To help you understand the jargon used, we have put together a brief glossary of e-business terms.

eBusiness Glossar

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M

m-Commerce

Label - similar to eCommerce - that describes the mobile eCommerce and includes financial trades of any type by and with mobile devices, primarily mobile telephones.

m-Computing

Describes the mobile computer use of Laptops or Palmtops with a connection to the Internet via the telephone network or mobile telephone.

Macro

Combination of individual instructions: Sequence of commands and processes or a combination of keys and mouse clicks that can be recorded and saved. If a macro is called, the recorded processes and actions are automatically worked through in the corresponding order. This is particularly effective if specific actions need to be performed frequently or are repetitive.

Macro Virus

A macro virus describes a type of virus that does not infect executable programs (e.g. .exe files), but infects documents. Macro viruses do not use a conventional programming language, but use a macro language to infect documents and spread further, possibly causing damage on the computer. Thus, in order to prevent macro viruses, it is recommended not to allow a macro-capable program to carry out macros in documents automatically, or to have all documents (primarily those from the Internet) inspected for viruses before opening them.

MAOSCO

The open industry consortium behind the MULTOS smart card operating system. A full member of the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI).

MEPS

Malaysian Electronic Payment System, a joint venture established by 18 banks in Malaysia. Operator of the country's only payment gateway which does not itself secure online transactions, so the consortium is promoting the SET protocol.

Merchant

Collective term applied to Web-based eTailers who may have online storefronts.

Merchant Server

Computer on which a customer can buy the products of a provider.

Message digest

The basis for Digital Signatures in providing a digest of the random message being transmitted. As a result, they are difficult to reverse.

MExE (Mobile station application Execution Environment)

As defined by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute. Relates to PDA (personal digital assistant) devices such as Palm Pilots.

Micro payments

Low-cost transactions of between 25c and $10. Payments are typically made prior to downloading graphics, games, and information

MTP (Micropayment Transfer Protocol)

A W3-defined software-based system for micropayments, this protocol is "optimized for use in low-value transfers between parties who have a relationship over a period of time."

MUD

Abbreviation of "Multi User Dungeon" (recently also Multi User Dimension): Games servers on which the visitor can experience online adventures according to the type of text adventure and can communicate with one another. Graphical variants are coming into fashion as commercial servers.

MULTOS

Abbreviation for Multiple Operating System, comprises a platform for smart card development. Favored by MasterCard, Mondex, Europay and Discover credit card brands.