push email

Push email is a method of having email received for a user on a server automatically forwarded to a mobile device. This works by keeping an active connection open between the mobile device and the server so that the server can notify the mobile device immediately when new email has arrived. In a typical non-push (pull) scenario, the mobile device would poll the server at some user specified time interval (such as every hour) and ask the server if any new email has arrived. If new email arrives even a second after the server is polled, it will sit there waiting until the next time that the mobile device checks for mail. Push technology is also often used for non-email data such as contacts and calendar appointments, as well. Popular push systems include Direct Push from Microsoft and BlackBerry Connect from RIM.
Also known as: "push"

Push-To-Talk
QCIF

Mobile Tech Glossary