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1G (First generation) (1G)
1G is a term used to describe any mobile phone network that existed prior to the digital phone network. The analogue, or AMPS system, is one example and was the first mobile network in Australia.

2G (Second generation) (2G)
2G mobile technology was the first to meet with widespread commercial success and comprises the overwhelmingly majority of mobile handsets in Australia today. The current GSM and CDMA networks are examples of 2G networks. Being digital, a key advantage is the ability of 2G networks to transmit data, such as text messages.

3G (Third generation) (3G)
Third Generation or 3G describes the new wave of wireless communications involving internet access and data delivery to mobile phones with moving colour images and audio and sophisticated internet services.

4G (Fourth generation) (4G)
The catch-all phrase given to the as-yet unspecified mobile technology that will replace the existing mobile networks. 4G is expected to deliver broadband-quality internet services directly to the mobile. It can be loosely thought of as "3G, only more so". Estimated timeframes of when the 4G networks will commence range from 2008 - 2015.

A

Access Fee
Also called 'Line rental'. A flat monthly fee paid by telephone subscribers for access to a network. This charge will appear on the bill sent to you by your local phone company but is separate from actual usage charges.

Access period (Access period)
The length of time a customer has access to a network, usually under a contract with the service provider.

Access Point
Device that allows wireless-equipped computers and other devices to communicate with a wired network. Also used to expand the range of a wireless network.

Adapter
This is a device that adds network functionality to your PC.

Advanced Encryption Standard (AES)
A symmetric 128-bit block data encryption technique.

Area code
Area code is a PSTN concept developed to identify a DID number range to a geographic location. As VoIP devices are not locked to any particular telephone exchange and can connect where ever a high speed internet connection is available geographic numbering is rendered irrelevant, as is the case with mobile phone networks.

ASCII (ASCII)
American Standard Code for Information Interchange. An 8-bit code for character representation (7 bits plus parity).

Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL)
One of four DSL technologies. ADSL is designed to deliver more bandwidth downstream (from the central office to the customer site) than upstream. Downstream rates range from 1.5 to 9 Mbps, whereas upstream bandwidth ranges from 16 to 640 kbps. ADSL transmissions work at distances up to 18,000 feet (5,488 meters) over a single copper twisted pair.

Asynchronous
Asynchronous transmission is the most commonly used method of dial-up data transmission. When data blocks are transmitted, they are marked by a start bit at the beginning of each character and a stop bit at the end of the character. This ensures that the modem will recognise data as such and not be confused by line noise which has no stop and start bits.

Asynchronous Digital Subscriber Line 2 (ADSL2)
An always-on broadband connection over traditional phone lines. ADSL2 (ITU G.992.3 and G.992.4) is a new ADSL standard capable of much faster downstream and upstream speeds than traditional ADSL. ADSL2 adds new features and functionality targeted at improving performance and interoperability, and adds support for new applications, services, and deployment scenarios. Among the changes are improvements in data rate and reach performance, rate adaptation, diagnostics and stand-by mode.

Australian Communications Auth (ACA)
The Australian Communications Authority. A government body responsible for overseeing the telecommunications and radio communications industries.

Australian Communications Industry Forum, The (ACIF)
Stands for the Australian Communications Industry Forum. A telecommunications industry owned resourced and operated company to implement and manage self-regulation within Australia.

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, The (ACCC)
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. A government body charged with ensuring fair trading conditions and adequate competition exist in Australian industries, including telecommunications. The ACCC acts to protect both consumers and providers under the Trade Practices Act - including the 1997 telecommunications access and competition provisions.

Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA)
The network security services that provide the primary framework through which you set up access control on your router or access server.

B

Backbone
The part of a network that connects most of the systems and networks together, and handles the most data.

Bandwidth
Bandwidth refers to the width or capacity of a communications channel. Analogue bandwidth is measured in hertz while digital bandwidth is measured in bits per second. The size or bandwidth of the channel affects the speed of transmission of data. A broader channel means data transmits faster.

Basic Rate Interface (BRI)
BRI (Basic Rate Interface) is an ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) circuit size. A BRI contains 2 B channels, each with 64 kbps capacity, and a single D channel (16 kbps) which is used for signalling and call progress messages. In basic terms BRI is the type of ISDN connection used for 2, 4, 6 incoming lines to your PBX, whereas PRI is the type of ISDN connection used for larger offices that require 10, 20 or 30 incoming lines. Also see PRI.

Battery capacity (Milliamps) (Milliamps)
The batteryÂ’s charge-holding capacity (measured in Milliamp-hours).

Battery standby time
The amount of time the phone battery will last if no calls are made or received while the phone is switched on. Normally the ratio is about 1:6, i.e. one minute of talk time to six minutes of standby time.

Baud rate
This is the speed of transmission of data. The baud rate is measured in bits per second.

Binary digit (Bit)
A bit is the smallest unit of information that a computer recognises - essentially a '1' or a '0'

Bits per second (BPS)
BPS measures how fast binary digits can be sent through a channel - specifically, the number of 0s and 1s that travel down the channel per second.

Blackberry
A mobile phone with 'always on' data services functionality to receive your emails. Operates on the GPRS network.

Bluetooth
A computing and telecommunications industry specification, often described as low-power wireless radio technology. Allows a range of electronic devices such as mobile phones, computers and PDAs to easily talk to each other over a range up to 10 metres. Information transfers at speeds up to 720kbit/sec are possible and direct line of sight is not required.

Boot
To start a device and cause it to start executing instructions.

Bridge
A device that connects two different kinds of local networks, such as a wireless network to a wired Ethernet network.

Broadband
Broadband internet offers connection speeds far in excess of the capabilities of dial-up connection. Technically, broadband is a term describing multiple channels of data over a single communication medium. Broadband has the capacity to deliver to consumers a broad range of integrated services such as voice, high-speed data, text and graphics, video and interactive services. There are many different types of broadband connection available, and they suit different kinds of users: ADSL - may be suitable if you have a landline connected. Cable - may be suitable if you have Pay TV at home. Satellite - may be suitable in remote areas or if you have a satellite dish. SDSL - may be suitable if you host a website or upload large files. Wireless - may be suitable if you donÂ’t want a cable or landline connection.

Browser
An application program that provides a way to look at and interact with all the information on the World Wide Web.

Buffer
A block of memory that temporarily holds data to be worked on later when a device is currently too busy to accept the data.

Bundling
Combining a variety of telephone and related services on a single bill, often at a discount over individually purchased services.

Byte
A unit of data that is usually eight bits long.

C

Cable
This is a type of broadband connection in which you connect to the internet via the high bandwidth cable used for pay TV. Cable access is at least several times faster than traditional dial-up internet connections. Cable access requires the purchase of a cable modem to operate.

Call (Call)
Establishment of (or attempt to establish) a voice or data connection between two endpoints, or between two points which provide a partial link (e.g. a trunk) between two endpoints.

Call back
The call back feature does your redialling for you. It saves you keying in the number over and over again if the person you are trying to reach is engaged.

Call Connection Fee (Flagfall)
Call connection fee, also known as Flagfall, is the set charge applied at the start of calls for the purposes of connection, irrespective of how long you stay connected for.

Caller Line Identification (CLI)
This is a network feature that allows the telephone number of the calling party to be displayed on the screen of the receiverÂ’s handset before it is answered, providing the caller does not have a silent number. For home phones, you need a CND-enabled phone for this feature. Also known as "Caller ID" or Caller Line Identification (CLI).

Call forwarding
A network feature that automatically diverts all calls to a different number.

Call hold
Call hold temporarily puts a caller on hold while you attend to other things.

Call Record Detail (CRD)
A term used to describe log records for calling services. This includes such information as where the call originated, what the start time was, who the call was made to, what time the call ended, etc.

Call waiting
This is a network feature when once activated can be switched on and off on most handsets. It allows a second call to come through when you are already on the phone. You have the choice of whether or not to accept the call.

Carrier
A carrier is a telecommunications company that owns a network or part thereof upon which calls are carried. This could be a landline network (eg. Telstra, Optus) of cables and wires or a mobile network of radio spectrum and transmission towers (eg. Optus, Telstra, Vodafone, Hutchison).

Central office (CO)
A local switching system that connects lines to lines and lines to trunks. Sometimes used to refer to the building in which a switching system is located and the associated equipment. Also the physical point where calls enter the long distance network. Sometimes referred to as Class 5 office, end office, or Local Dial Office.

Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA)
Code Division Multiple Access. In Australia, this digital mobile phone system operates on two bands (800MHz and 1900MHz) and is second-generation (2G) cellular technology. CDMA has been introduced to match the coverage standards of the old analogue network in regional areas. CDMA a unique code to each user and spreads transmission of user channels across a wide band of radio frequencies. Allowing further transmission from a CDMA tower to the handset than a GSM signal can to a digital handset, which makes it a good solution for people in regional or outlying areas, or wherever there was previous analogue coverage but no digital.

Coder decoder (CODEC)
Device that typically uses pulse code modulation to transform analogue signals into a digital bit stream, and digital signals back into analogue. In VoIP, it specifies the voice coder rate of speech for a dial peer.

Compression
Algorithm that minimizes the redundancy in the signal to be transmitted.

Conference call
This enables three or more people to participate in a single telephone call made from a basic telephone service to another basic telephone service within Australia or outside Australia.

Connection fee
A one-off flat fee to set up your phone service. The term also applies to a flagfall, the flat fee charged when successfully connecting a call between caller and recipient.

Convergence
A combination of technologies, usually a mix of computers, telecommunications, and television. Some examples are digital set- boxes that allow consumers to watch television and surf the net, and make voice phone calls.

Copper wire network
The conventional telephone network that links homes and businesses to their local exchange, allowing voice or data signals to be conveyed via electrical current.

Coverage area
The geographic area over which a mobile telephone user can receive and send radio transmissions via the particular network they subscribe to.

Customer Service Guarantee (CSG)
Required of telecommunications carriers by the Australian Communications Authority to maintain minimum service performance standards on such things as installation, repairs and customer service.

D

Daisy Chain
A method used to connect devices in a series, one after the other.

Database
A collection of data that is organized so that its contents can easily be accessed, managed, and updated.

Default Gateway
A device that forwards Internet traffic from your local area network.

Delivery Traffic Indication Message (DTIM)
A message included in data packets that can increase wireless efficiency.

Dial plan
A description of the dialling arrangements for customer use on a network.

Digital
Digital technology uses bits (computer information units) to encode information such as voice, video, data and images, for transmission.

Digital signal processor (DSP)
DSP segments the voice signal into frames and stores in voice packets.

Digital subscriber line (DSL)
Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) technology makes it possible to deliver high-speed data over existing copper phone lines. It enables service providers and carriers to transport data and voice at high speeds over a longer distance in the service span. There are four types of DSL: ADSL, HDSL, SDSL, and VDSL. All are provisioned via modem pairs, with one modem located at a central office and the other at the customer site.

Digital transmissions
Digital transmissions encode sounds in the form of a stream of binary bits, rather than an analogue electrical signal.

Direct inward dial (DID)
Allows a user outside a company to dial an internal extension number without needing to pass through an operator or an attendant. The dialled digits are passed to the PBX, which then completes the call.

Directory assistance
The service that maintains directory listings of subscribers' phone numbers and makes them available to customers. There is usually a fee associated with accessing a phone number via this service. Telstra is obliged under its current service charter to also offer a free directory assistance service (currently 12 455).

Domain
A specific name for a network of computers.

Domain Name Server (DNS)
The IP address of your ISP's server, which translates the names of websites into IP addresses.

Domain Name System
A system called DNS (Domain Name System) is used to resolve friendly domain names to less friendly IP numbers that are used to actually address and route traffic across the internet. The registration of domain names is controlled by a set of domain registrars that are assigned different top-level domains (TLDs). The TLD is the highest level of hierarchy and is the portion of the domain name that appears furthest to the right, Some common TLDs are .COM, .NET, and .ORG.

Download
To receive a file or data (such as voice or video stream) transmitted over a network.

Dynamic Domain Name System (DDNS)
The capability of having a website, FTP, or e-mail server-with a dynamic IP address-use a fixed domain name.

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)
A networking protocol that allows administrators to assign temporary IP addresses to network computers by “leasing” an IP address to a user for a limited amount of time, instead of assigning permanent IP addresses. Network routers or gateways may dynamically assign IP addresses to networked devices.

Dynamic IP Address
A temporary IP address assigned by a DHCP server.

E

E1 (E1)
Wide-area digital transmission scheme. E1 is the European equivalent of a T1 line. The E1's higher clock rate (2.048 MHz) allows for 32 64 Kbps channels, which include one channel for framing and one channel for D-channel information.

Encryption
Encryption is the manipulation of data to prevent accurate interpretation by all but those for whom the data is intended.

endpoint
SIP or H.323 terminal or gateway. An endpoint can call and be called. It generates and terminates the information stream.

Enhanced service (Enhanced service)
A telecommunications service that uses computer applications to provide consumers with value-added telephone services, such as voicemail and call waiting.

Ethernet
An IEEE standard network protocol that specifies how data is placed on and retrieved from a common transmission medium.

Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP)
A general authentication protocol used to control network access. Many specific authentication methods work within this framework.

Extensible Authentication Protocol-Protected Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP-PEAP)
A mutual authentication method that uses a combination of digital certificates and another system, such as passwords.

Extensible Authentication Protocol-Transport Layer Security (EAP-TLS)
A mutual authentication method that uses digital certificates.

F

Facsimile transmissions (Fax)
Or ‘fax’. The transmission of an image across a telecommunications network.

File Transfer Protocol (FTP)
A standard protocol for sending files between computers over a TCP/IP network and the Internet.

Firewall (Firewall)
A firewall is a tool (usually a combination of hardware and software) that secures access to a local network or computer. A firewall guards the local network by analysing the data leaving and entering, allowing authorized traffic through while keeping unauthorized traffic out. Firewalls fall into several different categories. Packet-filtering firewalls classify traffic based on a packetÂ’s source, destination, port or other basic information. More advanced state packet filtering firewalls have access to more information from which to make their decisions. Proxy firewalls, which look at content and can involve authentication and encryption, can be more flexible and secure but also tend to be far slower.

Firmware
The programming code that runs a networking device.

Flagfall (Flagfall)
Flagfall (also known as call connection fee) is the set charge applied at the start of most calls for the purposes of connection, irrespective of how long you stay connected for.

Fragmentation
Breaking a packet into smaller units when transmitting over a network medium that cannot support the original size of the packet.

Frame Relay (Frame Relay)
Industry standard for switched data link layer protocol that handles multiple virtual circuits using HDLC encapsulation between connected devices.

Full Duplex
The ability of a networking device to receive and transmit data simultaneously.

G

G.712 (G.711)
The G.711 codec is compression /decompression algorithm used in transmissions of encoded speech signals sampled at the rate of 8 kHz in conformance with the ITU-T G.711 standard. G.711 implementation includes independent user-callable functions that perform all of the µ-law and A-law encoding and decoding operations. The most common application for G.711 voice codec is in telephone networks. The G.711 standard uses pulse code modulation (PCM) to compress, decompress, encode, and decode analogue speech, which can then be transmitted and received as binary data. Two forms of compressing standards, the µ-law and the A-law, are specified. G.711 µ-law compresses frames of 14-bit linear PCM samples into frames of 8-bit logarithmic PCM code words. G.711 A-law compresses 13-bit linear PCM samples into 8-bit logarithmic PCM code words.

G.723.0 (G.723.1)
G.723.1 is an ITU standard codec. Its reasonably low bit rate (6.3Kbps or 5.3Kbps) and used in the H.323 standard Use of this codec in a product requires licensing by Sipro Lab Telecom.

G.730 (G.729)
G.729, G.729A & G.729AB voice codecs provide toll-quality speech with minimal processing requirements and delay times. They also perform well in the presence of random bit errors. The ITU-T G.729, G.729A & G.729AB standards are based on Code Excited Linear Prediction Model (CELP) and Conjugate-Structure Algebraic CELP (CS-ACELP). The G.729 standard offers superior bandwidth utilization making it an excellent alternative to applications that require bandwith efficiency. The G.729A standard for voice coding compresses 8 kHz linear audio signals and encodes them for transmission at 8 Kbps with reduced complexity compared to G.729. The G.729B & G.729AB is a silence compression scheme for G.729 & G.729A.

gateway
The server that connects the VoIP network with PBXs and PSTN devices.

GSM (GSM)
GSM is a standard adapted by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). It is an Adaptive Multi Rate-Narrow Band (AMR-NB) speech codec. This codec is used mainly in 3rd generation mobile telephony devices to compress toll-quality speech at 8000 samples/second. The original 'Full Rate' GSM speech codec is named RPE-LTP (Regular Pulse Excitation Long-Term Prediction). This codec uses the information from previous samples (this information does not change very quickly) in order to predict the current sample. The speech signal is divided into blocks of 20 ms. These blocks are then passed to the speech codec, which has a rate of 13 kbps, in order to obtain blocks of 260 bits.

H

H.323 (H.323)
Recommendation from the ITU that sets standards for multimedia communications over IP networks. It also addresses call control, multimedia management, and bandwidth management.

Half Duplex
Data transmission that can occur in two directions over a single line, but only one direction at a time.

Hardware
The physical aspect of computers, telecommunications, and other information technology devices.

Hertz
A unit of frequency which measures cycles per second.

High-Level Data Link Control (HDLC)
A data link layer protocol that specifies a data encapsulation method on synchronous serial links using frame characters and checksums.

HTTP (HTTP)
The protocol used by Web browsers and Web servers to transfer files, such as text and graphic files.

Hunt
Telephone line feature. If you have several phone lines that are answered by a group of people, the telephone company can make those several phone lines work together. If a call comes in to a line that is associated with other phone lines in a hunt group, the call will rotate from line to line until it finds a line that is not busy. If all the lines are busy, then the caller will get a busy signal.

Hunt Group
Number of telephone lines that are associated together by the telephone company central office or a PBX system. When a call comes in to a hunt group, it cycles through the group of lines until it finds one that is not busy, and then it rings that phone (or extension, if it's a PBX system).

Switch Hook
Short on-hook period usually generated by a telephone-like device during a call to indicate that the telephone is attempting to perform a dial-tone recall from a PBX. Hook flash often is used to perform call transfer.

I

IEEE 802.11a (802.11a)
An IEEE wireless networking standard that specifies a maximum data transfer rate of 54Mbps and an operating frequency of 5GHz.

IEEE 802.11b (802.11b)
An IEEE wireless networking standard that specifies a maximum data transfer rate of 11Mbps and an operating frequency of 2.4GHz.

IEEE 802.11g (802.11g)
An IEEE wireless networking standard that specifies a maximum data transfer rate of 54Mbps, an operating frequency of 2.4GHz, and backward compatibility with 802.11b devices.

Information Technology (IT)
Information Technology. The application of modern communications and computing technologies to the creation, management and use of information. IT includes, for example, video recorders, CD-ROM, telephones, calculators, and electronic cash tills as well as computers.

Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN)
Integrated Services Digital Network. A set of international standards for digital telephone transmission. ISDN provides an end-to-end digital network and greater bandwidth than older telephone services. The two standard levels of ISDN are Basic Rate Interface (BRI) and Primary Rate Interface (PRI).

International Call
A call made from a basic telephone service in Australia to a landline or mobile service in another country.

International mobile call rate
The rate charged when calling a mobile phone registered in another country.

International Telecommunications Union (ITU)
Established by the United Nations, with membership from virtually every world government. Three primary goals are: defining and adopting telecommunications standards; regulating use of the radio frequency spectrum; and furthering world-wide telecommunications development.

International Telecommunications Union-Telecommunications (ITU-T)
International Telecommunications Union-Telecommunications standardization section.

Internet call (VoIP call)
A telephone set-up that enables users to make voice telephone calls via the Internet, thus by-passing the conventional long distance phone carriers.

Internet Protocol (IP)
A protocol used to send data over a network.

Internet Protocol Security (IPSEC)
A VPN protocol used to implement secure exchange of packets at the IP layer.

Internet Service Provider (ISP)
A business that provides subscriber-based access to the Internet. Subscribers can be individuals or businesses. This is the company that supplies your high-speed Internet connection.

Internet Telephony (VoIP)
VoIP Voice over Internet Protocol

IP Address
The address used to identify a computer or device on a network.

IPCONFIG
A Windows 2000 and XP utility that displays the IP address for a particular networking device.

IP Masquerading (NAT)
NAT or network address translation is also known as network masquerading or IP-masquerading. Source and/or destination addresses of IP packets are rewritten as they pass through a router or firewall.

Iridium (for Satellites) (Iridium)
A global mobile phone system of satellites. A useful means of mobile phone communication for people living, working or travelling in rural and remote Australia.

IVR (IVR)
A voice processing system that allows the storage and retrieval of digital data, including voice information, through user interaction with the touch-call key pad of the telephone. The IVR prerecorded voice commands guide the caller through a menu, and the caller responds by touching the appropriate numbered key(s).

J

Jack
A spring-connector socket in which two or more contacts are made by inserting a plug.

K

Kilobits per second (Kbps)
Kbps is the rate at which data is transmitted. Kbps stands for one thousand bits per second. Kilobit is a unit of information equal to 1,024 bits. 'Bit' is a combination of b(inary) and (dig)it.

L

Latency
Latency refers to the time delay incurred in transferring packet information across a network connection.

LDAP (LDAP)
An emerging software protocol for enabling anyone to locate organizations, individuals, and other resources such as files and devices in a network, whether on the Internet or on a corporate intranet. LDAP is a "lightweight" (smaller amount of code) version of DAP (Directory Access Protocol), which is part of X.500, a standard for directory services in a network.

Lightweight Extensible Authentication Protocol (LEAP)
A mutual authentication method that uses a username and password system.

Line display
The number of lines of text that can be displayed at once on the screen of a handset.

Line rental
Also called ‘Access fee’. A flat monthly fee paid by telephone subscribers for access to a network. This charge will appear on the bill sent to you by your local phone company but is separate from actual usage charges.

Local Area Network (LAN)
The computers and networking products that make up the network in your home or office.

Local call
Local calls are made between landline phones within the same charging zone or to adjoining standard charging zones.

Long distance
A concept from the traditional PSTN network in which calls beyond the local call area code are charged at a higher rate.

M

Media Access Control Address (MAC)
A MAC address is the hardware address of a device connected to a shared network medium.

Media Gateway Control Protocol (MGCP)
Protocol that helps bridge the gap between circuit-switched and IP networks. A combination of Internet Protocol Device Control (IPDC) and Simple Gateway Control Protocol (SGCP). MGCP allows external control and management of data communications devices, or "media gateways" at the edge of multiservice packet networks by software programs.

Megabits Per Second (Mbps)
One million bits per second; a unit of measurement for data transmission.

MegaByte (MB)
A megabyte equates to approximately 1 million bytes (equivalent to 1 million characters of written information).

Modem (Modem)
Modem is an abbreviation for MOdulator DEModulator. Equipment that converts digital signals to analogue signals and vice versa. Primarily used to allow PCs to communicate with each other over the telephone network.

Monthly access fee
A flat monthly fee paid by telephone subscribers for access to a network. The fee covers service and equipment charges provided by the network. This charge will appear on the bill from your local phone company but is separate from actual usage charges.

Monthly minimum
For certain rate plans, service providers require a certain dollar amount of usage per month. If the monthly minimum is not met, a charge is often incurred.

Mu-law (Mu-law)
The PCM voice-coding and companding standard used in Japan and North America. A PCM algorithm yielding a raw 64-kbps transmission rate.

N

Network
A series of computers or devices connected for the purpose of data sharing, storage, and/or transmission between users.

Network Address Translation (NAT)
NAT technology translates IP addresses of the local area network to a different IP address for the Internet. The router assigns one public IP address for the entire local network. Each computer has its own private IP address assigned by the router. When a computer sends information out over the Internet the router uses the public IP address so the individual computer is hidden.

Network Address Translation Traversal (NAT Traversal)
A method of enabling specialized applications, such as Internet phone calls, video, and audio, to travel between your local network and the Internet. STUN is a specific type of NAT traversal.

Node
A network junction or connection point, typically a computer or work station.

NTP (NTP)
The recommended protocol for synchronizing the time of hosts in the uOne network.

Number portability
Number portability means you can keep your existing mobile number when switching to a new service provider. This has been in effect since September 25, 2001.

O

Operating System (OS)
An operating system (abbreviated OS) is the program that, after being initially loaded into the computer, manages all the other programs on the computer. An OS performs basic tasks such as recognizing input from the keyboard, sending output to the display screen, keeping track of files and directories on the disk, and controlling peripheral devices such as disk drives and printers. Examples of operating systems are Windows XP, Linux, and Macintosh OS X.

Override Code
Override is the ability to use a different phone company on a call-by-call basis by inserting a four-digit override code before making your call. Service providers have their own unique override code. There are no charges for using an override service but customers will be charged the higher standard call rates rather than the pre-selected rates. See A Guide to Preselection and Override and How to Override.

P

Packet
A packet is a short block of data transmitted in a packet switching network.

Packet-filtering Firewall (Packet Firewall)
One category of Firewalls it the Packet-filtering firewalls that classify traffic based on a packetÂ’s source, destination, port or other basic information. More advanced stateful packet filtering firewalls have access to more information from which to make their decisions. Proxy firewalls, which look at content and can involve authentication and encryption, can be more flexible and secure but also tend to be far slower.

Pair gain
A technical fix sometimes use to extend the number of lines available on the existing copper-wire network. Pair gain effectively doubles the number of lines available, without the need to physically add more wire. An example is in areas of high-density housing where the number of lines installed is not enough to service a block of units. The trade-off is that pair gain on a line makes ADSL internet services impossible.

Perceptual Evaluation of Speech Quality (PESQ)
PESQ (Perceptual Evaluation of Speech Quality) is an ITU algorithm that is increasingly used to emulate MOS, which is "mean opinion score", a listening test for speech codecs. The objective is to automate and ensure reproducibility of measurement of degradation over telephony channels, due to speech compression, line conditions, delay/echo, etc. and obtain results that closely correlate with MOS human listening tests. More information on the PESQ approach and algorithm can be found at: http://www.pesq.org/ The current ITU PESQ recommendation is P.862E, and the current software version of ITU PESQ is v1.2, which is a significant improvement over earlier versions. There is still ongoing work by PESQ developers to address limitations for maximum input file size, worst-case variation in delay (dynamic time-alignment with reference input), and noisy backgrounds.

Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS)
Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) is a basic telephone service supplying standard single-line telephones, telephone lines, and access to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).

Point of Presence (POP)
Short for point of presence, an access point to the Internet. ISPs have typically multiple POPs. A point of presence is a physical location, either part of the facilities of a telecommunications provider that the ISP rents or a separate location from the telecommunications provider that houses servers, routers, ATM switches and digital/analogue call aggregators.

Point-to-Point Protocol over ATM (PPPoA)
PPPOA or PPPoA, Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) over ATM, is a network protocol for encapsulating PPP frames in ATM AAL5. It is used mainly with cable modem and DSL services. See Also Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet (PPPoE)

Point to Point Protocol over Ethernet (PPPoE)
Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) over Ethernet is a type of broadband connection that provides authentication (username and password) in addition to data transport. If you're connecting a VoIP device directly to a DSL service that requires PPPoE the VoIP device will require configuration to authenticate with the DSL service provider. A DSL modem/router often performs the process of authentication on behalf of all the devices on your LAN.

Point-to-Point Tunnelling Protocol (PPTP)
A VPN protocol that allows the Point to Point Protocol (PPP) to be tunnelled through an IP network. This protocol is also used as a type of broadband connection in Europe.

Port
The connection point on a computer or networking device used for plugging in a cable or an adapter. The connection point would typically accept a RJ45 computer cable on a LAN or may also be a RJ11 telephone connection port. The connection point may also be a virtual connection point through which a computer uses a specific application on a server.

Post Office Protocol 3 (POP3)
A standard protocol used to retrieve e-mail stored on a mail server.

Postpaid Plan (Postpaid Plan)
Postpaid plan mean setting up an account and paying for your calls on a regular basis, usually monthly or quarterly.

Power over Ethernet (PoE)
A technology enabling an Ethernet network cable to deliver both data and power.

Preselection
When a subscriber selects a particular telephone company to be their primary carrier. All calls will be billed by the preselected telephone company, unless an override code is used when dialling.

Primary Rate Interface (PRI)
One of two ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) circuit sizes. ISDN first evolved in 1979. It brings the features of PBX systems and high speed data transfer capability to the telephone network. The only thing that complicates ISDN is the many available features. The two kinds of ISDN lines are Primary Rate Interface (PRI) and Basic Rate Interface (BRI). ISDN has two types of channels within an ISDN circuit. The B (bearer) channel carriers the customer's communications and the D (data) channel provides control and signalling for the B channels. The BRI ISDN line has two B channels and one D channel. A PRI has 23 B channels and one D channel.

Private Automatic Branch Exchange (PABX)
Stands for Private Automatic Branch Exchange. A switching system located in an office or building that provides voice and data extension lines and an access point to the public network.

Private Branch eXchange (PBX)
Stands for Private Branch Exchange. A switching system located in an office or building that provides voice and data extension lines and an access point to the public network.

Protected Extensible Authentication Protocol (PEAP)
A protocol for transmitting authentication data, including passwords, over 802.11 wireless networks.

Proxy Firewall (Proxy Firewall)
One category of Firewalls it the Proxy firewalls, which look at content and can involve authentication and encryption, can be more flexible and secure but also tend to be far slower than Packet-Filtering firewalls.

Proxy Server
An intermediate device that receives SIP requests from a client and then initiates requests on the client's behalf.

Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)
Stands for Public Switched Telephone Network. Another name for the general landline network to which public customers are connected.

Pulse code modulation (PCM)
The form of modulation in which the information signals are sampled at regular intervals and a series of pulses in coded form are transmitted representing the amplitude of the information signal at that time. For T1 applications, a method of converting successive (every 125 us) analogue samples of a voice waveform to successive 8-bit codes, to be transmitted in an 8-bit timeslot of a T1 frame. In "robbed bit" frames, only the most significant 7 bits are used to encode the sample. The total bit rate for such a channel is (8000 samples/sec) x (8-bits/sample) = 64000 bits/sec.

Purchase Order Number (PON)
Purchase Order Number (PON) is issued for any service order placed on your phone number. The PON is similar to a receipt and acts as a tracking number for an order

Q

Q.932 (Q.931)
Call-signalling protocol for setup and termination of calls.

Q Signalling (Q.SIG)
An inter-PBX signalling protocol for networking PBX supplementary services in a multi- or uni-vendor environment.

Quality of service (QoS)
Measure of performance for a transmission system that reflects its transmission quality and service availability. Also see MOS for measuring call quality.

R

Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP)
A protocol that enables specialized applications, such as Internet phone calls, video, and audio, to occur in real time.

Redirect Server
A device that receives SIP requests, strips out the address in the request, checks its address tables for any other addresses that may be mapped to the one in the request, and then returns the results of the address mapping to the client.

Registered Jack-11 (RJ-11)
A Telephone connector for RJ-11 telephone cable. Example of RJ-11 connecting to PHONE 1 Port (on PAP2).

Registered Jack-45 (RJ-45)
An Ethernet connector that holds up to eight wires. Example of RJ-45 (i.e. ETHERNET) connecting to RJ-45 Port (on PAP2).

Registrar Server
A device that processes requests from UACs for registration of their current location. Registrar servers are often co-located with a redirect or proxy server.

Registration, Admission, Status (RAS)
Protocol used in the H.323 protocol suite for discovering and interacting with a Gatekeeper.

Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service (RADIUS)
A protocol that uses an authentication server to control network access.

Remote Procedure Call (RPC)
An external form of communication that allows objects to communicate with each other over the network. The RPC programming interface is built into each server's Client and Server subsystems to provide external communication among servers.

Request For Comments. (RFC)
Document series used as the primary means for communicating information about the Internet. Some RFCs are designated by the IAB as Internet standards. Most RFCs document protocol specifications such as Telnet and FTP, but some are humorous or historical. RFCs are available online from numerous sources.

Request To Send (RTS)
A packet sent when a computer has data to transmit. The computer will wait for a CTS (Clear To Send) message before sending data.

Resource Reservation Protocol (RSVP)
A network protocol that enables routers to reserve the bandwidth necessary for reliable performance.

Roaming
The ability to take a wireless device from one access point's range to another without losing the connection.

Router
A networking device that connects multiple networks together, such as a local network and the Internet.

RTP Control Protocol (RTCP)
A protocol that monitors the QoS of an IPv6 RTP connection and conveys information about the on-going session.

S

Satellite broadband
This is a type of broadband connection designed to transmit radio signals directly to, and receive them directly from, telecommunications satellites. They have the advantage of operating in areas where terrestrial cable or wireless networks do not reach. A satellite receiver is required to operate these connections.

Satellite mobile communications
Mobile telephones specifically designed to transmit radio signals directly to, and receive them directly from, telecommunications satellites rather than the standard GSM or other domestic networks.

Secure Sockets Layer Certificate (SSL Certificate)
An SSL digital certificate is an electronic file that uniquely identifies individuals and servers. Digital certificates allow the client (Web browser) to authenticate the server prior to establishing an SSL session. Typically, digital certificates are signed by an independent and trusted third party to ensure their validity. The "signer" of a digital certificate is known as a Certification Authority (CA), such as VeriSign.

Server
Any computer whose function in a network is to provide user access to files, printing, communications, and other services.

Service address
This is the address at which your telephone number(s) are connected. It can be different from your billing address.

Service Set Identifier (SSID)
Your wireless network's name.

Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)
Offers many of the same architectural features as H.323, but relies on IP-specific technologies such as DNS. It also incorporates the concept of fixed port numbers for all devices and allows for the use of proxy servers. The protocol initiates call setup, routing, and authentication to endpoints within an IP domain.

Signalling Connection Control Part (SCCP)
Software that supports routing and translation and management functions and data transfer without logical signalling connections.

Signalling System 8 (SS7)
The protocol used to communicate between components of the AIN. The SS7 protocol is used to set up and tear down phone calls as well as to enable "intelligent" services. The SS7 network is a physically separate network from the phone network used to transmit voice data.

Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP)
SNMP provides a means to monitor and control network devices, and to manage configurations, statistics collection, performance, and security.

Simple Traversal of UDP through NATs (STUN)
A protocol that enables specialized applications, such as Internet phone calls, video, and audio, to travel between your local network and the Internet. STUN is a specific type of NAT traversal.

Slamming
The illegal act of switching a customer's telecommunications service provider without their knowledge or permission. If your phone company has been changed without your consent, you may be the victim of slamming. You should call the phone company who transferred you and tell them that you want the problem fixed. Then call your authorised phone company to let them know what happened and explain that you would like to go back to the same service plan you had before. In most instances, the problem must be fixed within two business days.

Small Office/Home Office (SOHO)
Market segment of professionals who work at home or in small offices.

Smart Card, (SIM card)
Smart Card is also known as ‘access card’ or ‘phone chip’ or Subscriber Identity Module card (SIM). See Subscriber Identity Module card.

SMS (SMS)
Stands for Short Message Service (SMS). This is a network and handset feature enabling the user to send text messages from one mobile handset to another.

Software
Instructions for the computer. A series of instructions that performs a particular task is called a "program".

Speed dialling
Speed dialling means you can touch just one number key on your phone to make a call to a certain person.

Stateful Packet Inspection Firewall (SPI Firewall)
The term firewall is a blanket term describing security measures that protect a network. Because the router is your network's connection to the Internet, a router with a built-in firewall protects your entire local network, like an alarm system for your house. SPI is a type of firewall that inspects incoming data packets to make sure they correspond to an outgoing request. Unsolicited-and possibly harmful-packets are rejected.

Static IP Address
A fixed address assigned to a computer or device that is connected to a network.

Static Routing
Forwarding data in a network via a fixed path.

Subnet Mask
An address code that determines the size of the network.

Subnetwork Access Protocol (SNAP)
Internet protocol that operates between a network entity in the subnetwork and a network entity in the end system. SNAP specifies a standard method of encapsulating IP datagrams and ARP messages on IEEE networks. The SNAP entity in the end system makes use of the services of the subnetwork and performs three key functions: data transfer, connection management, and QoS selection

Switch
A device that is the central point of connection for computers and other devices in a network, so data can be shared at full transmission speeds.

Symmetric Digital Subscriber Line. (SDSL)
Stands for Symmetric (or Synchronous) Digital Subscriber Line. This is a type of broadband connection that enables delivery of high speed services for both uploading and downloading - including voice, data and two-way, full motion video. SDSL requires that you be located close to an SDSL-enabled phone exchange. You can check this on respective providersÂ’ websites. If you donÂ’t plan to host a busy website or upload large files, an ADSL connection may be a cheaper alternative for you.

T

T2 (T1)
Digital WAN carrier facility. T1 transmits DS-1 formatted data at 1.544 Mbps through the telephone-switching network, using AMI or B8ZS coding. T1 is the North American equivalent of an E1 line.

Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman, The (TIO)
The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) handles complaints from consumers and small business relating to telecommunications carriers and service providers. The TIO also handles complaints from these sectors relating to particular ACIF Codes.

Teleconferencing
A long distance communication established among two or more parties in such a manner that each party is able to communicate with all the other parties. Today's enterprise teleconference includes not only telephone communication, but also video and web communication. One of the most popular services is the web-based conference, or online meeting, in which clients who do not have video conferencing equipment connect via the web, thereby participating in the call using only their web browser. Many public companies offer periodic investor conference calls, where shareholders are allowed to listen in on upper management discussion of company prospects.

Telnet
A user command and TCP/IP protocol used for accessing remote PCs.

Termination (Contact) fee (Termination Fee)
Also called a Cancellation (Contract) fee, it is the penalty imposed by the service provider on a customer if they decide to terminate their service contract before its expiry date. The termination fee varies with each service provider and plan but is usually either a flat fee and/or the remaining access fees and/or minimum monthly costs owing on the contract.

Third Generation/3G (3G)
3G refers to the wireless communications that involve Internet access and data delivery to mobile phones with audio, moving colour images and sophisticated Internet services.

Throughput
The amount of data moved successfully from one node to another in a given time period.

Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA)
TDMA is a type of processing system used by digital mobile phones that allows several handsets in the same area to use the same frequency. Each conversation is allocated its own time slot so that you only hear the conversation for a fraction of each second.

Toll-free services (Toll-free)
Often 1800 numbers whereby the receiver of the call, rather than the caller, pays for the cost of the call.

Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)
A network protocol for transmitting data that requires acknowledgement from the recipient of data sent.

Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)
A network protocol for transmitting data that requires acknowledgement from the recipient of data sent.

Transmission Rate. (TX Rate)
Transmission Rate.

Transport Layer Security (TLS)
Is a protocol that guarantees privacy and data integrity between client/server applications communicating over the Internet.

Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP)
A protocol used to transfer files over IP-based systems. TFTP has no authentication, only restrictions based upon IP address. TFTP uses UDP services and is commonly used to update software within a product. TFTP quickly sends files across the network with fewer security features than FTP.

Trunk (Trunk)
Service that provides quasi-transparent connections between two PBXs, a PBX and a local extension, or some other combination of telephony interfaces to be permanently conferenced together by the session application and signalling passed transparently through the IP network.

Trunk network
The transmission, switching and signalling systems within the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) which enable calls to be routed from one local exchange to another.

U

UDP protocol (UDP)
A connectionless transport layer protocol in the TCP/IP protocol stack. UDP is a simple protocol that exchanges datagrams without acknowledgments or guaranteed delivery, requiring that error processing and retransmission be handled by other protocols. RFC768

Unified call services. (UCS)
Unified call services.

Uniform resource locator (URL)
An identifier used to locate content that is transported via the HTTP protocol.

Untimed call
A call charged at a flat rate and is not timed.

Upgrade
To replace existing software or firmware with a newer version.

Upload
To transmit a file over a network.

User-agent client (UAC)
In SIP, a client application that initiates the SIP request.

User-agent server (UAS)
In SIP, a server application that contacts the user when a SIP request is received then returns a response on behalf of the user. The response accepts, rejects or redirects the request.

User Datagram Protocol (UDP)
A network protocol for transmitting data that does not require acknowledgement from the recipient of the data that is sent.

V

Virtual Private Network (VPN)
When your data transmission leaves your local network, the data itself is not protected, unless you establish a VPN. When you use a VPN, you are creating a secure connection between your network and another one over the Internet. VPNs are frequently used by businesses. Here are a few examples: Eg. 1. A branch office has a VPN connection with the corporate headquarters office. Eg. 2. A telecommuter has a VPN connection from his home office to the local office. Eg. 3. Using her laptop, a corporate trainer who's on the road has a VPN connection from the hotel room to the office.

Voice mail
A message service that calls divert to when the called party is engaged or does not answer.

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)
A category of hardware and software that enables people to use the Internet as the transmission medium for telephone calls by sending voice data in packets using IP rather than by traditional circuit transmissions of the PSTN. One advantage of VoIP is that the telephone calls over the Internet do not incur a surcharge beyond what the user is paying for Internet access, much in the same way that the user doesn't pay for sending individual e-mails over the Internet. Voice signals are converted to packets of data, which are transmitted on shared, public lines, hence avoiding the charges of the traditional, public-switched telephone network (PSTN) either in part or whole.

Voice over WiFi (voWiFi)
Merging of Wi-Fi with VoIP is a Wi-Fi based VoIP service — or in even more general terms, a wireless based VoIP system

Voice service provider (VSP)
Voice telephony service provider.

VoIP dial peer (VoIP dial peer)
Software object that ties together an IP address and a telephone number at a remote site reached over the IP network (also called remote dial peer).

W

Wide Area Network (WAN)
A group of networked computers in a large geographical area. The best example of a WAN is the Internet.

WiFi Protected Access (WPA)
A security protocol for wireless networks that builds on the basic foundations of WEP. It secures wireless data transmission by using a key similar to WEP, but the added strength of WPA is that the key changes dynamically. The changing key makes it much more difficult for a hacker to learn the key and gain access to the network.

Wired Equivalency Protocol (WEP)
WEP is a security protocol for wireless networks. WEP aims to provide security by encrypting data over radio waves so that it is protected as it is transmitted from one end point to another. A shared key (similar to a password) is used to allow communication between the computers and the router. WEP offers a basic, but satisfactory level of security for wireless data transmission.

Wireless (Wireless)
This is a type of broadband connection which does not require a landline or cable connection to operate. Generically, 'wireless' refers to communication systems in which electromagnetic or acoustic waves carry a signal through atmospheric space rather than along a wire.

Wireless Fidelity (WiFi)
WiFi is used generically when referring of any type of 802.11 network, whether 802.11b, 802.11a, dual-band, etc. The term is promulgated by the Wi-Fi Alliance. Any products tested and approved as "Wi-Fi Certified" (a registered trademark) by the Wi-Fi Alliance are certified as interoperable with each other, even if they are from different manufacturers. A user with a "Wi-Fi Certified" product can use any brand of access point with any other brand of client hardware that also is certified. Typically, however, any Wi-Fi product using the same radio frequency (for example, 2.4GHz for 802.11b or 11g, 5GHz for 802.11a) will work with any other, even if not "Wi-Fi Certified." Formerly, the term "Wi-Fi" was used only in place of the 2.4GHz 802.11b standard, in the same way that "Ethernet" is used in place of IEEE 802.3. The Alliance expanded the generic use of the term in an attempt to stop confusion about wireless LAN interoperability.

Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN)
A group of computers and associated devices that communicate with each other wirelessly.