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2.5G
The requirement for mobile data services, fuelled by the growth of the
internet, was the driver for the development of enhanced data services
known as 2.5G. These include HSCSD (High Speed Circuit Switched Data),
14.4Kbps GSM Data, and GPRS.
3G Third Generation
3G is the term given to the next generation of mobile communication systems.
These offer enhanced services, such as multimedia and video. The main
3G technologies include UMTS and CDMA2000¢â. 3G was an initiative originally
spearheaded by the ITU (International Telecommunications Union) under
the IMT2000 project.
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A
ACD (Automatic Call Distribution)
An Automatic Call Distributor (ACD) is a telephone facility that manages
incoming calls and handles them based on the number called and an associated
database of handling instructions. Many companies offering sales and service
support use ACDs to validate callers, make outgoing responses or calls,
forward calls to the right party, allow callers to record messages, gather
usage statistics, balance the use of phone lines, and provide other services.
Agent
A person or organization that acts on behalf of another. In the telecommunications
industry, Agents typically are independent individuals or companies that
market the services of a carrier as if they were employees of that carrier.
Aggregator
An independent entity that brings several subscribers together to form
a group that can obtain long-distance service at a reduced rate. Subscribers
are billed by the original IXC. The aggregator only provides the initial
set-up of the plan. He usually provides no service after that. Different
than a reseller.
ANI (Automatic Number Identification)
ANI is a service that provides the receiver of a telephone call with the
number of the calling phone.
API (Application Programming Interface)
An application program interface (API - and sometimes spelled application
programming interface) is the specific method prescribed by a computer
operating system or by an application program by which a programmer writing
an application program can make requests of the operating system or another
application.
ASP (Application Service Provider)
An application service provider (ASP) is a company that offers individuals
or enterprises access over the Internet to applications and related services
that would otherwise have to be located in their own personal or enterprise
computers.
Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM)
ATM is a broad-bandwidth, low delay, packet-like (cell relay) switching
and multiplexing
technique. It is essentially connection oriented, although it is envisioned
to support all services.
ATM networks will accept or reject connections based on user's average
and peak bandwidth
requirements providing flexible and efficient service for LAN-to-LAN,
compressed video and other
applications that involve variable bit rate (VBR) traffic.
ASR system (Automatic Speech Recognition system)
ASR is a technology that allows users of information systems to speak
entries rather than punching numbers on a keypad. ASR is used primarily
to provide information and to forward telephone calls.
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B
Bandwidth
Bandwidth is a frequency range, usually specified by the number of hertz
in a band or between upper and lower limiting frequencies. Alternatively,
the frequency range that a device is capable of generating, handling,
passing or allowing.
Billing
A function whereby CDR (Call Detail Recording) generated by the charging
function are transformed into bills requiring payment.
Billing Account Number - BAN
Used by telephone companies to designate a customer or customer location
that will be billed. A single customer may have multiple billing accounts.
Bit
A bit is the most fundamental and widely used form of digital signals
are binary signals, in which one amplitude condition represents a binary
digit 1, and another amplitude condition represents a binary digit 0.
Thus a binary digit, or bit is one of the members of a set of two in a
numeration system that is based on two and only two possible different
values or states.
Bit Error Rate (BER)
BER is the ratio of the number of bits received with errors to the total
number of bits transmitted. BER and the average number of error-free seconds
are the principal impairment measurements for digital channels.
Bit Rate
Bit rate is the capacity characteristic of digital signals as defined
by the number of bits (or bytes) per second that a channel will support.
For example, a transmission facility that can support information exchange
at the rate of I megabit per second (1 Mbps or 1,000,000 bits per second)
delivers the same quantity of information, i.e., throughput, as a 1 kilobit
per second (kbps or 1,000 bits per second) facility, but, in only 1/1000
of the time.
Business Applications
Business applications are unique aggregations of telecommunications services
that satisfy particular enterprise needs.
Byte
A byte, generally, is an 8-bit quantity of information, used mainly in
referring to parallel data transfer, and data storage; also generally
referred to in data communications as an octet or character.
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C
Call Center
A call center is a physical place where customer and other telephone calls
are handled by an organization, usually with some amount of computer automation.
Typically, a call center has the ability to handle a considerable volume
of calls at the same time, to screen calls and forward them to someone
qualified to handle them, and to log calls. Call centers are used by mail-order
catalog organizations, telemarketing companies, computer product help
desks, and any large organization that uses the telephone to sell or service
products and services. Two related terms are virtual call center and contact
center.
Carrier
A carrier is a local (intra-LATA) or long distance (inter-LATA) telecommunications
service providing organization. A waveform, pulsed or continuous, that
is modulated by another information bearing waveform.
CDMA
code division multiple access
CENTRal EXchange (Centrex)
Centrex is a LEC-provided switching service for business customers that
permits station-to-station dialing, listed directory number service, direct
inward dialing and station number identification on outgoing calls. The
switching functions are usually performed in a central office. Digital
Centrex offers the advanced features of fourth generation PBXs, without
the need to purchase or lease equipment and, in most cases, eliminates
the need for floor space, electrical prime power and heating, ventilation
and air conditioning.
Communications
Communications is the process of representing, transferring, interpreting
or processing information (data) among persons, places, or machines. Communications
implies a sender, a receiver, and a transmission medium over which the
information travels. The meaning assigned to the data must be recoverable
without degradation.
CRM (Customer Relationship Management)
CRM (customer relationship management) is an information industry term
for methodologies, software, and usually Internet capabilities that help
an enterprise manage customer relationships in an organized way. For example,
an enterprise might build a database about its customers that described
relationships in sufficient detail so that management, salespeople, people
providing service, and perhaps the customer directly could access information,
match customer needs with product plans and offerings, remind customers
of service requirements, know what other products a customer had purchased,
and so forth.
CTI (computer-telephony integration)
CTI ( computer-telephony integration), or sometimes simply "computer
telephony," is the use of computers to manage telephone calls. The
term is used in describing the computerized services of call centers,
such as those that direct your phone call to the right department at a
business you're calling. It's also sometimes used to describe the ability
to use your personal computer to initiate and manage phone calls (in which
case you can think of your computer as your personal call center).
Customer Premises Equipment
Customer Premises Equipment is all telecommunications terminal equipment
located on the customer premises. except coin operated telephones.
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D
Directory
A directory is, in general, an approach to organizing information, the
most familiar example being a telephone directory.
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E
E1
Wide area digital transmission scheme used predominantly in Europe that
carries data at a rate of 2.048Mbps. E1 lines can be leased for private
use from common carriers. The E1 contains 32 timeslots at 64Kbps.
E2
An interim data bearer that consists of four E1 bearers. The capacity
of the E2 bearer is 8.448Mbps
E3
The E3 standard is specified by ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards
Institute). The bearer supports 16 E1 channels giving a capacity of 34.368Mbps.
E4
Carries four E3 channels. The carrier offers a capacity of 139.264Mbps
ERM (Enterprise Risk Management)
ERM describes software that lets an enterprise manage user access to its
network resources efficiently. ERM software generally lets a user sign
on to different enterprise systems and applications using the same password.
ERM software makes it easy for the enterprise to control and keep track
of which systems and resources each user has access to, and provides consistent
standards for creating and changing passwords.
ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning)
ERP is an industry term for the broad set of activities supported by multi-module
application software that helps a manufacturer or other business manage
the important parts of its business, including product planning, parts
purchasing, maintaining inventories, interacting with suppliers, providing
customer service, and tracking orders.
Exchange Carrier (or local exchange carrier LEC)
An exchange carrier is any company, BOC or independent which provides
intra-LATA telecommunications within its franchised area.
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F
Foreign Exchange (FX)
FX is a service that provides a circuit(s) between a user station, a PBX,
or a Centrex switch, and a central office other than the one that normally
serves the caller.
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G
GSM - Global System for Mobile communication
The Global System for Mobile communications is a second generation cellular
telecommunication system which was first planned in the early 1980s. Unlike
first generation systems operating at the time, GSM was digital and thus
introduced greater enhancements such as security, capacity, quality and
the ability to support integrated services.Initially, GSM was planned
to be a European system allowing subscribers to roam between different
networks however, GSM was quickly adopted by many other regions and is
now a ¡°Global System¡±. Today, there are over 400 GSM network operators
or carriers located in 182 countries and supporting collectively nearly
700 million subscribers.
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H
Help Desk
In a business enterprise, a help desk is a place that a user of information
technology can call to get help with a problem. In many companies, a help
desk is simply one person with a phone number and a more or less organized
idea of how to handle the problems that come in. In larger companies,
a help desk may consist of a group of experts using software to help track
the status of problems and other special software to help analyze problems
(for example, the status of a company's telecommunications network).
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I
Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN)
ISDN consists of a set of standards being developed by the CCITT and various
U.S. standards setting organizations. The CCITT formal recommendations,
adopted in October, 1984, first defined ISDN as ". . . a network,
in general evolving from a telephony integrated digital network, that
provides end-to-end digital connectivity to support a wide range of services,
including voice and non-voice, to which users will have access by a limited
set of standard multipurpose user-network interfaces." The concept
of user access to an existing integrated digital network (IDN) underlies
the ISDN.
Interconnection
The physical and logical linking of telecommunication networks used by
the same or different organizations in order to allow communication.
ITU
International Telecommunications Union
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J
JTAPI (Java Telephony API)
JTAPI (Java Telephony Application Programming Interface) is a Java-based
application programming interface (API) for computer telephony applications.
JTAPI consists of a set of language packages. The core package provides
the basic framework for simple telephony processes such as placing a call,
answering a call, and dropping a call. Several extension packages provide
additional telephony features. JTAPI is interoperable across various computer
platforms. JTAPI is similar to Microsoft and Intel's Telephony Application
Programming Interface (TAPI).
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L
LAN (IEEE 802.3 10BaseT)
LAN (Local Area Network) is an Institute of Electrical and Electronic
Engineers specification for a class of LANs using four-pair unshielded
twisted pair (UTP) cable. See Local Area Network.
LAN
local area network
LCR
least cost routing
LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol)
LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) is a software protocol for
enabling anyone to locate organizations, individuals, and other resources
such as files and devices in a network, whether on the public Internet
or on a corporate intranet. LDAP is a "lightweight" (smaller
amount of code) version of Directory Access Protocol (DAP), which is part
of X.500, a standard for directory services in a network. LDAP is lighter
because in its initial version it did not include security features.
Local Access
Local Loop. The connection from a subscriber to the Central Office. The
portion of a circuit connecting the LEC's CO with the customer's premise
equipment across the local network.
Local Area Network (LAN)
LAN is a premises high-speed (typically in the range of 10 Mbps) data
communications system wherein all segments of the transmission medium
(typically coaxial cable, twisted pair or optical fiber) are contained
within an office or campus environment.
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M
Mainframe
Mainframe is an industry term for a large computer, typically manufactured
by a large company such as IBM for the commercial applications of Fortune
1000 businesses and other large-scale computing purposes. Historically,
a mainframe is associated with centralized rather than distributed computing.
Today, IBM refers to its larger processors as large servers and emphasizes
that they can be used to serve distributed users and smaller servers in
a computing network.
MAN
metropolitan area network
Middleware
In the computer industry, middleware is a general term for any programming
that serves to "glue together" or mediate between two separate
and often already existing programs. A common application of middleware
is to allow programs written for access to a particular database to access
other databases.
MMS - Multimedia Messaging Service
Multimedia Messaging Services will provide a mechanism to send not only
text messages as with the SMS (Short Message Service) but also drawings,
photographs, music or voice clips and even short video. The system will
operate on the ¡°store and forward¡± principle with messages being stored
and possibly formatted at a MMSC (Multimedia Messaging Service Centre)
when sent between users. In order to maximize the full potential of MMS,
the service will need to run over a 2.5G or 3G network.
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N
Network Control Point (NCP)
In virtual private networks, the Network Contol Point is a centralized
database that stores a subscriber's unique VPN definition. Highly sophisticated,
this database screens every call and applies call processing control in
accordance with customer-defined requirements.
Network Operating System (NOS)
NOS is software that controls the execution of network programs and modules.
Structurally, networking software comprises multiple modules, most residing
in network servers, but some must be installed in each terminal/station
that can access network resources. Peer-to-peer NOSs permit any terminal/station
to act as a resource server or a client, and can be based on Microsoft's
Disk operating system (MS DOS) designed for IBM and compatible PCs. Since
MS DOS is not designed to run multiple programs and respond to many simultaneous
users, most NOSs designed for large networks with dedicated servers/superservers,
have a multitasking and multi-user architecture. Advanced NOS products
support network management, diagnostics, and administration, as well as,
primary server, client, de vice and external network driver functions.
Network Services
Network Services are specified sets of information transfer capabilities
furnished to users between telecommunications network points of termination.
Network services categories include access and transport, public and private,
and switched and non-switched.
O
ODBC (open database connectivity, interface ODBC)
Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) is an open standard application programming
interface (API) for accessing a database. By using ODBC statements in
a program, you can access files in a number of different databases, including
Access, dBase, DB2, Excel, and Text. In addition to the ODBC software,
a separate module or driver is needed for each database to be accessed.
The main proponent and supplier of ODBC programming support is Microsoft.
OSS
operations support systems or operational support system
Outsourcing
Outsourcing is an arrangement in which one company provides services for
another company that could also be or usually have been provided in-house.
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P
PABX (Private Automatic Branch Exchange)
A private automatic branch exchange (PABX) is an automatic telephone switching
system within a private enterprise. Originally, such systems - called
private branch exchanges (PBX) - required the use of a live operator.
Since almost all private branch exchanges today are automatic, the abbreviation
"PBX" usually implies a "PABX."
PET (Productivity Enhancement Technology)
A term specific to CoreBridge. Corebridge Suite of Applications essentially
improve the Productivity and Customer Service of any organization.
Point-of-presence (POP)
A POP is a physical location within a LATA that an IXC establishes for
the purpose of gaining access to BOC/LEC networks within the LATA using
LEC provided access services. An IXC may have more than one POP within
a LATA and the POP may support public and private, switched and non switched
services.
POP
point-of-presence
Private Branch Exchange (PBX)
A PBX is a premises switching system, serving a commercial or government
organization, and usually located on that organization's premises. PBXs
provide telecommunications services on the premises or campus, (e.g.,
internal calling and other services), and access to public and private
telecommunications network services.
Private Network
A private network is a network made up of circuits and, sometimes, switching
equipment, for the exclusive use of one organization.
Protocols
Protocols are strict procedures for the initiation, maintenance and termination
of data communications. Protocols define the syntax (arrangements, formats
and patterns of bits and bytes) and the semantics (system control, information
context or meaning of patterns of bits or bytes) of exchanged data, as
well as numerous other characteristics (data rates, timing, etc.).
PSN
packet switched network
PSPDN
packet switched public data network
PSTNpublic switched telecommunications network
PTT
postal, telephone, and telegraph
Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)
A Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) denotes those portions of the
LEC and IXC networks that provide public switched telephone network services.
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R
Regulators
FCC, PUC, Federal Courts (e.g. MFJ), etc.
Reseller - Also known as Rebiller
A long-distance carrier (IEC) that does not own a network, but leases
bulk capacity and resells portions of it at a higher rate.
Residential Customer
An individual (non-business) telephone system subscriber.
Routers
In IEEE 802 local area network (LAN) standards, routers are devices that
connect autonomous networks of like architecture at the network layer
(layer 3). Unlike a bridge which operates transparently to communicating
end-terminals at the logical link layer (layer 2), a router reacts only
to packets addressed to it by either a terminal or another router. Routers
perform packet (as opposed to frame) routing and forwarding functions;
they can select one of many potential paths based on transit delay, network
congestion or other criteria. How routers perform their functions is largely
determined by the protocols implemented in the networks they interconnect.
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S
Server
In a network, a server is equipment that makes available file, database,
printing, facsimile, communications or other services to client terminals/stations
with access to the network. A gateway is a server that permits client
terminal/station access to external communications networks and/or information
systems.
SMS - Short Message Service (GSM)
The Short Message Service was introduced in the first phase of GSM during
1991 as a simple store and forward text messaging system. Even though
nearly all GSM mobile phones were capable of supporting SMS, the take
up was very limited as network operators or carriers failed to market
the system. However, this has all changed with in excess of 24 Billion
text messages being sent each month. A significant proportion of this
rapid growth can be attributed to the inclusion of SMS into youth culture.
In fact it has introduced a new ¡°text¡± language to bypass the often awkward
text entry or MMI (Man Machine Interface).SMS messages are limited to
160 characters in length although it is possible to concatenate several
messages to produce a much greater macro message
Switch
A device (like a DMS-250 or a PBX) that responds to originator signals
and dynamically connects the caller to the desired communication destination.
Switched Access
Nondedicated local access between the customer's premise and the serving
wire center which is interconnected to the company's point-of-presence
for origination or termination of service.
Switched Access Service
A class of LEC services that provides the link from the customer's premise
to the IEC PoP for switched circuits.
Switched Resellers
Resellers that utilize their own switching hardware (and sometimes their
own lines) and the lines of other IXCs to provide long-distance service
to its subscribers. They provide their own billing and service.
Switched Services
All dial up long-distance services including conventional residential
and WATS (most have incremental use charges). (See Message Toll Service)
Switching Fee
A per-line fee (usually around 5$) imposed by the LEC to reprogram their
switching system to change your default carrier. Subscribers must usually
pay this fee when switching to a reseller. Some resellers will reimburse
the subscribers for this fee.
Switchless Reseller
A reseller of long-distance services that does not utilize any of its
own lines, or (switching) equipment. All actual service and equipment
is handled by the IXC. Billing is usually done, by the reseller themselves,
to the customer.
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T
T1/DS-1
A T1 carrier is a time-division multiplexed digital transmission facility
capable of supporting 24 voice channels, (each encoded as a 64 kbps PCM
DS0 signal), producing an aggregate multiplexer output signal at the 1.544
Mbps DS1 rate. Developed in the 1960s, the T1 carrier is designed to operate
full duplex over two pairs in unshielded twisted pair (UTP) cable.
T2/DS-2
(Facility) The equivalent of 4 multiplexed T1 channels. 6.312 million
bits per second (6.3Mbps)
T3/DS-3
(Facility) The equivalent of 28 multiplexed T1 channels. 44.736 million
bits per second (45Mbps)
T4/DS-4
(Facility) The equivalent of 6 multiplexed T3 channels. 274.176 million
bits per second (274Mbps)
TAPI (Telephony Application Programming Interface)
TAPI is a standard program interface that lets you and your computer "talk"
over telephones or video phones to people or phone-connected resources
elsewhere in the world.
Tariff
A tariff is a published rate for a specific telecommunications service,
equipment, or facility that constitutes a public contract between the
user and the telecommunications supplier (i.e., carrier); tariff services
and rates are established by and for telecommunications common carriers
in a formal process in which carriers submit filings for federal or state
government regulatory review, public comments, possible amendment, and
approval.
TCP/IP
Transmission control protocol/internet protocol. TCP/IP is the transport
layer and Internet layer, respectively, of the Internet suite of protocols.
TCP corresponds to layer 4 of the OSI protocol stack: IP performs some
of the functions of layer 3. It is a connectionless protocol used primarily
to connect dissimilar networks to each other.
Telecommunications
Telecommunications is any process that enables one or more users to pass
to one or more other
users information of any nature delivered in any usable form, by wire,
radio, visual, or other
electrical, electromagnetic, optical means. The word is derived from the
Greek tele, "far off," and
the Latin communicare "to share."
Telecommunications Network
A telecommunications network is a system of interconnected facilities
designed to carry traffic
from a variety of telecommunications services. The network has two different
but related
aspects. In terms of its physical components, it is a facilities network.
In terms of the variety of
telecommunications services that it provides, it can support a set of
many traffic networks, each
representing a particular interconnection of facilities.
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U
Unified messaging
Unified messaging (sometimes referred to as the unified messaging system
or UMS) is the handling of voice, fax, and regular text messages as objects
in a single mailbox that a user can access either with a regular e-mail
client or by telephone. The PC user can open and play back voice messages,
assuming their PC has multimedia capabilities. Fax images can be saved
or printed.
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V
VAD
value-added distributor
VAN
value-added network
VAR
value-added reseller
Video Conferencing
Video conferencing is the real-time, usually two-way transmission of voice
and images between two or more locations. Today, both voice and video
analog signals are digitized by video codices before transmission which
can involve wide bandwidths. To conserve bandwidth, some systems employ
"freeze frame," where a television screen is only "repainted"
every few seconds. Codecs for higher quality full motion video attempt
to minimize bandwidth requirements by taking advantage of intervals with
relatively little motion (which require smaller bandwidths), and by trading
off smooth motion tracking and picture resolution.
Virtual Private Networks (VPN)
VPNs are services using public network facilities augmented by network
control point and service management system facilities wherein traffic
is routed through the public network under computer control in a manner
that makes VPN service indistinguishable from dedicated facilities based
private networks. Customers can define, change and control network resources
with the same or more flexibility as afforded by facilities based private
networks.
VoIP - Voice over Internet Protocol
Voice over IP is a system enabling voice data to be delivered using the
IP (Internet Protocol). It is sometimes referred to as IP telephony.
VPN
virtual private network
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W
WAN
wide area network
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