Glossary of Terms
- Bandwidth
- Broadband
- Cable modem
- Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)
- Local Area Network (LAN)
- IP address
- IP phone
- IP telephony
- IP
- ISP (Internet Service Provider)
- Modem
- PSTN
- Private Branch Exchange (PBX) or Private Automatic Branch Exchange (PABX)
- Real-Time
- Service Provider
- Skype
- Softphone
- Telephony
- Quality of Service (QoS)
- Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP)
- VOIP Gateway
- VOIP PBX
- VOIP phone
- VOIP services
Bandwidth
Bandwidth is the volume of data that can be transmitted over a communication line in a fixed amount of time. It is expressed in bits per second (bps) or bytes per second for digital devices and in cycles per second, or Hertz (Hz) for analogue devices. Click here for an alternate definition.
Broadband
Broadband is a high speed internet connection, generally provided by DSL or dedicated telecom lines. Click here for an alternate definition.
Cable modem
The cable modern is a device that is used to connect a computer to the high speed coaxial cable run by cable TV companies to provide access to the Internet. Click here for an alternate definition.
Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)
A high-speed digital switched service using existing copper pairs to connect subscriber CPE (Customer Premises Equipment) to the Central Office. DSL handles more data downstream (data flowing towards the subscriber) than upstream (towards the network). Click here for an alternate definition.
Local Area Network (LAN)
A group of computers and associated devices that share a common communications line or wireless link and typically share the resources of a single processor or server within a small geographic area (for example, within an office building). Click here for an alternate definition.
IP address
An IP address, also know as Internet Protocol address, is the machine number used to identify all devices that are connected to the net. Each device has its own unique number which it uses to communicate. Click here for an alternate definition.
IP phone
An IP phone is one that one that converts voice into digital packets and vice versa to make calls over internet possible. It has built-in IP signalling protocols such H.323 that ensure that the voice is routed to the right destination over the net. The IP phone comes with several value added services like voicemail, e-mail, call number blocking etc. Click here for an alternate definition.
IP telephony
IP telephony refers to the two-way transmission of voice over internet. The voice is transmitted in real time by using the packet-switched technology over the IP network. Click here for an alternate definition.
IP
IP, which is the acronym for Internet Protocol, defines the way data packets should be moved between the destination and the source. Click here for an alternate definition.
ISP (Internet Service Provider)
A business that provides subscriber-based access to the internet. ISPs use Internet Routers, Servers and Rack-Mounted modems to provide a variety of services including Web Site hosting, FTP service, e-mail accounts, unified messaging, audio and video broadcasting and in some cases, Internet Telephony (VoIP) and Fax Gateway service. Click here for an alternate definition.
Modem
A modem converts the serial digital (binary) data from a transmitting terminal into a form suitable for retransmission over an analogue telephone channel. A second modem reconverts this signal to binary data for acceptance by the receiving terminal. Click here for an alternate definition.
PSTN
PSTN stands for Public Switched Telephone Network, refers to the telephone system that transmits analogue voice data. PSTN was the centre of all phone systems worldwide, however most of the developed world is now switching to or have switched to telephone networks that are based on digital technologies. Click here for an alternate definition.
Private Branch Exchange (PBX) or Private Automatic Branch Exchange (PABX)
In telephony, a PBX system behaves as a customers premises over trunk lines (thus the term branch). At first, PBXs mirrored a small telephone company switch board. Users would use an operator to make calls to the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network). Today, users dial directly, without using an operator. Click here for an alternate definition.
Real-Time
Real-time refers to communication that has minimal or no perceptible delays between the sender and receiver. Regular telephone calls are real-time. Point-to-point fax transmissions are near to real-time. Voice messaging is not real-time. Click here for an alternate definition.
Service Provider
A service provider is a business entity that provides a communication, storage or processing service for a fee. Some of the service providers in the digital world are the internet service provider (ISP), application service provider (ASP), storage service provider, mobile phone service provider, web hosting provider, and of course, VOIP service provider. Click here for an alternate definition.
Skype
Skype is a peer-to-peer internet telephony company that revolutionised the way voice calls are made by using VoIP technology. The company, which has been acquired by eBay, was founded by Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis. Skype users can speak to other Skype users for free, but have to pay a small fee for calling or receiving calls from conventional phones. Click here for an alternate definition.
Softphone
This is a software application that is installed in the user’s PC. It uses the Voice over IP technology to route voice calls over the net and provides several value added features, such as call forwarding, conference calling, and integration with applications such as Outlook for automatic dialing. The audio is provided through a microphone and speakers plugged into the sound card. The only limitation of a softphone is that the phone call has to made through a PC. Many softphone are free VOIP software downloads.Click here for an alternate definition.
Telephony
Telephony means the process of converting or transmitting voice or other signals over a distance, and then re-converting them to an audible sound at the far end. Click here for an alternate definition.
Quality of Service (QoS)
The idea that transmission rates, error rates, and other characteristics can be measured, improved, and, to some extent, guaranteed in advance. Click here for an alternate definition.
Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP)
VoIP or Voice over IP is the technology that is used to transmit voice over the internet. The voice is first converted into digital data which is then organized into small packets. These packets are stamped with the destination IP address and routed over the internet. At the receiving end the digital data is reconverted into voice and fed into the user’s phone. Click here for an alternate definition.
VOIP Gateway
This device provides the conversion interface between the public switched telephone network (PSTN) and an IP network for voice and fax calls. Its primary functions include: voice and fax compression/decompression, packetisation, call routing and control signaling. It also provides an interface to Gatekeepers or Softswitches, billing systems, and network management systems. Click here for an alternate definition.
VOIP PBX
VoIP PBX, which stands for Voice over Internet Protocol Private Branch eXchange, is a telephone switch that converts IP phone calls into traditional circuit-switched TDM connections. It also supports traditional analogue and digital telephones. Click here for an alternate definition.
VOIP phone
A VoIP phone is one that uses the internet to route voice calls by converting the voice data into IP packets and vice versa. The phones come with built-in IP signaling protocols such as H.323 or SIP that help in the routing of data to the right destination. A VoIP phone can also be a software application that is installed in the user’s PC. In this case it is known as the softphone. Also, the calls in this case have to be made from the PC, and not through a telephone instrument. Click here for an alternate definition.
VOIP services
The VoIP services are packet-based services that use the Internet to move voice data. These services are much cheaper than the traditional PSTN services because the investment in infrastructure is low. They also come with several value added features which make them more lucrative than the conventional landline phone services. Click here for an alternate definition.
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