Alternativa Bolivariana para las Americas (Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas), the official Spanish-language name for the economic and political alliance for Latin America proposed by Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez. So far, Bolivia, Cuba and Venezuela are members.

Area de Libre Comercio de las Americas (Free Trade Area of the Americas), the official Spanish-language name for the proposed free trade zone to be in place by 2004 and which will include all nations in the Western Hemisphere except Cuba.

Bluetooth is a low-power technology that enables data transfers at upto 720 kilobytes per second within small areas via wireless radio channels, enabling extensive machine-to-machine contact. For example mobile phones with desktop PCs with refrigerators with soda machines with headsets, etc. It is named after Harald Bluetooth, a 10th century viking king who united Denmark and Norway.

Central American Free Trade Agreement, known as CAFTA or DR-CAFTA. Free trade group that includes the United States, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Signed in May 2004. Entered into force gradually in different countries, starting with the United States in January 2006. So far, implemented in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. The Dominican Republic is expected to implement the treaty later this year and Costa Rica is still awaiting ratification in its congress.

Comunidad Andina (Andean Community), known by its acronym CAN. Trade and political group of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela. Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez announced in April 2006 plans to leave the group in protest against free trade agreements between the United States and Colobia, Ecuador and Peru. Meanwhile, Chile has announced that it wants to return to CAN.

Caribbean Community, the political and economical alliance of 14 English-language Caribbean nations, including Jamaica and the Bahamas. Founded in 1973.

Code Division Multiple Access, the wireless telecommunications standard common in Latin America, the United States and Korea.

A third-generation version of CDMA.This version, in turn, has two phases: cdma 1xRTT and cdma 1xEV. 

The first version of the wireless third-generation technology cdma2000. The 1 x RTT can transfer data at speeds of up to 144 kilobytes per second. See also cdma2000.

A version of the wireless third-generation technology cdma2000. The 1 x EV has two versions: 1xEV-Data Only (DO) and 1xEV-Data and Voice (DV). 1xEV-DO can transfer data at speeds of up to 2.4 megabytes per second, while 1xEV-DV can reach transfer at speeds between 3 mbps and 5 mbps.

United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean. Headquartered in Santiago, Chile.

Free Trade Area of the Americas, a hemisphere-wide free trade area to be implemented by the year 2004, as agreed upon by 34 heads of states at the 1994 Summit of the Americas in Miami. Will include all nations in the Americas except Cuba

General Packet Radio Service, a wireless telecommunications technology that can transfer data at speeds of up to 114 kilobytes per second. Also known as 2.5G and General Packet Radio System

Global System for Mobile communications, the wireless telecommunications standard used in all of Europe, most of Asia and growing parts of the Americas. Can transfer data at speeds of 9.6 kilobytes per second. Also known as 2G or second-generation technology

Handheld Device Markup Language, code language used to write content for wireless Internet sites. Commonly used in the United States.

Hyper Text Markup Language, code language used to write content for Internet sites.

Inter-American Development Bank, also known as the IDB. The development bank for Latin America, headquartered in Washington, D.C

Inter-American Development Bank, also known as IADB. The development bank for Latin America, headquartered in Washington, D.C

International Monetary Fund, headquartered in Washington, D.C. Started operations in 1945 based on an agreement by 29 nations at Bretton Woods, USA in 1944.

Local Area Network, a data network for a relatively small area like an office. See also WLAN.

Southern Cone Common Market, known as Mercosur in Spanish and Mercosul in Portuguese. Trade bloc created in 1991 with Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay as members and Bolivia and Chile as an associated members. In 2006 Venezuela became a full member.

Organization of American States. The OAS, headquartered in Washington, D.C., was founded in April 1948 by the United States and 20 Latin American nations. It was since expanded to also include Canada and Caribbean nations. The OAS, which replaced the Pan American Union from 1910, now includes 35 nations.

Time Division Multiple Access, a wireless telecommunications technology used in Latin America and the United States.

Wireless Local Area Network, the wireless version of LAN. WLAN is ideal for areas like airports, hotel lobbies and even coffee shops, enabling users to bring their own devices without having to hook up to any cables. See also Bluetooth and 802.11.

Universal Mobile Telecommunications System. Third-generation wireless telecommunications standard, also known as W-CDMA.will be the 3G standard in Europe, most of Asia and parts of the Americas.

Voice over IP protocol. For consumers, the technology that enables using a PC to make and receive phone calls. For operators, the technology that enables them to use the Internet for connecting all calls, even if enduser only uses regular phones.

Wireless Application Protocol, the protocol for a technology for wireless Internet. The code language is mostly Wireless Markup Language, although WAP can also be used HDML and a compact version of HTML. Can be used across telecom standards, including GSM, GPRS and 3G.

WiMAX (World Interoperability for Microwave Access) is the name of the technologies that enable wireless broadband access to the Internet as an alternative to cable or DSL. Many experts believe this technology will have larger potential in Latin America than cable and DSL since it will provide broadband access at far lower costs for both operators and consumers. 

A Wirless Local Area Network standard for small areas like airports, hotel lobbies and even coffee shops, enabling users to bring their own devices without having to hook up to any cables. See also WLAN.