Quick Jargon Converter
Just like the Internet, telecommunications is loaded with jargon.
What does it all mean?
Analogue - A method of voice transmission where information is transmitted by a continuously varying electrical current. The term is used because the changing patterns in your voice are directly analogous to the changing patterns in the current.
ACD - Automatic Call Distribution. A system to evenly allocate callers to extensions in an order taking or queue type environment.
ADSL - Asynchronous Digital Subscriber Line
BRA - ISDN Basic Rate Access
Call Waiting - A service provided either by Carriers and/or a PABX that indicates while you are on a call, that another caller is trying to get through. Usually this indication takes the form of a beep on the line. On the Telstra network if you do not answer the caller, they will hear rings - no reply.
CPE - Customer Premises Equipment - the communications hardware situated in a customer's premises or PABX.
CSTA - Computer Supported Telecommunications Applications
CLI - Calling Line Identification
CTI - Computer Telephony Integration.
DID - Direct In Dial (sometimes called DDI) enables outside callers to dial a phone number and reach a specific extension directly.
DDS - Digital Data Service. A network that provides a dedicated data service. Digital - Faster, clearer and a more reliable system for transmission. This is a binary system where pulses and non-pulses of current are the 'language' of transmission.
DECT - Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications
DSL - Digital Subscriber Line
ETSI – European Telecommunications Standards Institute.
External Call Diversion - Lets you automatically divert internal calls to an external number.
Extension - An internal connection from the PABX to a user. The term can also be used when talking about the physical wiring for that connection.
Group Hunting - A carrier network service which allows an organisation to advertise one main number and receive calls on as many lines as required. Also referred to as rotary or stepping.
Hybrid System - A system that enables the cost effective connection of both analogue and system (often digital) telephone handsets.
IP - Internet Protocol (can also mean Intellectual Property)
IPsec - IP Security
ISDN - Integrated Services Digital Network. New digital connection technology that enables the transmission of image, data, fax and voice information simultaneously over a standard telephone line.
ISVPN - Integrated Services Virtual Private Network
Key System - A (generally) smaller telephone system that has 'lights' on most telephones, indicating system usage in terms of trunks and extensions.
LAN - Local Area Network
LCR - Least Cost Routing. Where a PABX selects the cheapest route for toll traffic for all calls based upon pre-programmed decision making information eg time of day, date and selection of route.
LDAP - Lite Directory Access Protocol
Modem - (Modulator/Demodulator). A device that converts digital signals to analogue for transmission. These analogue signals are made digital again at the other end of the line.
Mbps - Mega bits per second
NGN - Next Generation Networking
Night Service - An alternative to day service. Normally on day service calls are directed to an operator, at night when there is no operator, calls tend to be handled differently and therefore the PABX is programmed differently.
Operator Queue Messaging - Callers are answered by a message from your operator and put on hold until they are free.
PABX (PBX) - Private Automatic Branch Exchange or internal telephone system which enables many extensions to access a (generally) smaller number of trunk lines.
PPP - Point-to-point Protocol
PPTP - Point-to-point Tunnelling Protocol
PRA - ISDN Primary Rate Access
PSTN - Public Switched Telephone Network.
QoS - Quality of Service - related to voice calls on a data network.
RTLS - Real Time Locating Systems - todays Wireless IP networks offer a new way of tracking and locating assets.
SIP - Session Initiation Protocol
SMDR - Station Message Detail Recording. The output data stream used by Call Processing equipment for Cost Analysis of telephone calls.
Speed Dial - Often called "speed calls". Often one or two touch speed dial keys (or could be three digit short codes to automatically dial frequently called numbers).
SIT - System Integral Telephone - A digital telephone that is, in effect, a terminal - it will only function when connected to the manufacturers specific telephone system.
Structured Cabling - A network of cables and components which accommodates current needs and can be adapted for the future.
TAPI - Telephony Application Programming Interface
Tie Lines - A private external line to (normally) another branch or office PABX.
TIMS - A means of monitoring call traffic in a business. Information such as calls made, the extension making the call, the number dialled, the date and time, cost and duration can be gathered. In its simplest form, a printer may be connected; more sophisticated packages are available such as FrontDesk.
Trunks - An external line or connection to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). Also referred to as central office trunk (or CO).
UPS - Uninterruptible Power Supply - A form of battery backup for a PABX or computer system.
Voice Mail - Any method by which a verbal message can be left (answering machines were the first form of voice mail messaging).
VoFi - Voice over WiFi
VoIP - Voice over Internet Protocol
VoWLAN - Voice over Wireless LAN
VPN - Virtual Private Network
WiFi - Wireless Fidelity (See also VoFi)
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