Jargon Buster T-Z

The field of communications and IT is littered by an ever growing number of technical terms and confusing jargon. At Connexis we try and talk to our customers in a practical way that helps you understand the benefits of implementing new technologies. We hope that our Jargon Buster helps if you have trouble with the terms or acronyms that you may come across.

We will do our best to update this area on a regular basis, but if there is anything you still don't understand or need help with, please do not hesitate to call us on 01952 528000 or contact us by email at jargon@connexis.co.uk.

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TAPI (Telephony Application Program Interface) - a standard devised by Microsoft Corporation for communication between a computer terminal (workstation) and a telephone extension. There are several versions of the TAPI standard and various options within the standard so it should not be assumed that all the features of one TAPI compliant device will be available on any other TAPI compliant device.

TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) - a set of layered protocols that enable shared applications among PCs in a high speed communications environment.

TDM (Time Division Multiplexing) - a traditional telephony technology employed to connect two parties in a call via a Private Branch Exchange (PBX)

Tele - a prefix meaning `at a distance', as in `telepathy', `telemetry', `television', 'telephone' or even 'telescope'.

Telecommunications - is the transmission of signals over a distance for the purpose of communication. This process typically involves the sending of electromagnetic waves by electronic transmitters, but it originated before the advent of telephone systems with the use of systems such as signals drums, semaphore or alpine horns. Today, telecommunication is extensive, with items such as the television, radio and telephone, are common in many parts of the world. There are also many networks that connect these devices, including computer networks, public telephone networks, and the Internet. Any transmission, emission or reception of sign, signals, writings, images & sounds or information of any nature by wire, radio, visual or other electromagnetic systems.

Telecommunications Network - a telecommunications network is a network of telecommunications links and nodes set up so that messages may be passed from one part of the network to another via numerous links and through a range of nodes.

Tone Dialling - also known as MF (multi-frequency) or DTMF (dual tone multi-frequency). MF is a dialling method which generates audio tones when digits are dialled. These tones are sent down the line and can be detected by telephone systems or other devices.

Trunk - a telephone exchange line to receive and make calls.

Trunk-to-Trunk Transfer - a facility which allows an incoming call received on one line to be transferred to someone on another line, i.e. both callers are external to the telephone system. Typical uses include transferring an incoming caller to someone's mobile phone.

TSAPI - Telephony System Application Program Interface. A standard devised by Novell Corporation for communication between a network server and a telephone exchange. Working at a system level this offers more flexibility than TAPI but is also more complex to implement.

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U U U

Unified Messaging - a messaging platform that allows management of voice, fax and email from a single user interface (PC). This improves efficiency as all messages are presented from the one place to the user.

Upload - transmitting data from the end-user to the main public telecommunications network (e.g. sending information to a website on the internet), the reverse process of download.

UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) - provides continuous power source to the telephone system in the event of a mains power fail.

UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair) - a type of cable commonly (and imprecisely) used to differentiate from computer cables using co-axial cable.

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V V V

VDSL (Very high speed Digital Subscriber Line) – a broadband technology that can provide download rates of up to 52Mbps and upload rates of up to 3Mbps over short local loops of up to 0.5 miles (0.8 kilometres). As VDSL can only transmit over a shorter distance, it requires service providers to deploy fibre optic cables in the local loop in order to get closer to the end user. VDSL can also be configured to operate in a symmetrical mode, delivering in excess of 10Mbps in each direction up to 0.9 Miles (1.4 kilometres).

Voicemail - a voicemail system typically provides a central "answering machine" for users of a telephone system. The user diverts his calls to the voicemail system, which will play a personalised message to a caller and allow him to leave a message for the extension user. Most voicemail systems also provide options for routing callers to departments or extensions and for giving out information to callers.

VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) - allows voice calls to be switched over any data carrying network reducing fixed infrastructure costs.

VPN (Virtual Private Network) – a secure, encrypted connection between two points over the telecoms network, that allows private network traffic to travel over public networks without the need for a dedicated leased line. VPNs provide remote offices and telecommuters with secure access to a corporate LAN or WAN. Because VPN traffic is encrypted, it cannot be deciphered as it travels over the network.

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W W W

WAN (Wide Area Network) - a computer network that spans a relatively large geographical area. Typically, a WAN consists of two or more local-area networks (LANs) linked together. WANs can be used to share information across multiple sites. The world's largest WAN is the internet.

WAP (Wireless Access Protocol) - a means of accessing the Internet using a mobile phone.

Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) – a form of short range (up to 0.1 kilometres) wireless networking, supporting download rates of up to 54Mbps. It allows the connection of two or more computers without the need for physical cabling between them. The most commonly used Wi-Fi standards are 802.11b and 802.11g. Wi-Fi is used in many community wireless networks and in the provision of wireless 'hotspots' set up in hotels, coffee shops, airports etc. Wi-Fi can also be used to create a wireless network in the home and office.

Wi-Max – a wireless technology that provides high bandwidth broadband infrastructure over long distances (up to 31 miles or 50 kilometres). Wi-MAX can provide download rates of up to 70Mbps and can be used for wireless 'hotspots', cellular backhaul and even 'last mile' broadband solutions. Wi-Max can also be used for high-speed enterprise connectivity for business.

Wireless – a term used to describe broadband technologies where data is transmitted by radio wave and microwaves, i.e. there are no physical links between the networked devices. There are a variety of different forms of wireless broadband including FWA, Wi-Fi and Wi-Max.

Wireless Networking - despite the fact that the “wireless network” might in principle be used to refer to any set of connections that is wireless, the phrase is most often used to refer to a telecommunications network whose interconnections linking nodes is implemented devoid of the use of wires, such as a computer network (which is a type of communications network). Wireless telecommunications networks are in general implemented with some type of remote information broadcast system that uses electromagnetic waves, such as radio emissions, for the carrier, this usually takes place at the physical level or "layer" of the network.

Wireline - a term used to describe telecommunications systems, where a service is provided over some form of cabled or wired network, as opposed to a wireless or radio network.

WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) - a type of local area network that uses high-frequency radio waves rather than wires to communicate between nodes.

WOC (Windows Operator Console) - PC based operator terminal. Allows the user to see the status of lines and extensions on their PC screen and answer and transfer calls with the click of a mouse.

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X X X

XDP (eXtra Device Port) - an analogue port in the back of some keysets, which can be used as either a 'double' of the existing extension number (i.e. for an analogue DECT) or as a totally different extension number (i.e. for an analogue modem).

XML (eXtensible Markup Language) - a widely used system for defining data formats. XML provides a very rich service to define complex documents and data structure such as invoices and news feeds etc. As long as a programmer has the XML definition for a collection of data, i.e. a schema, then they can create a program to reliably process any data formatted according to those rules.

xDSL (x Digital Subscriber Line) - a family of technologies that are used to transmit data. This technology transforms a telephone line consisting of a twisted pair of copper wires (local loop) into a high-speed always on connection. xDSL technologies include ADSL, SDSL, VDSL, and ADSL 2+.

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Y Y Y

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