Telecommunication Glossary

AC15

A standard for connecting two pieces of equipment over long distance. For example, you might use AC15 to connect two telephone systems.

Account Code

A system for attaching codes to certain calls that were made. This can be done for a variety of reasons. Firstly, a call that has been “tagged” in this way can then easily be tracked so that applicable charges can be made to the right account. It’s also useful for businesses to tag their calls according to what follow-up action that call requires (i.e – if it was used to schedule a meeting or to make a sale). Account codes are often used in conjunction with Call Management systems to produce and cross-index databases of calls that were made with the same account codes.

ACD

An acronym for Automatic Call Distribution, ACD is a method for handling a large number of phone calls to a single destination. It’s usually used in large scale call centers, so that no one operator is overwhelmed by the entire volume of phone calls.

Alpha Tagging

Alpha Tagging is the process that makes Caller ID possible. It is the means of attaching an alpha-numeric name to a number, so that when that number (or extension) dials you, your ID unit can display them by an instantly recognizable name, rather than by their number.

Analogue Device

A term used to describe devices that can be attached to standard analogue telephone lines, such as basic telephone units, and some models of fax machine, modem, or answering machine.

ARS

An acronym for Automatic Route Selection, ARS refers to a method by which a telephone system can automatically route calls to the best possible lines. For instance, if an office has multiple lines going out and one of those is subscribed to unlimited long distance service, an ARS system would automatically route all long distance calls to that line to reduce costs. For more information, see “LCR”.

Auto-Attendant

An auto-attendant is a feature integrated with voicemail that allows users to access particular departments or separate lines by means of dialing an extension. Mainly used with a live operator is not present.

Basic Rate

Basic Rate is often abbreviated to BRI or ISDN2. It refers to a type of circuit that provides 64 kbps functionality for up to two calls on a single circuit.

Battery Back-Up

Battery Back-Up allows a system to retain its stored information even in the midst of a power outage. For example, certain phones might lose all the information stored in their directories or caller ID histories if they were to lose power. Battery Back-Ups prevent this. They can also serve to continue providing power to a device in the absence of regular power, but this will be a significantly higher drain on the battery than simply preserving stored data.

BRI

See “Basic Rate”.

Bulletin Board

Just like a real life board where people tack up notices or bulletins, an electronic bulletin board acts as the digital equivalent. Users can post messages that are then able to be accessed by other people on the same network.

Call Barring

Call Barring is the act of preventing calls to certain types of numbers from a line. For instance, on certain lines, it might be advantageous to bar calls to long-distance numbers or other toll numbers.

Call Forwarding

Call Forwarding is the act by which a user inputs a code so that, until he or she cancels that code, calls made to their number will be forward to another number of their choosing. In this way, they can continue to monitor calls when away from their telephone. One way to do this, for example, might be by forwarding one’s calls from their desk phone to their mobile phone.

Call Management

Call Management is the process of using software to monitor and analyze information received from phone calls. The results of this analysis are usually recorded onto a disc and then looked over by people to monitor for certain trends in regards to productivity or to identify abuse of office phone lines.

Call Park

The process by which a call is “parked” by one user to wait for a different user to pick up. A common way in which a parked call might play out is if one person answers a call, asks the caller to wait a moment, parks the calls, and then notifies someone else, via intercom, that there’s a call waiting at a particular extension. The other user would then dial that extension and pick up the call that had been parked for them.

Cat 5

Short for “category 5”, this refers to a type of cabling that is used to transmit data. In general, it is designed to be interchangeable between a large number of sentences, so that phone systems, computers, and other devices such as fax machines can all exist on the same interface.

CCU

Short for “central control unit”. This simply refers to the area in which all the main equipment for a large-scale phone system is stored.

Centrex

A standard name given for a feature that’s common among mobile networks. With this feature, users have their own individual lines, but can connect to each other’s lines within the same network at no cost.

CLI

An acronym for “Calling Line Identity”, CLI refers to the number that is displayed on ID units whenever an incoming call is received. A network CLI is a CLI that is used within a network to determine the source of a call, and a user CLI that is passed on to other users in a network in most instances when a call is made.

CLIP

An acronym for “Calling Line Identity Presentation”, CLIP refers to a service whereas the caller’s CLI is displayed on a specialized device. Also known as Caller ID.

COLP

An acronym standing for Connected Line Presentation. COLP is a service that displays on a device information about the party you are connected to. This can be useful in instances wherein your call to a certain number was forwarded to another number without your knowledge; you would then know what number you were *really* connected to and could avoid being fraudulently charged, etc.

CTI

An acronym for “Computer Telephony Integration”, CTI refers to the practice of having one’s telephone system interface with a computer. This could be done for a variety of reasons, such as having a computer detect the calling number and automatically display information about the calling party before you even answer the phone. There’s two types of CTI in wide usage: First Party CTI, which is when the phone and computer are directly connected, and Third Party CTI when the data is routed through a central server and there’s no direct connection going on.

Custom Service Mode

A type of voicemail service where the caller is presented with an audio list of options that he or she can take by pressing an appropriate button on his or her keypad.

DC5

A standard used to facilitate communication between two nearby pieces of telecommunications equipment. It is distinct from AC15 in that it should only be used for devices that are in close proximity to one another.

DDI

An acronym for “Direct Dialing In”. A system wherein the number of telephone numbers is greater than the number of actual lines. Incoming calls are routed to whichever of the lines is free and a computer determines which party was wanted by checking the number that was dialed and then completing the connection. Can be used to simulate a huge number of lines without extra fees.

DECT

Digital Enhanced Cordless Technology. The use of digital over analog standards to allow for greater range and audio quality in smaller wireless telephone handsets.

Delayed Ringing

A system wherein if the initial operator is overloaded, extension phones will ring after a small delay, ensuring that incoming calls always get through to somebody.

DSS

Stands for “Direct Station Selector”. A device that connects to or is built into a telephone unit that allows for the instant transferring of calls to a number of different recipients. These usually contain quite a few buttons that the user programs for convenient single-button access.

E+M

Synonymous for DC5.

Extension Lock

A feature that allows certain extensions to be locked and unlocked via the inputting of a password via the phone’s keypad. Customized levels of restriction are possible.

GAP

An acronym for General Access Protocol. For more information, see “DECT”.

Group Ringing

A system wherein several extensions ring simultaneously when a single number is dialed.

Hunting

This is the process by which a telephone system seeks out an extension that is available to take a call, instead of returning a busy signal. There are a variety of strategies you can set a system like this to use, including “First Free” which goes to the first person available, and “Uniform Call Distribution” which ensures that everyone gets an equal number of calls.

ISDN

Acronym for “Integrated Services Digital Network”. This is essentially a charter that telephone service providers agree upon, providing established standards for providing digital service over the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network).

ISDN2

See “Basic Rate”.

ISDN30

See “Primary Rate”.

Keyphone

A telephone designed specifically for use with a particular telephone system (i.e. – it is not interchangeable). It usually includes advanced features like visual displays and indicator lights.

LCD

An acronym for “Liquid Crystal Display”. This refers to the type of display most often found on telephones.

LCR

Stands for “Least Cost Routing”. This refers to what happens when a telephone system is set up to analyze the number being called and route it through the outgoing line that offers the best value. For instance, if one outgoing line is more friendly to mobile calls, it would route calls to mobile units through that line, saving on phone costs.

Least Cost Routing

See “LCR”.

LED

Stands for Light Emitting Diode. This is a small, inexpensive type of light that is usually seen on small electronic devices like telephones. They are usually used as indicators, and are often red or green in color.

Live Call Screening

A voicemail features that allows the user to listen to a caller leaving a message and pick up if he or she so desires.

Loud Ringing Bell

A device that is intended to warn people who are away from their telephones that a call is incoming. It could be a secondary telephone unit that also rings, or even an auxiliary system of bells or chimes that are set up all around a building.

Mailbox

In telecommunications terms, this refers to the place where voicemail messages are stored until they are listened to and deleted.

MSN

An acronym for “Multiple Subscriber Numbering”. This is a feature available to ISDN2 lines that allows for ten different telephone numbers to be routed to a single line, so that each device on a line can have its own individual access.

Music on Hold

This is a feature that automatic plays music for the caller who has been placed on hold. It is usually intended to give them something to occupy themselves so that they don’t get anxious about being kept waited, and often contains advertisements along with the music.

Night Service

A secondary mode for telephone systems to be used outside of business hours. It has various features that are useful for that time of day, such as routing incoming calls to other locations and blocking outgoing calls so that security and cleaning staff don’t take make unauthorized use of the phone system.

Parallel Port

A port on a computer that allows data to be read one byte at a time. Superior to single-bit reading, in that it is eight times faster.

POT

An acronym that stands for “Plain Ordinary Telephone”. It’s used to distinguish a model of phone from being a unique “keyphone” and indicates that it can be used with most any system.

PRI

An acronym for “Primary Rate Interface”. For more information, see “Primary Rate”.

Primary Rate

A type of ISDN circuit that allows significantly higher bit rates than the Basic Rate. It features up to 30 64-bit channels that can be used simultaneously by different calls, as well as two separate control channels.

Pulse Dialing

Pulse dialing is the practice of dialing in which pulses rather than tones are transmitted over a line. Typically this is a short series of connections and disconnections that tell the phone system what number is trying to be accessed. It is distinct from “tone dialing” which is what most people are familiar with.

QSIG

QSIG is a way of communicating between two telephone systems that utilizes a high bandwidth 2 Mbps linkup, so that up to 30 calls can be handled at once on a single circuit.

Serial Port

A port on a computer distinct from a parallel port in that data can only be read one bit at a time (whereas parallel ports can read a full byte at once).

SLT

See “POT”.

TAPI

An acronym for “Telephony Application Program Interface”. This is a method created by Microsoft for computers and telephones to interface with one another. There are several different versions of this standard available however, so compatibility between systems isn’t totally assured.

Tone Dialing

Tone dialing is a method of dialing in which a handset broadcasts tones of different pitches to a phone system to indicate which number is being dialed. It can also interface with other devices besides telephones, and is widely used as an alternative to pulse dialing.

Trunk

A trunk is a basic term to refer to a line that connects one telephone to another or to the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network).

Trunk-to-Trunk Transfer

A system which allows incoming calls to be transferred to other numbers that are outside the internal network.

TSAPI

Stands for “Telephony System Application Program Interface”. A method created by the Novell Corporation to allow network servers and telephones to communicate with one another. It is more powerful than TAPI, but also significantly more complicated to make use of.

Two-Way Record

A type of voicemail system that allows for both incoming and outgoing sides of a telephone call to be recorded and played back at a later date.

Voice Over IP (VoIP)

This is an alternative to the tradition PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) that transmits voice data over internet protocol (IP). It can be used in conjunction with computer speakers and microphones to make calls, or with dedicated handsets made for this purpose. Many companies are switched to VoIP as a way to save money on phone calls, as it’s often possible to place even long-distance calls for free.

Voicemail

A service used in some telephone systems that works almost like an answering machine but without a physical device that is interacted with. Instead, the user can access his or her messages from any location by dialing a special number. A voicemail system can also serve as a navigation menu to help callers reach the extension that they’re trying to reach in lieu of a live operator.

UTP

An acronym for “Unshielded Twisted Pair”, UTP refers to a type of cabling used in telecommunications. It is normally used to interface with computer systems, and is distinct from other types of cable such as Ethernet, co-axial and Twinax.

WAP

An acronym for “Wireless Access Protocol”, WAP refers to the standard by which mobile phones access the Internet.

XDP

An acronym that stands for “Extra Device Port”. It’s a term that is used exclusive on Panasonic telephone systems to refer to ports that allow for the system to be extended by the connection of multiple phones of multiple types (such as a keyphone and a POT), which are then accessed by the same telephone number. This is often used so that both phones can be used simultaneously, such as talking on one while having the other interact with office equipment like a modem or fax machine. Certain systems are highly expandable, with up to 32 extensions at once.

This page contains information pertaining to:
Telecommunication Glossary, What is Analogue Device, Auto-Attendant, Call Forwarding, Call Park, CTI, DECT, Group Ringing, ISDN, LCD, Pulse Dialing, Voice Over IP (VoIP), WAP