Glossary
APN
Access Point Name
A gateway between a GSM, GPRS, 3G, or 4G mobile network and another computer network, usually the public Internet.
The APN needs to be configured on the device. For emnify, it's em or emnify.
Application token
A unique identification key used to authenticate emnify's APIs. Also used when authenticating the OpenVPN service.
A2P SMS
Application-to-Peer SMS
The SMS sent and received between an application and a device (or vice versa).
Learn more about the SMS types supported by the emnify platform and how to Receive MO SMS via API callback.
Assigned SIM
SIM that has been assigned to a device.
AT+CREG AT command
Gives information about the registration status and access technology of the serving cell.
AuC
Authentication Center
A part of GSM infrastructure, validates any SIM card attempting network connection when a phone has a live network signal.
BIC
Batch Identification Code
A unique code for ordered SIM cards used to register the SIM cards in the SIM Inventory.
Callback URL
URL that will be called by a service to send and receive data related to an event that caused this action.
Carrier-agnostic network
A network that doesn't limit or prefer any specific network in a country and establishes a connection over any network that's transparent to the device.
Check digit
A checksum appended to identification data (for example, IMEI, EID, or ICCID) representing the preceding digits and calculated using an algorithm.
Check digits are used to validate the identifier, verify data integrity, and help prevent errors in equipment databases.
Several identifiers have a check digits but can be calculated differently and have different names. For example, ICCID numbers use a Luhn checksum digit, while the last digits of the EID are called check digits.
Company account
A company's emnify account (that is, an Organization in the emnify Portal).
Every company account (on any package) is a workspace by default.
Connectivity status
This is the connectivity status of a device. It can be set to:
- Online: Device is transmitting or can transmit data through a data tunnel.
- Attached: Device is attached to a network but hasn't established a data tunnel.
- Offline: Device isn’t attached to a network.
- Blocked
Coverage policy
Referred to as Tariff Profile in the API
A policy that defines which networks or countries SIM should operate in.
Data RX
Data received by the device.
Data session
A session between opening and closing a data connection to the network.
Data TX
Data transmitted by the device.
Data usage
The data that has been used by a device, both transmitted and received.
DDoS
Distributed Denial of Service Attack
An attack where the attacker sends multiple requests to a web resource with the aim of exceeding the website’s capacity to handle multiple requests and prevent the website from functioning correctly.
Device status
Referred to as Endpoint status in the API
Reflects the current state of the device and determines whether a device can connect to a network or incur charges.
Learn more about the different device statuses and how to configure them in the emnify Portal.
DNS
Domain Name System
A hierarchical decentralized naming system for computers, services, or any resource connected to the Internet or a private network to map a hostname to an IP address.
Dynamic IP
An IP that changes over time.
eDRX
Extended Discontinuous Reception
A device configuration that specifies the periodicity in which the device listens for incoming data on the radio. Instead of using a periodicity of 2.56 ms (DRX) it can be increased up to 40 minutes, thus reducing power consumption.
EID
eUICC Identifier
The eUICC Identifier (EID) provides a unique global serial number for an eUICC. It has a fixed length of 32 digits, as indicated in the following diagram:
The EUM specific identification number (ESIN) and check digits are for example purposes only, and the values aren't real.
Unlike the ICCID, the EID remains the same throughout the life of the eSIM. Therefore, you can use it as a permanent identifier to keep track of your SIM cards.
Endpoint
A representation of the device which has a SIM installed. Often used as a legacy term for a device, particularly in the REST API.
eSIM
Embedded SIM
Because of the "e" (for embedded) in its name, eSIM is sometimes incorrectly used for referring to the MFF2 physical form factor of an eUICC chip that's designed to be permanently surface-mounted inside a device. Within the IoT industry, eSIM refers to the entire solution that's comprised of an eUICC-equipped SIM along with the software platform for OTA provisioning. Although eSIMs can be embedded directly in a device, they're also manufactured as pluggable SIM cards. The emnify eSIM has capabilities not available with other eSIMs.
eUICC
Embedded Universal Integrated Circuit Card
The embedded universal integrated circuit card (eUICC) is a component of a SIM card. It allows consumers and IoT manufacturers to provision the SIM with a new mobile network operator (MNO) profile over-the-air.
Learn more about the eUICC in the blog post: What is an eUICC and why does it matter?
Event log
A log that stores all device events.
Form factor
The form factor of a SIM card represents the SIM card format. SIM cards vary in size (Mini vs. Micro vs. Nano), function (embedded vs. standard), and quality (industrial grade vs. standard):
- 2FF: Mini SIM card
- 3FF: Micro SIM card
- 4FF: Nano SIM card
GGSN
Gateway GPRS Support Node
Part of the GSM infrastructure, the GGSN is responsible for the interworkings between the GPRS network and external packet switched networks.
Globally-distributed infrastructure
Cloud infrastructure that's distributed globally, with several local breakout points for better traffic handling.
GSM
Global System for Mobile Communications
A standard developed by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute to describe the protocols for second-generation digital cellular networks used by mobile devices.
HLR
Home Location Register
A database from a mobile network in which information from all mobile subscribers is stored. Part of GSM infrastructure.
HTTP POST request
A request method supported by the HTTP protocol, which typically includes data in the request body.
IC
Integrated Circuit
A semiconductor chip containing a large number of extremely small electronic components. For example, a CPU, the chips on computer memory cards, the electronic part of a SIM card, an eUICC, etc.
ICCID
Integrated Circuit Card Identifier
The integrated circuit card identifier (ICCID) is a 20-digit code used to identify a SIM card. It includes a SIM card's country, home network, and identification number, as indicated in the following diagram:
Following the introduction of eUICC SIM cards in 2021, there are situations where the ICCID can no longer be unique. For example, the ICCID value can change when a different SIM profile is provisioned on the eSIM.
The emnify REST API returns two ICCID values: iccid and iccid_with_luhn.
The iccid_with_luhn value includes the final Luhn checksum digit, while the iccid value doesn't.
API references: SIM object and Endpoint object
IMEI
International Mobile Equipment Identity
A unique number used to identify cellular modems.
Learn more about how IMEIs are constructed
An IMEISV has 16 digits (14 digits plus two software version digits).
For more detailed information, see emnify's IoT Glossary article: What is an IMEI number?
There are also "software versions" of IMEIs, referred to as IMEISVs. In an IMEISV, there is no check digit, and the last two digits represent the Software Version Number (SVN).
IMEI lock
The practice of strictly associating a SIM to the device with a certain IMEI number.
IMSI
International Mobile Subscriber Identity
A unique number used to identify a GSM subscriber. Therefore it changes if a device connects to a different operator while roaming.
See how the IMSI is constructed
MCC: 3-digit country identifier
MNC: operator identifier (two or three digits)
MSIN: identifier for the connected device (nine or 10 digits)
IPsec
A protocol suite for Secure Internet Protocol (IP) communications that works by authenticating and encrypting each IP packet of a communication session.
IP subnet
A logical subdivision of an IP network.
JSON
JavaScript Object Notation
A lightweight format for storing and transporting data. It's often used when data is sent from a server to a web page.
LAC
Location Area Code
A unique 16-digit fixed-length location area identity code that identifies a phone number’s location area.
Luhn checksum digit
A check digit calculated from the previous digits using the Luhn algorithm.
Linked workspaces
Workspaces linked together by a main organization. Linked workspaces can be centrally or individually managed.
Main organization
The organization that has permission to manage multiple workspaces.
MFA key
A combination generated by an external device or a service that's used to authenticate the user.
MSISDN
Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number
A unique number used to identify a mobile phone number internationally—essentially the telephone number assigned to each SIM. For an emnify IoT eSIM, this number is needed for its ability to receive SMS messages (that is, SMS MT).
MSC
Mobile Switching Center
The part of GSM architecture that controls the network switching subsystem elements.
Organization
The company (or subsidiary, branch, division, department, etc.) associated with a workspace.
Information on your organization, employees, subscriptions, and more are available in the emnify Portal under Organization Settings.
OTA
Over-the-Air
A method of wireless distribution of the software, configuration settings, or encryption keys.
OTA provisioning
A technology that allows changes to the SIM memory over-the-air.
OpenVPN
An open source software application that implements virtual private network (VPN) techniques for creating secure point-to-point or site-to-site connections in routed or bridged configurations and remote access facilities.
emnify hosts an OpenVPN service that allows you to establish a private network between a device and any remote client location.
P2P SMS
Peer-to-Peer SMS
SMS sent from a device with any SIM to a device with the emnify SIM.
Learn more about the SMS types supported by the emnify platform and P2P routing via the emnify REST API.
PDP context
Data structure present on both the serving GPRS support node (SGSN) and the gateway GPRS support node (GGSN), which contains the subscriber’s session information when the subscriber has an active session.
Private IP
An IP address that's not reachable from the public Internet but only through a local or virtual network. Dynamic private IPs keep changing, whereas static private IP addresses don't change.
PSM
Power Saving Mode
While in power saving mode (PSM), the device tells the network that it's powering off for a specific time and sending periodic updates in longer-than-usual intervals. When the device comes back online, it doesn't need to reattach to a network but can use an already-created PDP context, thus saving power.
Public IP
An IP address accessible from the public Internet.
RESTful API
The representational state transfer application programming interface allows you to integrate services with your applications.
SASE
Secure Access Service Edge
SASE is a term coined by Gartner which combines software-defined networking (SDN) and security and serves it as cloud-based Security-as-a-Service.
SDN
Software-Defined Networking
An approach that allows network administrators to programmatically initialize, control, change, and manage network behavior dynamically via open interfaces.
Service profile
A profile that defines the services and capabilities of a device managed through the emnify platform.
SIM
Subscriber Identification Module
A subscriber identification module (SIM) contains an integrated circuit (IC) that's often mounted on a plastic card. Pluggable SIMs mounted on plastic cards are offered in various form factors. A SIM stores data used to identify a subscriber (IMSI) along with other network information for connecting and authenticating with a mobile network operator (MNO). See also eSIM - Embedded SIM.
SIM batch
A collection of SIM cards that can be registered with a single BIC code.
SIM hosting fee
Monthly fee for an activated SIM.
SIM profile
The mobile network operator (MNO) ID information stored in the SIM’s memory.
SIM registration
A process to allow your SIM cards to be registered within your organization and visible in the SIM Inventory.
SIM repository
All SIMs assigned to your organization.
SIM status
Reflects the current state of the SIM in the SIM lifecycle.
SMPP
Short Message Peer-to-Peer
A protocol used by the telecommunications industry for exchanging SMS messages between short message service centers (SMSC) and/or external short messaging entities (ESME).
SMS console
An interface to send A2P SMS from the platform to the SIM card.
SMS firewall
A firewall that controls the SMS flow.
SMS MO
Mobile originated SMS
SMS sent from the device with the emnify SIM.
Learn more about the SMS types supported by the emnify platform.
Using the emnify REST API, you can dispatch MO SMS from devices as HTTP POST requests toward a user-configurable URL.
For more information, see Receive MO SMS via API callback
SMS MT
Mobile terminated SMS
SMS that are received by a device with an emnify SIM.
Learn more about the SMS types supported by the emnify platform.
Source address
The address of the SMS sender as displayed on the receiving device.
Static IP
An IP that doesn’t change over time.
Traffic pooling
A term used to describe the service model when various devices utilize the same data pool.
Unassigned SIM
SIM that has been unassigned from a device.
Usage limit
User-defined limit of consumption for a certain service (data, SMS) per device.
User account
An account associated with a specific person and used to log in to one or more workspaces. User accounts can be assigned a role (for example, Administrator).
User-defined coverage
An ability to select which network the customer’s SIM connects to.
User-defined networking
An approach that enables users to create their own virtual mobile network, define service and security policies, and provision coverage policies and data packages.
USSD
Unstructured Supplementary Service Data
A protocol used to communicate with the service provider’s computers.
USSD gateway
The collection of hardware and software required to interconnect two or more disparate networks, including performing protocol conversion.
VPC
Virtual Private Cloud
A secure private cloud hosted within a public cloud where you can host websites, store data, run applications, etc.
VPN
Virtual Private Network
A service that protects your internet connection and privacy online.
IPsec and OpenVPN are both protocols for securing data transmission through a VPN.
For more information, see IPsec vs OpenVPN: What's the difference?
Workspace
An independent entity in the emnify Portal associated with an organization. Workspaces can be managed individually or, if linked, centrally by the main organization while being billed and accessed separately.
Every company account (with any package) is a workspace by default. Accounts with the Pro Package can have up to five workspaces.
Workspace switcher
The feature in the emnify Portal allowing Administrator user accounts to switch between workspaces.