Jargon Buster
IDS Utilities Jargon Buster
| ADSL |
Stands for ‘Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line’. ADSL transforms the existing twisted copper pairs between the telephone exchange and the telephone socket into a high-speed digital line, allowing Broadband access. ADSL delivers fast download speeds but slow upload speed. |
| Anonymous Call Rejection |
Rejects calls where the caller withholds their number. |
| Auto Attendant |
An automated system designed to guide a caller through the options of a voice menu. Typically set to answer and route incoming calls. |
| Bandwidth |
The capacity of a telecom line to carry signals. The necessary bandwidth is the amount of spectrum required to transmit the signal without distortion or loss of information. FCC rules require suppression of the signal outside the band to prevent interference. |
| Broadband |
A term used to describe fast internet access. Wide bandwidth which can be either ADSL or SDSL. ADSL can suffer from vast bandwidth changes (see also Contention Ratio). |
| Contention Ratio |
A term used to describe the number of individual broadband customers connecting to a single internet node at the local public exchange. High contentions ratios will cause vast speed differences depending on time of day and number local users on line. Beware of the ‘4pm school rush’! |
| Convergence |
Historically, Voice & Data networks were kept entirely separate. However in recent years changes in technology have meant that many businesses can now run both voice and data over the same LAN, thereby causing them to ‘converge’. Cost savings are one benefit of Convergence but far more importantly there are significant productivity and efficiency gains to be achieved. VOIP, IP Telephony, Unified Messaging, Remote Working etc all come under the ‘Convergence’ umbrella. |
| DDI |
Stands for ‘Direct Dial Inbound’ – allows users to rent individual phone numbers without the need to rent individual lines. DDI’s are mapped onto specific ISDN lines and the PBX is then programmed to direct the incoming DDI call to the specific extension or hunt group as required. Customers can rent a large volume of DDI’s whilst benefiting from renting an optimum number of lines based on required usage. |
| DECT |
Stands for ‘Digitally Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications’. A technology used to link cordless mobile handsets to a wired telephone system. |
| Ethernet |
A very common method of networking computers in a LAN. An 'Ethernet' describes the physical network that carries data traffic. |
| Featureline |
A BT specific service running over the PSTN. Designed for small companies (typically max 3 users), it is a dated product that provides limited basic PBX functionality requiring one dedicated phone line per user. Featureline is not considered to be cost effective for 4 or more users. |
| Hosted Telephony |
What is Hosted Telephony? (aka Hosted IP Telephony). An IP based phone system that is "Hosted" in a data centre. Customer sites connect to the hosted phone system via an internet connection** that is generally either ADSL or SDSL but can be a leased line. All the intelligence of the phone system is held within the data centre and the on site equipment is controlled by the central system. Customer communication profiles are configured via a simple web based browser and individual users can control their own phone profile from any internet connection, with ease. Hosted Telephony is particularly beneficial for companies with two or more sites and can be used internationally. All calls made between customer sites are FREE. ** The quality of the internet connection is critically important and it is recommended to keep the voice and data on separate internet connections. |
| Hunt Group |
Multiple phones allocated to a single extension number thereby enabling a call to be answered by one person with a group. I.e. accounts or sales etc. Calls will generally ‘hunt’ from one phone to another until answered. |
| IP |
Stands for ‘Internet Protocol’. A standardised method of transporting information across the Internet in packets of data. It is often linked to Transmission Control Protocol, which assembles the packets once they have been delivered to the intended location. |
| IP Telephony |
Using Internet Protocol as a method of carrying voice calls. With IP, voice communications (in the form of IP packets) are routed directly from the origin to destination devices. |