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Mobile service provider

Definition

Mobile service provider

A mobile service provider (MSP) is a company that offers transmission services to users of wireless devices (smartphones and tablet PCs) through radio frequency (RF) signals rather than through end-to-end wire communication.

The major mobile service providers in the United States include Verizon Wireless, Sprint, AT&T and T-Mobile. Their services differ in terms of the wireless service plans, data speeds (3G vs. 4G), reliability and the devices they support.

A mobile service provider is sometimes called a wireless service provider (WSP), wireless carrier or mobile carrier.

Related glossary terms: OTA update (over-the-air update), mobile device fragmentation, HSPA (high speed packet access), LTE-Advanced (Long Term Evolution-Advanced), 3G card

Contributor(s): Bridget Botelho

This was last updated in November 2011

Posted by: Margaret Rouse

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