Commonly used term for analog signal transmission. Though mostly replaced by digital ISDN, in many countries, analog telephone lines are still the majority-used method of telephony. See Also: POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service)
A device used to incorporate analog devices into a VoIP environment. ATAs convert analog signals into IP packets for legacy telephone devices.
A virtual receptionist that ensures that incoming calls are answered and routed to the appropriate phone numbers & extensions.
A defined signal processing measure that is used to describe transmission power. For optimum VoIP performance, a minimum of 90 kbps is recommended for both upload and download speeds.
Shows the status of other users that are connected to your phone system. A BLF is normally shown via a light, a segment of an on-screen display, or within speed dial keys.
A company or department that is responsible for handling incoming calls. Our helpdesk team is a perfect example of a call center, whether it is inbound calling or outbound calling.
A record of all calls that are conducted through a single line or through the entire network.
Processes incoming calls automatically through a predetermined schedule, allowing easy implementation of complex telephony scenarios.
Forwards certain incoming calls (that you specify) to any phone number of your choice when predetermined conditions are met. For example: after a certain amount of rings, you can choose a number for the calls to forward to for your needed amount of time, before switching back to voicemail.
Linking of several telephony devices into groups, allowing phones within the same call group to be reached through one phone number and ring simultaneously.
Puts incoming calls in line until someone is available and typically plays on-hold music to the callers while they wait.
Used to identify phones. You can ID callers and decide if you wish to answer or let it go to voicemail. The caller’s identity is verified by the Internet Service Provider (ISP). Users can whitelist or blacklist specific telephone numbers or entities, so unwanted calls do not reach the user.
In a conference call, callers connect to a conference bridge via their telephones or computers. The conference bridge then connects multiple calls to one another. All the connections stay open while the call continues. Usually, only one person talks at a time, so only parts of the connection are in use at any given time.
International standard for wireless telecommunication, particularly involving cordless telephone.
A PBX feature that allows you to set your status as unavailable. Calls go directly to the voicemail box without the phone ringing. You can choose to have a short ring burst before the call is sent to voicemail.
Technology through both telephony hardware or software the ensures echoes are suppressed during audio transmission through a telephone line.
Analog transmission of documents as images through the telephone networks. eFax transmits documents digitally via computer, smartphone, or email.
An electronic device (also known as a protocol converter) that can connect different network technologies with each other, such as a network switch or a router.
The part of the phone that contains the microphone and the earphone.
A combination of headphones and microphone, can be connected to a phone, a computer, or via a softphone.
Logical linking of several telephony devices. All telephones belonging to a hunt group ring in a pre-defined order until the call is answered, or the caller hangs up.
A system that provides callers with an automatic interactive database that the caller can respond to by voice or use of their keypad. The system can be customized with prerecorded audio to navigate callers through the menu.
The telecommunication standard established for replacing the analog telephone network, integrating both speech and data on the same communication lines.
An intercommunication device which enable paging and conversations over a phone network.
The principal communication protocol for delivering data packages through the internet from the source to the destination based on IP addresses.
A numerical label assigned to a device connected to a network that uses the Internet Protocol. Allows to identify and locate devices within a network to enable data transfer.
A disruptive variance in digital signal quality. Often creates breaks in telephone conversations.
A server that provides a central address or phone book to the network, accessed by clients such as IP telephones at the same time.
When another person is added to a call but cannot talk, only listen to the conversation of the other two parties.
A hardware address for a network-enabled device the manufacturer creates and cannot be changed, enabling a distinct identification of the device.
A light that emits on a phone that alerts you when you receive a message or voicemail.
For incoming callers, music is played to callers if they are waiting in a call queue or are placed on hold.
The integration of multiple computers or other IP devices that share common services and resources and can therefore communicate with each other.
Devices that are powered through the Ethernet network cable or can supply other devices themselves. For example: a VoIP telephone that receives power through the Ethernet connection rather than a AC adapter.
The core server residing on your premises that handles the switching between telephone users internally and externally through VoIP, ISDN, or analog providers.
Configuration of an IP phone through the IP telephony server, or PBX. Automated provisioning does not require manual configurations on the phone.
Usually refers to analog and ISDN transmissions. Also referred to as the POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service) network.
Measures the quality of internet service providers (ISPs) by comparing the user’s needs and the potential capacity of the ISP.
Data protocol for transmission of audio and video data in IP-based networks.
Recording of a phone conversation to a sound file.
Like a cellphone’s voicemail feature, voicemail from your VoIP phone number can be reached from any other telephone with a passcode.
A network protocol for establishing and controlling connections within an IP network. SIP is integral in establishing telephony channels that can be used for transmitting instant messages, audio and video data using RTP.
A command within VoIP that allows you to manually close a stuck channel (when the call is still open when the user has hung up).
A software program for making telephone calls over the Internet using a general-purpose computer, rather than using dedicated hardware.
Phone numbers or commands can be placed on speed dial keys of the telephone, allowing to call them by pressing a single key.
PBX function that allows to forward active calls to another line. There are two types of transfers, blind transfer and attended transfer. For blind transfers, the call is passed to another line without notification. For attended transfers, the transferring party and the new line first have a brief consultation before the caller is put on hold and hears music.
PBX function that an email notification with either an mp3 file of the message, a text transcript of the message itself is within the body of the email, or both.
A secured, certified connection between two network devices. Data transfer is encrypted in order to protect the transmitted data.
VoIP whisper messages allow callers to privately communicate with one party in the conversation, like whispering in a colleague’s ear.
Combination of the Whisper & Listen functions of a PBX.
