The A-Z of ebusiness (M)

MAC Address
A unique identifier for each network access point (for example, some modems, a network card or router). Networks are often secured by allowing only authorised MAC addresses access.

Mainframe
Mainframe describes a large computer associated with centralised rather than distributed computing.

Managed Reporting (MRE)
An end user program that allows users to access, share and schedule the delivery of pre-formatted reports. Some MRE tools allow users limited ability to modify and/or create reports.

Management Information System (MIS)
A category of software that provides managers with the means for organising and evaluating their business from data that the MIS collects automatically.

Other names for MIS include IS (Information Services) and IT (Information Technology).

Mapping
The process of assigning a source data element or specification to a target data element or specification and creating a correspondence between both sets of records and fields. For example, converting a purchase order file in a proprietary format to a set of EDI purchase order transactions.

Mapping also means translation from human language to machine readable format. Because programs cannot translate directly from human concepts to computer code, they translate through a series of layers, each containing the same substantive information but each time in a form closer to what the computer understands. This activity of translating from one layer to another is called mapping.

Mapping may also mean the process of copying a set of objects from one place to another while preserving the object's organisation, eg programs on a CD-ROM are mapped into memory. Picture file images in memory are mapped onto the screen in a graphic display.

M-commerce
M-commerce ('mobile commerce' or 'next generation ecommerce') is the buying and selling of goods and services through wireless handheld devices such as mobile phones and personal digital assistants. Users are able to access the internet, fax, email and phone to pay bills, carry out online banking, place orders or access news without the need to plug in.

Mesh Radio
Wireless technology that enables internet access by use of microwaves transmitted through a 'node', a small cylinder placed on buildings. Soon to go on trial with BT.

Meta Tag(s)
A meta tag is a coding statement contained in HTML that describes an aspect of the content of a web page. The information contained within meta tags is used by search engines to rank web pages according to the proximity to search criteria that users of the search engine enter when looking for information on the worldwide web.

There are several kinds of meta tags, but the most important for search engine indexing are the keywords meta tag and the description meta tag.

Metadata
Metadata is data about data. An example of metadata is the information held by a database describing who collected the data in the database and how and why the data was collected and how the data is formatted. Metadata is essential for understanding information stored in data warehouses.

Microbrowser
A microbrowser is a scaled down browser for PDAs and other wireless devices.

Microsite
A microsite is a mini website which can either be part of a larger website, or an independent site normally with a separate URL. Microsites tend to be temporary and are created to meet specific business objectives.

Middleware
Middleware (sometimes referred to as 'glue') is a generic term for any programming that joins or mediates between two otherwise separate programs. A common application of middleware is to allow programs written for access to a particular database to access other databases

MIDI
The Musical Instrument Digital Interface is a protocol designed for recording and playing back music on digital synthesizers by transmitting information about how the sound is produced. Music may be stored in a computer as a MIDI file. MIDI is supported by a variety of personal computer sound cards.

Millennium Bug
The Millennium Bug (or Year 2000 / Y2K problem) created problems for any application where as a result of storage limitations the year was represented by a two-digit number, such as 99 for 1999. When the two-digit number eg 99 had a 1 added to it this created a conflict with program logic which assumed that the year number gets larger.

Errors were possible when systems passed certain dates not just 1.1.2000 but also 9.9.99, and 29.2.2000.

MMS
Multimedia Message Service, allowing mobile phone users to receive multimedia messages including pictures, video and audio on mobile phones.

MNO
Mobile Network Operator. A network operator owns their own base stations and communications infrastructure in order to provide mobile services to consumers and businesses. There are 4 network operators in the UK: O2, Orange, T-Mobile and Vodafone.

Mobile Internet
Used to refer to internet websites and applications accessed by mobile devices. The mobile internet is not the same as the internet accessed via PC. Not only are mobile internet applications normally written in a different language (WML) they are also configured differently so that the content is appropriate for the medium, ie a small screen.

Modem
A modem converts a digital signal from a computer or other electronic device to an analog signal that can be transmitted over an ordinary telephone line, allowing connection to another computer (via another modem).

MP3
MP3 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer-3) is a standard technology and format for compressing and converting a sound sequence, eg from a CD, into about one-twelfth the size of the original file while preserving the original level of sound quality when it is played.

MPEG/MPG
MPEG, the Moving Picture Experts Group, develops a series of standards for compression of moving pictures and digital audio, under authority of the International Organisation for Standardisation, commonly known as ISO.

MRO (Maintenance, Repair And Operations) Procurement
Process of buying in support, repair and update services. It can also relate to the process of offering a project on the open market and inviting tender bids from interested suppliers.

MSP
Managed Service Provision. The provision and management of a service by a third party of an outsourced function. Examples include: IT, IT support, human resources, payroll and supply chain management. The term is particularly widely used in the context of the recruitment of contractors where it is synonymous with Contractor Resource Management.

M-tail
Using the mobile platform as a channel to sell retail goods

MVNO
Mobile Virtual Network Operator is an operator that doesn't own it's own network, but buys airtime from another operator and resells it. Virgin Mobile is an example of this in the UK, reselling T-Mobile airtime.

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