enabled device. Unlike identifiers...
Read moreIMSI
IMSI at a Glance What is an IMSI? An International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) is a globally unique number assigned to every cellular subscriber. Stored on the SIM or eSIM,...
Read moreIoT
Internet of Things (IoT) is the concept of connecting devices and their components to the Internet, empowering ordinary devices with intelligence that allows them to provide additional value. Virtually any...
Read moreLPWAN
LPWAN at a Glance What is LPWAN? LPWAN is a class of wireless networks built for IoT devices that need to communicate over long distances with minimal power consumption. Common...
Read moreLTE Cat 1bis
LTE Cat 1bis at a glance: What is LTE Cat 1bis? LTE Cat 1bis is a streamlined, cost-efficient variant of LTE Category 1 connectivity, designed specifically for IoT devices. It...
Read moreLTE-M
LTE-M at a Glance What is LTE-M? LTE-M (Long Term Evolution for Machines) is a cellular communication standard optimized for IoT. Built on existing 4G LTE infrastructure, LTE-M delivers low-power, efficient...
Read moreMesh Network
Mesh Networks at a Glance What is a Mesh Network? A mesh network is a decentralized communication structure where multiple devices, or nodes, work together to route data from one...
Read moreM2M
M2M at a Glance What is M2M? Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communication is the technology that allows devices to interact and exchange information without human interference. While often considered a precursor to...
Read moreMachine Learning
Machine Learning at a Glance What is Machine Learning? Machine Learning (ML) is a subset of Artificial Intelligence (AI) that focuses on building algorithms that can learn from and make...
Read moreNb IoT
NB-IoT at a Glance What is NB-IoT (Narrowband IoT)? NB-IoT, or Narrowband IoT, is a cellular radio access technology developed by the 3GPP as part of the LTE Release 13...
Read morePTCRB
PTCRB At a Glance: What is PTCRB? PTCRB (PCS Type Certification Review Board) is a certification process created in 1997 by North American mobile operators to ensure that devices using...
Read moreSD-WAN (Software Defined Wide Area Network)
SDWAN at a Glance: What is SD-WAN? Software-Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) is a networking technology that uses software and centralized control to manage how traffic is routed across wide...
Read moreSGP.32
SGP.32 At a Glance What is SGP.32? SGP.32 is a remote SIM provisioning specification designed specifically for IoT deployments. Developed by GSMA (GSM Association), it outlines a secure, standardized method...
Read moreSigFox
Sigfox at a Glance What is Sigfox? Sigfox is a France-based LPWAN technology built for IoT and machine-to-machine (M2M) communication. It delivers long-range coverage—typically 30–50 km in rural areas and...
Read moreVPN
VPN at a Glance What is a VPN? A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a secure communication method that creates an encrypted tunnel between two points across a public or...
Read moreZigbee
Zigbee at a Glance What is Zigbee? Zigbee is a wireless communication standard built for low-power, low-data-rate IoT applications. It allows devices to communicate directly with one another without relying...
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Champion for IoT Connectivity Management
Soracom Named as a Champion for IoT Connectivity Management in 2023 Kaleido Intelligence Connectivity Vendor Hub