Define: Portable Communications Device
In a contract, a Portable Communications Device is any handheld or mobile item, such as a mobile phone, PDA, laptop, pager, electronic game, or other device with mobile data access, that can create, store, transmit, or receive information. The term is used to define the scope of devices covered by security, acceptable use, or confidentiality obligations.
Legal accuracy standard set & glossary spot-checked by Imad Mohammed Nazar , Skadden-trained M&A lawyer, Legal Engineer at GenieAI
What Portable Communications Device Means in a Contract
A Portable Communications Device is a contractual term used to capture the range of handheld or mobile equipment that employees, contractors, or other parties might use to access, store, or transmit information connected to the agreement. It typically includes mobile phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), laptops, pagers, electronic games with connectivity, and any other device capable of mobile data access. The purpose of the definition is not to describe technology for its own sake but to set boundaries around what equipment falls within rules on security, confidentiality, or acceptable use.
Because the definition is broad and technology-neutral, it is drafted to stay relevant as devices evolve. Rather than naming specific brands or models, contracts describe the functional characteristics that matter, such as portability and the ability to send or receive data, so that new categories of device are automatically captured without requiring the clause to be rewritten.
This term commonly appears alongside other defined terms such as.
Relevant Circumstances
- Remote working arrangements
- Use of company provided devices for business purposes
- Service provision in the IT and telecommunications sectors