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IDN Communication head on - Telecoms Category: Electronics and Engineering > Telecoms Date & country: 25/11/2007, UK Words: 102

Access Code
Short numbers beginning with 1 that enable callers to reach services or to select a choice of carrier.

ACD
An Automatic Call Distributor (ACD) manages incoming calls depending on the number called and the software instructions for that number. Sales and service support systems use ACDs to validate callers, forward calls to the right party, allow callers to record messages, gather usage statistics, balance the load on multiple phone lines, make outgoing …

ADSL
Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line is the technology whereby digital information at a high bandwidth is transmitted on existing phone lines. ADSL provides a continuously available, 'always on' connection. The term “asymmetric� is used as most of the channel is employed to transmit downstream to the user and only a small part to receive information …

ANALOGUE
The older system of transmitting a direct representation of a waveform (Modern digital lines offer a coded representation).

Anonymous call rejection
The ability to prevent calls from being connected or put through where a caller has withheld Call Line Identity (CLI).

ASP (Application Service Provider)
A company that offers access over the Internet to applications and related services not available in personal or business computers. These services are currently being viewed as a way for businesses to stay up to date with technology without frequent capital outlays.

Autodiallers
Smart boxes which automatically dial a prefix to route calls to a pre-selected carrier.

BABT
British Approvals Board for Telecommunications.

BANDWIDTH
Bandwidth is the term used to indicate the volume of data transmitted in a unit time (usually a second). Both digital and analogue signals have a bandwidth. In analogue systems, it is measured in cycles per second (Hertz) and in digital systems usually in binary bits per second. (Bit/s or bps)

Basic SMDS
A high-speed connectionless data service providing access to BT`s SMDS network, at access class rates up to 25Mbit/s.

BPS
see “Bandwidth�

BRA (Basic Rate Access)
Two digital lines (see DASS) It is possible with the BRA service to use both lines at the same time with each line carrying up to 64kbits of information; the overall bandwidth used in this service being 128K.

Broadband
DSL service or connection generally defined as having a bandwidth > 512kbit/s

BSC
Base Station Controller

BSI
British Standards Institute.

BSS
Base Station System

BTS
Base Transceiver Station*

BYTE (see BPS and DIGITAL)
A string of bits usually 8 bits long.

Call barring
Specifying numbers or ranges which cannot be dialled (e.g. overseas or premium rate numbers)

Call charge advice
Obtaining the cost of a call at the end of it.

Call completion
Directory enquiry service that directly connects the enquirer to the number they seek.

Call diversion
Incoming call is re-routed to another designated number. This is user activated/deactivated.

Call Divert Service
A network service whereby the customer arranges to have a network redirect incoming calls to another number.

Call Drop-back
Efficiently routes calls to ported numbers. It is an additional loop which continues for duration of call, within donor network in a call path to a ported number. Also called 'tromboning'.

Call Minder
a network based call answering service provided by BT. Incoming messages can be left if the customer's line is busy or not answering.

Call origination
see originating operator.

Call return
a user calling an engaged number can request that the call is returned when the number is free.

Call routing apparatus
any equipment capable of switching two-way live speech telephone calls between two or more exchange lines and two or more extensions, such as PBXs, Automatic Call Distribution equipment and key telephone systems.

Call waiting
caller to an engaged number is placed on hold whilst the called line is notified of a call waiting to be answered.

Caller display
a service based on calling line identity that allows customers to see the number from which someone is calling them before they answer the telephone.

Calling card
a service that allows calls made from a telephone to be billed to a different telephone or credit card account.

Calling Line Identity (CLI)
a facility that enables identification of the number from which a call is being made. Customers can withhold their CLI by dialling 141 over the BT network before the outgoing call.

CDR
Caller Dialler Report/ Call Detail Records: a term used generally throughout the Telecoms industry to refer to the details of calls made. Details include the date and time of the call, the telephone number called, the duration of the call and the resulting cost of the call.

CENTREX
Centrex (central office exchange service) is a service provided to users by local telephone companies whereby up-to-date phone facilities at the phone company's central office are offered to business users so that they don't need to keep up with fast-moving technology changes by, for example, having to continually update their private branch exchan…

CPS (see also LCR & IDA)
Carrier Pre Select (or Selection) is the process whereby IDN Telecom manages its customers calls via carriers offering favourable financial terms. Calls are then routed via the most favourable carrier without having to dial a routing prefix or follow any other different procedure to invoke such routing.

CTI
Computer Telephony Integration, or simply 'computer telephony,' is literally the use of computers to manage telephone calls. The term covers the range of facility from the computerised services of call centres and call routers through to the ability to use your personal computer to initiate and manage phone calls.

DASS
Digital Access Signalling System: a British Telecom proprietary method of signalling to enable the provision of services over digital lines (see BRA and PRA).

DDI
Direct Dialling In (DDI) is the provision of a block of telephone numbers for receiving calls into a company's private branch exchange (PBX) system. Using DDI, a company can offer its customers individual phone numbers for each employee or company workstation without requiring a physical line into the PBX for each connection.

Dial-up connectivity
Connections made to a data network using the switched network. Usually narrow band and distinct from the “always-on� DSL connections.

Digital Subscriber Loop (DSL)
A family of technologies generically referred to as DSL, or xDSL, capable of transforming ordinary phone lines (also known as 'twisted copper pairs') into high-speed digital lines, capable of supporting advanced services such as fast Internet access and video-on-demand. ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line), HDSL (High data rate Digital Subscri…

DMDR
Direct Mail Direct Response - the direct response generated from recipients of a mail shot (e.g. by ringing an 0800 number).

DMSU
Digital Main Switching Unit - these are major BT exchanges throughout the UK which form the backbone of the BT network.

DNS
Domain Name Server.

DTMF
Dual Tone Multi Frequency is the signal to the phone company generated when you press a telephone's touch keys. It's known as a 'Touchtone' phone. DTMF has generally replaced loop disconnect ('pulse') dialling. With DTMF, each key you press on your phone generates two tones of specific frequencies.

DX
Digital Exchange

ECTRA
European Committee for Telecommunications Regulatory Affairs. is the major European forum for the discussion of regulatory issues, set up within the framework of the European Conference of Posts and Telecommunications (CEPT).

Electronic Data Interchange - EDI
A network that allows access from different locations for the exchange of commercial information (e.g. transmitting orders, invoices and payments) and monitoring stock records electronically. The technology used is similar to e-mail but has a higher level of security. EDI operators have computers which carry out the necessary centralised processing

ETHERNET
A standard for connecting computers into a local area network (LAN)

ETSI
The European Telecommunications Standards Institute is a non-profit organisation that establishes telecommunications standards for Europe. ETSI guidelines are voluntary and usually comply with standards produced by international bodies.

EXTRANET
a network similar to the Internet which connects a group of parties to a shared information system using Internet protocols.

FEATURELINE
A BT product which allows users of the service to have the same functionality as a switchboard without the need for the actual equipment on their premises. (services for up to 8 lines) The functionality lies within the BT network and is accessed via special “Featureline� phone.

FIREWALL
A firewall is a set of related programs, located at a network gateway server, that protects the resources of a private network from users from other networks.

Fixed-mobile integration
(also known as fixed mobile convergence) is the merging of fixed and mobile services into an integrated service such as that available from IDN whereby the customer will be offered both fixed and mobile services and will receive one bill and/or receive and make calls using one terminal.

FPS
Fax Preference Service is where residential customers, sole traders and partnerships can register to prevent unsolicited faxes from call centres and telemarketing agencies from.

FTP
File Transfer Protocol is a standard Internet protocol and the simplest way to exchange files between computers on the Internet. FTP is commonly used to download programs and other files to your computer from other servers.

Gateway
a facility which adapts signals and messages of one network to the protocols and conventions of another.

GNP
Geographic Number Portability is the ability to move from one telecomm supplier to another (e.g. from BT to ntl) without having to change your number.

GSM
Global Standard for Mobile Telephony

HOST
The host is a computer with a Web server that serves the pages for one or more Web sites. A host can also be the company that provides that service, which is known as hosting. 4) In other contexts, the term generally means a device or program that provides services to some smaller or less capable device or program.

HTML
Hypertext Markup Language is the set of markup symbols or codes inserted in a file intended for display on a World Wide Web browser page that tells the Web browser how to display a Web page's words and images for the user.

ICSTIS
The Independent Committee for the Supervision of Standards of Telephone Information Services regulates the content and promotion of premium rate telephone services.

IDD
International Direct Dialling.

IN
Intelligent Network is a telephone network platform in which the service logic for a call is located separately from the switching facilities. This allows services to be added or changed without having to redesign switching equipment. IDN`s non-geographic number services are routed via the Intelligent Networking platform.

Intranet
A closed data network linking a fixed number of sites using standard internet protocols

IP
The Internet Protocol is the rules by which data is sent from one IP address to another on the Internet. Each computer (known as a host) on the Internet has at least one IP address that uniquely identifies it from all other computers on the Internet.

ISDN
The Integrated Services Digital Network is a set of CCITT/ITU standards for digital transmission over ordinary telephone copper wire as well as over other media. Home and business users who install an ISDN adapter (in place of a modem) can transmit and receive high definition graphics swiftly (up to 128 Kbps). ISDN requires adapters at both ends of…

ISVR
International Simple Voice Resale is an international service provided by an operator to customers using the international facilities owned by other operators. In the case of an outgoing call, the operator collects traffic from the public telecommunications network, transfers it to a line leased from a facilities operator, and then hands it over to…

IVR
Interactive Voice Response (IVR) is a software application that accepts a combination of voice telephone input and touch-tone keypad selection to generate an appropriate response in the form of voice, fax, callback and/or e-mail.

LAN
Local Area Network - A network used for the transmission of data between independent computers often provided with a server.

LCR
Least Cost Routing is the method by which IDN Telecom routes customers` telephone calls via our network allowing them to save on the cost of outgoing calls.

Migration
The movement of telephone numbers from one range (often a non-specified range) to another (specified) range.

MLU
Multi-Line (auto-dialling) Unit used where a user has more than one line to be connected to the LCR.

Mobile portability
The ability of a customer taking a service from a mobile operator (e.g. 3, O2) or Service Provider (e.g. People`s Phone) to retain their telephone number when they change to a different mobile operator or service provider.

MODEM
From the two words “MODulate� and “DEModulate�, a modem is used to translate a digital signal (from a PC) to an analogue signal for transmission over the PSTN and then back again to a digital signal (to be received by the remote PC).

Network Termination Point (NTP)
The edge of a network at which the network is connected to other networks or to terminal apparatus, e.g. a telephone.

NGN
Non-geographic numbers. IDN Telecom provides a range of non-geographic numbers for marketing, market research, call management, sales and other purposes.

Number Translation Services (NTS)
The process associated with the routing of a non-geographic number to a network termination point, e.g., the number is translated from its non-geographic format into a geographic or mobile number to enable it to be routed to a geographic location or to an individual.

OCB
Outgoing Calls Barred â€` a method of reserving a number for incoming calls only: users cannot make calls out using this line. OCB lines are not compatible with CPS.

Ofcom
Ofcom is the independent regulator and competition authority for the UK communications industries, with responsibilities across television, radio, telecommunications and wireless communications services.

PABX (switchboard)
Private (Automatic) Branch Exchange on-site telephone system. Internal and external calls are handled via the PABX.

PBX
Private Branch Exchange (i.e. telephone system) see PABX.

PCM
PCM (pulse code modulation) is a digital process for transmitting analogue data. The signals in PCM are binary; i.e. either represented by logic 1 (high) or logic 0 (low). Using PCM, it is possible to digitise all forms of analogue data, including full-motion video, voices, music, telemetry, and virtual reality (VR).

PORTABILITY
The ability to transfer numbers between suppliers.

PSTN
Public Switched Telephone Network - public telephone service based on circuit switching technology (usually the BT network).

Ring Back When Free
A network service enabling a caller who has attempted to make a call to a number that is engaged to be alerted by the network when that number becomes available for connection.

SBR
Skill Based Routing â€` the routing of calls to agents or groups of agents depending on their skills for a particular product/service.

SIM
Subscriber Identity Module

SMS
Short Messaging Service. The original and formal name for “texting�.

SS7
Signalling System 7 - main exchange signalling protocol.

STD
Standard Telephone Dialling (Code) or Subscriber Trunk Dialling i.e. 0207.

TCP-IP
Transmission Control Protocol/ Internet Protocol.

Telephone Preference Service (TPS)
A service established by the Direct Marketing Association to help reduce the number of unwanted telemarketing calls received by customers. Customers contact their telephone company to register and their details are then removed from lists used by many companies engaged in Direct Marketing.

Third generation (3G)
The radio frequency spectrum between 1900â€`1980 MHz, 2110â€`2170 MHz.

TLI
Terminating Line Identifier - the number of the target telephone called.

URL
Uniform/Universal resource locator e.g. www.idn.co.uk.

VISP
Virtual Internet Service Provider.

VOICEMAIL
Is the ability to store and distribute voice messages received by an individual extension user.

VOIP
Voice over Internet Protocol allows an existing Internet connection to be used for voice transmission. Most organisations have separate networks for voice and data transmission. These technologies are merging to allow users to utilise for voice free capacity they have on Internet connections.

VPN
A VPN (virtual private network) is a way to use a public telecommunication infrastructure, such as the Internet, to provide remote offices or individual users with secure access to their organisation`s network.

WAN
Wide Area Network is a network extending beyond the customers` premises to link a number of sites.