Jargon Buster
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line)
• A broadband service used mainly for accessing the Internet.
Analogue Lines
• A conventional telephone line delivered on copper wiring also used for domestic lines. Analogue lines are different from ISDN lines.
Auto Attendant
• Automated call technology that answers external calls and provides the caller with options for choosing the department they wish to speak to.
Aspire
• Aspire is the business telephone system from NEC for the medium to large organisations. Packed with features and also supports the MyCalls software for call management. More information
Cards
• These fit into the slots that are found inside the phone system cabinet and determine the size and configuration of the system. Once all the slots have been used the system is full unless it is possible to expand it further by buying another phone system cabinet.
CLI (Caller Line Identification)
• The number of a specific telephone line.
CPS (Carrier Pre-Select)
• A system allowing clients to select their chosen ‘indirect' carrier without the need of ‘smart boxes' or least cost routing software.
CTI (Computer Telephony integration)
• The linking of computers and telephone systems. The term covers a broad spectrum of applications, an example of which includes ‘Screen poppin' where the information relating to the caller appears on the PC screen before or at the same time as the call is answered.
DDI (Direct Dial Inwards)
• A feature available on ISDN (see below) switchboards enabling callers to call people directly at their desks. Usually sold in blocks of 10 sequential numbers.
Digital Card
• A card in the phone system required for connecting digital (system) phones to the system.
E-mail Integration
• The integration of e-mail delivery into unified messaging results in only one device required to obtain messages whether voice, fax or e-mail. EG, e-mail or text to speech so the system can read in an automated voice the e-mail over the phone.
Feature Phone
• Also known as a system phone. A phone with additional features for that particular phone system. This type of phone can not ususaly be swapped between different phone systems.
ISDN
• Integrated Services Digital Network.
ISDN2e
• Each circuit of ISDN2e contains two channels, commonly businesses will go to a maximum of 8 channels before upgrading to ISDN30e. It is mainly delivered by BT and is on copper wire.
ISDN30e
• A fully digital public network service providing up to 30 separate channels which can be used for voice, data, fax, video conferencing etc. Delivered by BT and cable companies on fibre optic cable.
IVR (Interactive Voice Response)
• A voice processor which can answer calls and accesses a database to make a data enquiry. The database may be held in the voice system or within a third party system. Telephone banking and call centres are where this system is most ofter encountered.
LAN (Local Area Network)
• A data communications network linking PCs together, typically through a central file server, to provide a multi-node centrally controlled computer system. LANs are usually privately owned and found in one building or in a group of buildings in close proximity.
Local loop unbundling (LLU)
• This is the regulatory process of allowing multiple telecommunications operators to use connections from the telephone exchange's central office to the customer's premises. The physical wire connection between customer and company is known as a "local loop", and it is owned by the incumbent local exchange carrier. To increase competition, other providers are granted unbundled access. Re-routes calls by using a 'smart-box' or a four digit code to an alternative provider.
LCR (Least cost routing)
• Re-routes calls by using a 'smart-box' or a four digit code to an alternative provider.
Longest Waiting
• A group where the phone system rings the free group members in order of how long they have been free. Useful where you want to share the workload fairly between staff.
MyCalls
• NEC's superb, user-friendly software, was especially developed for those companies who wish to manage their outgoing and incoming calls. MyCalls includes applications specifically designed to give vital 'real-time information' i.e. showing if staffing levels need to be adjusted to suit call traffic to avoid a high rate of missed or abandoned calls and the subsequent loss of business. MyCalls suite comprises MyCalls Call Manager, MyCalls Call Centre, MyCalls Recorder and MyCalls Enterprise for multi-site and multi-system situations.
NECi - NEC Infrontia
• World leading developer and supplier of telecommunication systems and equipment - Dalys is in their top five UK resellers
NGN - Non Geographic Number
• A number that is not geographically based, usually beginning 0800, 0844.
Number Porting
• An agreement which allows telephone numbers to be moved between telecoms companies.
PBX/PABX Private (Automatic) Branch Exchange
• Also known as a telephone system or switch.
Ports
• The access points and means of connection of a voice processor. A port is typically an extension socket supporting one caller at any one time.
POT (Plain Ordinary Telephone)
• Also known as a SLT (see below). Not a system, digital or feature phone. These are analogue phones and work off analogue cards in the phone system.
PSTN - Public Service Telephone Network
• The general telephone network available to all residential and business customers. Also sometimes used as a substitute for "analogue".
Ring Groups
• The programming of a selection of phones to ring as a result of a particular incoming number or DDIs.
Screen Popping
• The ability for your computer to pick up the incoming telephone call and relay the caller's information to your screen before you answer the call.
SDSL - Symmetric Digital Subscriber Line
• A similar service to ADSL with faster upload speeds. Available at selected exchanges in speeds of up to 2Mb.
Sequential
• A group where the system always rings the first free group member starting from the front of the group. Useful where you want the most senior members of the team to take the phone calls where possible.
SIP (Session Initiation Protocol)
• This is a service offered by many telephony service providers that connects a company's PBX to the existing telephone system infrastructure (PSTN) via Internet using the SIP VoIP standard.
SLT Phone (Single Line Phone)
• Also known at POT phone (see above). Not a system, digital or feature phone.
SNDDi (Single Number Direct Dial Inward)
• This is a unique single number for use on ISDN2/30e it is most commonly used to enable devices such as fax machines, to route calls through digital lines without the need for a dedicated exchange line. Also see DDI
SV8100
• NEC Infrontia's business telephone system delivering the ultimate in unified communications.
Speed Dials
• This is the storing of regularly dialled numbers under short codes.
Switch
• Engineers often refer to phone systems as switches.
Terminal
• Telephone handsets are often referred to by engineers as terminals.
TPS (Telephone Preference Service)
• A service that bars calls to residential or business numbers that have been registered. Used mostly to prevent unwanted sales or marketing calls.
Trunks
• Incoming lines from a public telephone operator.
UCB Unified Communications for Business
• UCB is the all encompassing solution for single point contact,
exclusively for the NEC SV8100 system, bringing together all
communications methods in your business, internally and externally.
Unified Messaging
• The control of multiple messaging mediums through one master control screen. Typically a Microsoft Windows based panel on a PC running off a LAN. The unified messaging may provide visual control of voice and fax messages which are delivered to the PC node through a connection of the voice processor to the LAN's file server.
Voice Mail
• The ability to receive information direct from a caller when you are unable to answer the telephone. Extremely versatile it allows you, as a basic feature, to provide callers with a personalised greeting and to give them the option of leaving a message. It is also possible to offer callers the opportunity to speak to an operator or a colleague.
XN120
• NEC's business telephone system ideal for SMEs. The XN120 has the features and functionality of much larger systems and can be expanded up to a maximum of 72 extensions as your company grows.
