Analog Telephone Adapter (ATA) – a device that allows you to use your analog telephones to place calls over the Internet using VOIP. It is the simplest way to connect standard phone lines to a computer using VOIP services.

Codecs (Coder-decoder)- Converts “media stream” to and from a digital format for transmission on VOIP phone services. Codec can provide compression to help save network bandwidth and is further expanded to handle video conferencing and media streaming solutions over the internet with quality not possible on the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).

Common Block- A block of numbers, often 00-99 assigned by the telephone company for use with a customer’s PBX. When someone places a call the Central Office (CO) connects with the PBX. Upon connection the CO delivers the last two digits on the phone number so that the PBX can route those calls directly to the desired destination within the organization.

Digital Lines- enhanced telephone services provided by a PBX, MUX or telephone system.

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)- A network protocol used to dynamically assign IP addresses, default gateways, subnet mask and other network configuration parameters.

Frame Relay – a reliable and cost effective solution for LAN-to-LAM traffic connecting multiple sites. It combines the functionality of a private network with the efficiencies of a public, shared network.

IP PBX- a customer premise phone system that acts as a gateway to both voice and data networks. It allows you to place calls using a network instead of the standard telephone infrastructure. Calls are routed via the network instead of the standard PSTN.

IP phone- a phone that utilizes internet protocol to connect to a remote PBX and offers enhanced telecommunication services by delivering features that not unavailable with traditional analog and digital phones.

ISDN-PRI- is digital access technology that provides voice and data capabilities over standard existing phone lines.

Local Area Network (LAN) - a network or group of computers inter-connected, but confined to a single location.

Latency- The amount of time it takes a voice or data packets to travel from any point on our network to our outbound gateways.

North America Numbering Plan (NANP) – The NANP is a system of numbering plan areas (NPA) with three-digit area codes (NXX), local exchange offices and four-digit station numbers. The NANP includes the US and its protectorates, Canada, some Caribbean and Pacific Islands.

Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) - The basic form of voice grade telephone service that supplies a standard single-line telephones and access to the PSTN using a single pair of twisted copper wires.

Power over Ethernet (POE) - Technology that transmits power and data to remote devices over a standard CAT5 cable in an Ethernet network eliminating the necessity of local power connections.

Private Branch Exchange (PBX)- A telephone exchange that offers advanced office communications.

Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)- The traditional Telephone system as we know it now.

Quality of Service (QOS)- A way to provision internet circuits to prioritize certain services over others.

Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) - A system of setting up a connection between two devices that will allow two way real-time data to flow. This includes voice and video.

Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) – A protocol used to encapsulate and reliably transmit data between devices on a network.

Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) - routes voice data over the Internet through an IP-based network.

VOIP phone systems- uses the Internet to route voice calls by converting voice packets into IP packets and vice versa.

Wide Area Network (WAN) – a network or group of computers inter-connected anywhere in the world.