The operation and test of a new telephone system to ensure all specifications have been met and the system is operating satisfactorily before being fully paid for by the customer.

A method for the local phone company to lift the price of local and long distance phone calls by adding a flat monthly charge, ranging between $2 and $6 a month per trunk. Effectively a price increases.

The digit, or digits a user must dial to be connected to an outgoing trunk. For example, the user picks up his phone and dials "9" for a local line, dials "8" for long distance, dials "76" for a WATS line, etc.

Designated digit for reaching a particular type of PABX trunk (e.g. in the dialing instruction "Dial 8 + 1 + AC + number for long distance, "8" is the access level.)

Device used to link data terminals and small computers with the telephone network. The link is achieved through acoustic (sound) signals rather than through direct electrical connection. The acoustic coupler physically resembles the reverse of a telephone set. The telephone handset is typically laid in the acoustic coupler. A modem is an example of an acoustic coupler.

Allows a station user to add a third party to an existing intercom conversation.

The Old name for the unregulated telephone equipment supply subsidiary of American Telephone and Telegraph. American Bell Inc. is now called AT&T Information Systems. It is no longer incorporated. It is simply and operating division of AT&T.

A continuously variable signal. Voice signals on telephone lines are analog, i.e. transmitted electronically in a form analogous to the spoken form. A representation of an analog signal is the sine wave>

A special purpose computer which attaches to a telephone system and allows the telephone system to do special things, like have a voice mail system, or an electronic mail system.

A three-digit code designating a "toll" center. The first digit is any number from 2 through 9. The second digit is always a "1" or a "0". There are around 160 area codes in North America.

A method used to price long-distance calls that involves setting average prices based on the area code dialed.

The "operator" of a phone system console. Usually directs incoming calls to the proper person or department. May assign outgoing lines or trunks.

A system having an attendant or receptionist to operate it. Many smaller systems, such as key systems, are not "attended," but the phone is simply answered by whoever can.

A voice processing system’s ability to integrate or interact with touchtones and spoken commands. Voice response helps caller select and collect information from service providers and helps telemarketers, information houses, and other collect information from callers.

A type of modem used on the public telephone network that automatically sends an answering tone in response to an incoming call.

Formerly Calling Card Service, the name adopted by the Bell system for the telephone credit cards.

When the telephone handset is placed back in its cradle, the line button being used automatically "pops" back up. A user must always push down a line button after lifting the handset to make a call. Most automatic button restorations can be disabled with a screwdriver. Some people like automatic button restoration. Others hate it. Its objective is to stop people from intruding on calls when they pick up the handset without looking to see which button is depressed.

A system used to uniformly distribute incoming calls to a number of operators, called "agents". Agents are usually sales or service people. The term "agent" came form the airlines, who were the first companies to use Automatic Call Distributors.

A less expensive version of an automatic call distributor and used mainly with key systems.

Pay station service involving a central office that automatically completes all types of calls without using an operator. Recorded announcements are used to convey instructions to customers.

Device which allows the user to dial pre-programmed numbers by pushing one or two buttons. Sometimes referred to as a "repertory" dialer.

When a user is having a conversation and receives another call, he/she may press the button to answer the call. The original call is automatically put on hold.

Provides the originating caller’s telephone number to the terminating central office or carrier network equipment

A phone line in addition to the main number leased from the phone company. Phone systems are often equipped for calls to hunt from a busy main number to one or more auxiliary lines ("ISG" or Incoming Service Group).

The difference in frequency between the highest and the lowest in a group of frequencies. In the telephony, the voice bandwidth transmitted is normally between 300 Hz and 3000 Hz (i.e., the bandwidth = 2700 Hz).

A battery which provides power to the phone system when the main AC power fails. A battery backup is useful if phone work during a blackout or brownout. It’s also useful if the telephone system memory is volatile, i.e. the memory is lost when the main power fails. If it is volatile, all the features programmed into the system can be lost, such as special speed calling numbers for the various extensions.

A unit of data signaling speed. The speed in BAUD represents the number of discrete signal elements transmitted in one second. Sometimes the same as Bit Rate.

The number of bits per second of data transmitted over a phone line. How many characters per second which will be transmitted can be figured by dividing the bit rate by ten.

Disallowing calls to specified numbers. Associated with the grade of telephone service offered by a switching system. A call is said to be "blocked" if it cannot be completed.

Bell System Operating Company. Typically the local Bell Operating Company. These days are seven regional Bell Holding Companies and 23 Bell Operating Company subsidiaries of the seven Holding Companies.

A distinctive signal generated by the central office when caller completes dialing a 9 + or 1 + long-distance call. It indicates to the caller that a credit cared number may be dialed.

A box containing several male and female electrical connectors that allows various phones and accessories to be connected to one cable. Bridging adapters work well with 1 A2 key systems, not so well with others.

The 60-minute period during which the greatest subscriber calling demand occurs.

A device with many lights in rows. Each light corresponds to a telephone. Each light tells whether the phone is speaking, not speaking, hold, etc.

A device usually consisting of a computer, a magnetic storage medium (floppy or hard disk) and some software. The device attaches to a phone system in one of two ways-through the SMDR port of the PBX or key system, or through a "line scanner" which is attached to every line and picks up information on each call. The call accounting system collects the information on each call and processes it into reports useful to management.

A feature of a telephone system which allows the system to collect all the information on outgoing phone calls—who made them, where they went, what time of day they were placed, how long they took and which long distance phone line (WATS etc.) they went out on. Call detail recording usually works in conjunction with a call accounting system, though not necessarily. The call detail recording feature of a PBX can simply dump its call information onto a computers printer, which will lest each call chronologically, as it happens.

A service available in many central offices, and a feature of many PBXs and some hybrid PBX/key systems. Which allows a call to be directed to a number other than the one dialed. This is accomplished by the called party programming into the phone system, the number he wishes his calls to be forwarded to. It’s good to remember to revert the call forwarding upon return to the office—or have all call forwarding instructions reverted automatically at midnight. Otherwise, people can spend all afternoon in their office waiting for an important call, only to find (later on) all their calls had been forwarded somewhere else—possibly where there wasn’t anyone, and certainly where they weren’t.

A service provided by individual telcos and AT&T that prevents calls from being charged to or from a selected telephone number.

When a line is busy, the incoming call waits on the line until it is available, at which time the call goes through. The called party usually hears a beep in the earpiece to indicate that a call is camping onto the line.

An electronic mechanism that converts information recorded on a credit card’s magnetic stripe into data understood by a microprocessor system.

A group of keys, usually mounted on a payphone, used to reach the caller’s choice of common carrier for each call. Similar buttons are used to access hotels, taxicabs, restaurants, and other services or facilities.

Landmark 1968 FCC decision which first permitted the connection of customer-owned (non-telephone company owner) phone equipment to the nationwide telephone network.

Centralized Attendant Services. One group of switchboard operators answers all the incoming calls for several PBXs which are located allover the place—typically in one city. CAS is used, for example, by retail stores and banks. Both of these operations often have many branches in the same city.

Computerized Branch Exchange. CBX is a patented trademark of the ROLM Corporation, Santa Clara, California. ROLM intends it to replace the older terms PBX and PABX. The term CBX has not received wide acceptance and presently is only used by ROLM. It is synonymous with PBX or PABX.

One hundred call seconds, or, one hundred seconds of telephone conversation. One hour of telephone traffic is equal to 36 CCS (60 X 60 = 3600 divided by 100 = 36). CCS is a method of rating the call capacity of a phone system. Most PBXs are rated by how many CCS per phone they can handle before they begin giving a busy signal.

Telephone Company facility where subscriber’s lines are joined to switching equipment for connecting other subscribers to each other, locally and long distance.

PBX-like service provided by Bell, which makes customer’s phones part of the central office. Equipment may be located on customers premise (CENTREX CU) or, more commonly, at the phone company’s central office (CENTREX CO). It allows calls to be dialed directly to individual phones in the system, by-passing the attendant. This service was becoming obsolete by the Bell operating phone companies under instructions from AT&T. But since the divestiture of the operating companies was announced in early 1982, new life is being breathed back into Centrex by the operating companies. They are reducing the price of Centrex and enhancing some of its features.

A path of communication, either electrical or electro-magnetic, between two or more points. A single wire, cable or frequency may be used to provide more than one channel.

The physical connection of channels, conductors, and equipment between two given points. Include both sending and receiving capabilities.

Any recognized entity which transmits messages or other communication for the general public at rates accepted and judged OK by a government agency.

The division within the FCC responsible for regulating common carrier activities.

Association active before the Congress and FCC promoting the interests of the competitive telephone terminal equipment and computer and peripheral equipment industries.

The latest signaling arrangement between central office systems. Supervisory signals for call timing are transmitted over a separate channel rather than over the trunk used for conversation. CCIS information is not available to subscribers.

Any pipe or tubing which is used to pass telephone cables through. It protects the cable and prevents burning cable from spreading flames or smoke.

The number of seconds from the time a caller dials a phone number to the time he receives a busy signal. Also refers to the time a telecommunications system is off-hook, in response to a ring signal until the line is back on-hook at the end of call.

A pay telephone that accepts various credit cards rather than coins for payment.

When voices or signals from one circuit can be heard on another circuit. A caller can get crosstalk on his own office telephone system, in which case the office wiring is probably at fault. There’s probably too much of it too close together. The problem may or may not be able to be repaired, (since it happened because of expansion and adding more cabling).

Terminal equipment, supplied by either the telephone common carrier or by a competitive supplier, which is connected to the nationwide telephone network.

Terminal Equipment, connected to the telephone network, which is owned or leased by the user from a supplier other than the local telephone operating company.

The physical changing of lines form one system to another, or the installation of a new system. Usually done over the weekend. There are two types of cutovers—Hot Cuts or Flash Cuts and Parallel Cuts. The former are done instantly over a weekend. The old equipment is wheeled out as the new is operating well before the old is disconnected.

Usually information processed or produced by a computer or terminal. Anything other than voice.

The transfer of data between points. This includes all manual and machine operations necessary to transfer such data; the movement of encoded information by means of electrical transmission systems.

A Circuit which is suitable for transmitting data. High speed data needs better quality phone lines than normal dial-up phone circuits. A customer can acquire such circuits from many telephone companies—local and long distance.

Service of the Bell system which allows the transmitting data over the long distance network.

A device which performs the modulation/demodulation and control functions necessary to provide compatibility between business machines which work in digital (on-off) signals and voice telephone lines which work in analog (sine wave) signals. Data Set is another word for Modem.

A unit used to define the characteristics of a transmission facility. One decibel is the smallest change in sound level that the human ear can distinguish.

Produced by the rotary dial associated with a telephone instrument to signal the central office (normally 10 pulses per second).

A computer or terminal directly connected to phone lines rather than coupled via less efficient acoustical means.

This means that the system employs many individual microprocessors to control system and telephone station functions. They may be located in central processing equipment, in the telephones themselves, or both. Distributed processing is important in that a malfunctioning microprocessor affects only those trunks and stations it serves directly and not the entire system. Most of the early model electronic PBXs had centralized common control—so that when the central CPU crashed, the whole phone system crashed.

Makes an individual telephone appear to be busy to any incoming calls. May be used on intercom-only, station-only or both.

Formal FCC/State regulatory commission proceeding, also referred to as a case.

The tone pairs produced by a push-button keypad (touchtone) used with a telephone for signaling the central office switching system.

An instrument or terminal whose functions are controlled by central office signaling.

Cabinet which houses relays, circuit board or other phone apparatus. Usually also contains the power supply, which converts the 110 volt A.C. current into the direct current, low voltage (5 volts 48 volts) required by most telephone systems.

A teleconferencing product which allows real-time interactive graphic writing among multiple users at multiple sites, using dial-up telephone lines.

A term which refers to services or systems that transmit written information electronically over telecommunications links. Electronic mail theoretically will replace much or all of the traditional delivery of a letter or memorandum on paper (hard copy). Electronic mail is also said to help solve "Telephone Tag." There are many variations on electronic mail-from one personal computer to another, from on personal computer to a printer for later delivery by mail or messenger, etc.

A telephone switching system, which uses electronics or computer-like devices to control the switching and other functions. This term is now vaguely defined, with each manufacturer meaning something slightly different.

Peripheral or value-added services linked to base network or service. Enhanced services such as message forwarding and electronic yellow pages benefit a select segment of a larger end-user group.

A result of the 1984 Divestiture of AT&T granting subscribers direct access to competitive, long-distance networks.

An area in which there is a uniform set of charges for telephone service. Sometimes used to refer to a telephone switching center or the local exchange area.

Area served by one exchange which includes all associated central offices and outside plant.

An additional telephone connected to a line. Allows two or more locations to be served by the same telephone line, or line group.

Equipment which allows written or drawn material to be transmitted via a telecommunications system and printed out elsewhere.

Washington, D.C. based commission established by the Communications Act of 1934, charged with regulating electrical and radio communications, which includes the telephone industry.

Telephone service provides for a fixed monthly charge, regardless of the number of (usually local) calls made. Many large cities still have this service. It is being phased out as fast as local phone companies get permission from their state regulatory commissions.

Provides local telephone service from a central office which is outside (foreign to) the subscriber’s exchange area. In its simplest from, a user picks up the phone in one city and received a dial toe in a distant city. In its most usual form, a user dials one or two digits and receives dial tone in the distant city. Once he receives that dial tone he can make a local call, or dial long distance. A FX line is typically used by a company making many calls to and/or from a distant city. A FX line may be used to access the way or receive incoming calls. A FX line may be used to access the long distance lines of the newer long distance companies, such as MCI, SPRINT, WILTEL, etc.

A technique in which the available transmission bandwidth of a circuit is divided by frequency into narrower bands, each used for a separate voice or data transmission channel. This means the customer can carry several conversations, for example, on the same cable. Newer cables, like coaxial cable, can be frequency division multiplexed into thousands of conversations.

Automated switching facility used by public facsimile providers. All public facsimile locations can dial and "800" number to access the switch, and then the switch dials the intended number for the last leg of transmission.

Communications medium based upon light-weight, thin strands of transparent material used for transmission of data at high speeds using laser diodes.

A data communications circuit that supports data transmissions in both directions simultaneously.

A Foreign Exchange (FX) line connects a PBX or Key Set at one location to a local business line at the distant end. The user has access to the entire distant city. A FX is a 2-way circuit that handles one (1) conversations at a time.

Note: From the distant city, any user dialing the specific given telephone number assigned to the FX line, will reach the PBX to which the FX is installed.

A term associated with telephone service, indicating the probability that a call attempted will receive a busy signal. A P.01 grade of service means the user has a 1% chance of reaching busy signal.

A pathway between networks and communications systems accessed via connection to hardware, service offerings, or a software interface. Each Bell company is currently testing its own gateway services through which information and other service providers may pass their offerings to consumers.

Non-FCC registered telephone equipment that was directly connected to the telecommunications network without a phone company-provided protective connecting arrangement (PCA) prior to the registration program. Virtually all phone equipment is now FCC-registered. Check for registration when purchasing equipment.

The part of a phone held in the hand to speak and listen; it contains a transmitter and receiver.

A telephone transmitter and receiver assembly worn on the head. Headsets are becoming very light and very comfortable and no longer worn only by switchboard attendants and airline clerks. They are now worn by busy white collar workers, such as brokers, salesmen, etc. Anyone who spends all day on the phone will find a headset a great investment. They cost between $60 to $150.

AT&T's Hotel Billing Service. A special CO service, available to hotels, which provides time and charges billing information on guest dialed 1 + long distance.

To temporarily leave a phone call, without disconnecting it. You can return to the call at any time.

Phone system wiring where the individual cables run from each phone back to the central switching equipment. See also "Loop Through."

The part of the telephone set where the handset rests; the hookswitch turns the phone on and off. The hookswitch also tells the switch behind the phone that the phone wants something—e.g. to make a call.

Refers to the progress of a call reaching a group of lines. The call will try the first line of the group. If that line is busy, it will try the second line, then it will hunt to the third, etc.

Term used to describe a system which has attributes of both Key Telephone systems and PBXs. Usually means that incoming lines appear as key system lines and outgoing dialing is similar to a PBX—namely that one has to dial "9" to make an outside call. Hybrids generally can handle standard single-line telephones as well as their own proprietary electronic phones.

One that is not fully or partly-owned by AT&T. All telephone companies are now "independent" of AT&T.

A traffic service position system, or TSPS, operator system integrated into a central office switch rather than employed at separate stand-alone facilities.

Intercommunications. An internal communications system which allows a user to dial another phone in the building, office complex, or a factory.

A firm which supplies telephone equipment, by sale, rental, or leasing, for connection to phone company lines. Business (customers) can now acquire all phone equipment from interconnect companies.

An automatically operated switch used to turn lights, bells or other signals on and off in timed sequences. An interrupter makes lights wink on and off on a key system.

Used only for incoming calls; cannot dial out. "800" lines, for example, can only be used to receive calls.

A telephone set having several buttons which can be used for call holding, line pick-up, auto-dialing, intercom and other services.

A telephone system in which the telephones have multiple buttons permitting the user to select outgoing or incoming central office phone lines. With a key system, the user doesn’t have to dial "9" to obtain a central office line. In some cities a key system is what the phone company chooses to designate. Local lines attached to PBXs. There is no logic for this pricing differential.

Key Service Unit. The main cabinet which contains which contains all the electronics used to run a key telephone system.

Key telephone Unit. The main cabinet which contains all the electronics which run a key telephone system. Same as KSU.

Local Access and Transport Areas. Geographic areas the local phone company is allowed to provide telephone services in. Anything outside a LATA will become a toll call, to be handled by a tollcarrier. A call within a LATA, however, may also be a "toll" call, or billed like one—by the distance, duration and time of day.

Liquid Crystal Display. A very low power (but relatively high cost) method of displaying information. Often now used as a message line on phone system.

Abbreviation for Light Emitting Diode, a solid-state lamp using lower power than normal incandescent light bulbs, but more power than LCDs.

Also Leased Circuit, or Leased Channel. A telephone line rented for exclusive use from a telephone company—AT&T or one of its competitors. A leased line is another word for Dedicated Channel of Private Line.

The telephone system automatically chooses the "least cost" long distance line to send out a long distance call. The user typically dials "9" and then his 10 digit long distance number. The telephone system chooses which long distance line to use, e.g. WATS, FX, tie lines, MCI, Sprint, etc. Also called Route Optimization (Route Opt) or Most Economical Route Selection (MERS). Least cost routing is probably the best money-saving feature inn modern telephone systems.

AT&T and the local operating companies require a subscriber to provide equipment vendors with legal authority to act on their behalf when ordering or disconnecting services.

An electrical path between a phone company central company central office and a subscriber, with an individual phone number that can be used for incoming and outgoing calls.

A plug-in electronic Printed Circuit (PC) card that operates lamps, ringing, holding and other features associated with one or several telephone lines or telephones in a telephone system. It’s good to keep several spare line cards on hand, for replacements. Care should be used while handling line cards. Static electricity can easily damage the components on PC cards.

A method of improving the voice quality of a phone line. Telephone companies put load coils on local lines.

A form of local network using one of the nonswitched multiple access technologies.

The physical wires that run from the subscriber’s telephone set, from a PBX or key telephone system, to the telephone company central office.

A type of phone system wiring that allows phones to connect to one cable going to the common equipment. See also "Home Run" for the other way of running wiring for a phone system.

AT&T Long Lines. The department of AT&T which operates long distance toll service. It is no longer called Long Lines. It is called AT&T Communications.

The physical facilities on which lines are terminated for protection and cross-connected by jumpers to the central office equipment.

All work required to keep the telephone system operating properly. This includes periodic testing, repairs, etc. See also "Preventive Maintenance".

The average time a manufacturer estimates before a failure occurs in a telephone system.

The vendor’s estimated average time required to do routine repairs on equipment.

Also known as Usage Sensitive Pricing (USP). A method of pricing local telephone companies use to bill for local phone calls. Measure service of often charged on the number of calls. The time of day the calls are made, the length of the calls and the distance of the calls. See Flat Rate for the other method of being billed for local calls.

The part of a computer or sophisticated phone system which stores information or instructions for use. Memory comes in many variations. There is memory which id lost when power switched off. There is memory which stays—whether the power is off or on.

An accounting unit of measure which phone companies use for charging local calls. Message units vary depending on the duration of a call, the distance called, and the time of day the call is made. The definition for message unit usually varies widely from phone company to phone company.

A marketing strategy designated to encourage all phone equipment renter/subscribers into long-term contracts "flagship products." This encourages customers to "migrate" form their older equipment to more up-to-date offerings.

Acronym for Modulator/Demodulator. Equipment which converts digital signals to analog signals and vice-versa. Modems are used to send data signals (digitals) over the telephone network, which usually carries only analog signals. Modems can cost from $100 to many thousands. Also called Data Sets.

Equipment is said to be modular when it is made of "plug-in units" which can be added together to make the system larger and improve its capabilities. There are very few phone systems that are truly modular, but more and more are coming on the market.

Any telephone set with buttons which can answer or originate calls on one or more central office lines or trunks. Usually in sizes of 2, 3, 5, 9, 11, 17, 19, 29, and 60 lines. See also Key Telephone set. See also the photos at the front of this book.

Electronic equipment which allows two or more signals to pass over one telephone line. A multiplexer is used to save telephone transmission charges.

The National Trade Association for companies providing CPE telephone equipment. NATA represents the interests of the industry before congress, the FCC, and in court actions.

Shorthand for area code (NPA) + central office number (NXX) = subscriber line number (XXXX). In other words, a telephone number.

A three-digit code used to identify the central office serving a particular phone number. Our phone number is 212-691-8215. Our NPA is 212. Our NXX is 691.

When the phone handset is resting in its cradle. The phone is not connected to any particular line. Only the bell is active, i.e. it will ring if a call comes in.

When the handset is lifted from its cradle, it’s Off-Hook. Lifting the hookswitch alerts the central phone equipment the user want to do something—i.e., dial a call. A dial tone is a signal from the phone equipment that the central office system is ready to accept the user’s instructions.

A telephone located on premises other than where the main phone system is found. The distant phone acts as if it were in the same place as the main phone system. Bell operating phone companies are sharply increasing the price of OPX and OPS lines.

When something has already been produced and is available for immediate delivery.

Allows a caller to dial a call without lifting the handset of his telephone. After dialing, the caller can listen to the progress of his call over a built-in speaker.

Station-to-station, calling card, 3^rd-party-billed, collect, and person to person calls requiring operator assistance to complete. As opposed to DDD calls.

A company that provides live or automated switched service with the basic goal of completing calls. Non-AT&T or non-telco providers often bear the label "alternative" operator services, or AOS.

Providers of long distance telephone service in competition with AT&T OCCs often (but not always) have lower rates than AT&T.

A pushbutton dial which allows rotary dial users the convenience of "Touch-Tone" dialing. Pushing the buttons makes the phone pretend to be a rotary dial phone, which is necessary because the phone company office won’t accept touch-tone pulses.

Private Branch Exchange. A private phone system-allowing communication within a business and between the business and the outside world. In the past, a PBX was a manual phone system in which calls were made by an operator inserting plugs into jacks. Modern PBXs are automated and sometimes called PABXs (Private Automated Branch Exchanges). Sometimes they’re also called CBXs for Computerized Branch Exchanges. A PBX differs from a key system in one respect—namely that to make an outgoing call on a PBX, on must dial "9". On a key system, user can typically access an outside line by simply pushing a button on the phone and getting a dial tone.

The section of the FCC’s rules governing the direct electrical connection of non-telephone company-provided equipment to the telephone network. The equipment customers purchase should conform to Part 68 rules. It probably does. Virtually everything does.

Pulse Code Modulation. A way of converting analog voice signals into digital signals for switching through a digital PBX. There are other methods of converting analog voice to digital signals. PCM is one of the more common.

Equipment which is not an integral part of, but works in conjunction with a phone system. An example might be a printer or television screen devise on which calling traffic statistics are displayed.

An operator assisted call in which the caller specifies a particular person, extension, etc., to speak with. It carries the highest cost of any long distance service.

A general term used to describe any telephone company equipment used to provide communication services.

Plain Old Telephone Service. The basic service of supplying a single telephone set and access to the public switched network. Pronounced POTS, like pots and pans.

That part of a phone system that converts normal 120 volts AC and DC at various voltages and frequencies as needed by various components and circuits of the telephone system.

The process by which Bell and GTE of California public phone location owners choose a long-distance carrier for their "O +" payphone traffic, in accordance with U.S. District Court Judge Harold Green’s Oct. 14, 1988 decision.

The periodic inspection, cleaning, adjusting and minor repair conducted to eliminate problems before they affect services.

Privacy usually means that once a caller "seizes" a line, no other user can access that same line even though it appears on his/her key set. Privacy can be automatic or manual. Automatic privacy means that privacy is activated whenever a caller seizes a line. Manual privacy means that something must be done to activate privacy, e.g. depressing a special function button.

Term used interchangeably with PABX. PBX is private telephone switching system, usually located on a customer’s premises with an attendant console. It is connected to a common group of lines from a central office to provide telephone service to a number of individual stations, such as switchboard in a hotel business.

A direct channel specifically dedicated to a customer’s use between specified points.

A series of points connected together by leased phone lines, with switching facilities and transmission equipment owned and operated by the customer.

Instructions given to a computer or automated phone system to perform certain things. Most vendors improve their software programs continuously.

Means that what the vendor makes is proprietary to him and usually no one else makes it. The telephone industry is not like the computer industry. There are many telephones that are proprietary to one telephone system and will only work on that telephone system. Almost nobody in the telephone industry makes compatible phones, as for instance, the industry makes "compatible" IBM personal computers>

Public Service Commission. Another name for a Public Utility Commission.

A Public Utility or Service Commission is a state body which regulates and monitors the service of common carriers within a state.

The act of "stacking" or holding calls to be handled by a specific person or telephone line/trunk. Queuing can save money, especially when the callers are held in line for a full-time phone line-such as Foreign Exchange or Private line.

The price of a particular service or piece of equipment. Telephone companies don’t use the word "price."

Total invested capital on which a regulated company is entitled a reasonable rate of return.

The percentage net profit which a telephone company is authorized to earn on its rate base.

Any form of communication which produces a "written" record of the transmission. Teletypewriter and facsimile are examples. Companies such as RCA Globecom, ITT Worldcom, TRT, and MCI-Western Union International, which provide international telex are known as international record carriers.

FCC Program which governs the direct connection of terminal equipment, whether customer-provided or telephone company provided, to the telecommunications network without the need for a protective connecting arrangements (PCA). An applicant for equipment meets technical standards developed by the FCC.

A company which buys bulk long distance phone lines from someone else and sells to the public. Also called "Reseller."

An audible signal that announces incoming calls. It may be a conventional mechanical bell or an electronically generated tone heard through a speaker.

The traditional circular telephone dial that opens and closes electrical switches as it rotates. (The pulses or "clicks" can be heard as the dial rotates).

The electrical specifications of a stream of information. In reality, the term refers to the shape of an increasingly standard plug or receptacle used for communicating information from one device to another. Most personal computers attach to their printers, and/or modems using RS-233-C plugs.

Modern PBXs and some (typically larger) key systems have a Station Message Detail Recording (SMDR) electrical plug, which usually an RS-232-C receptacle into which one plugs a printer or a call accounting system. The telephone system will send information on each call made from the system to the outside world through the SMDR port. That information—who made the call, where it went, what time of day, etc.—will be printed by the printer or will be "captured" by the call accounting system of floppy or hard magnetic disk and then later processed into meaningful management reports.

A complex set of accounting procedures developed by the traditional telephone industry. The procedures classify telephone plant as intrastate or interstate, and return revenues from long distance phone calls to local telephone companies. Separations and settlements will soon be obsolete to be replaced by Access Charges.

Vendors that serve as a single source of telecommunications to office complexes or other multi-occupant buildings.

The useful life of components when not in use—such s being stored on a shelf as spare parts.

A microcomputer-controlled telephone used to provide central office services on an instrument-implemented basis.

A telephone which has a speaker and a microphone for handsfree conversation.

The equipment which is installed on the customer’s premises, including phones, ancillary electronics and small hardware.

Now refers to the RS-32-C "port" or plug found on the back of most modern PBXs and some larger key systems. See also Call Accounting Systems and Call Detail Recording.

A person or company who has a telephone service provided by a phone company. In other industries, subscribers are called customers.

Information on local and long-distance call timing made available to common carriers by network signals. These signals are not available to the OSP industry under current tariffs. As a result, most manufacturers attempt to achieve acceptable results by detecting the presence or absence of voice and/or tones on the line with fairly sophisticated analog-to-digital decoding devices.

The standard format assigned by the communications industry to a form of grade multiplexing that provides for 24 simultaneous 64-kilobit-per second channels transmitted on a single pair of wires.

Document filed by a communications carrier (typically telephone company) with a state Public Utilities Commission or the Federal Communications Commission which details services, equipment, pricing and other conditions of service. The tariff defines the phone company’s full relationship with the customer. The tariff has complete legal validity. The tariff overrides any written "Contract" between the phone company and its subscribers. Any tariff disputes are settled before the appropriate state or federal regulatory commission, and then appealed to state and federal courts.

The point at which a telephone line ends, or is connected to other circuits of the network.

A dedicated circuit linking two points without having to dial the normal phone number. A tie line may be accessed by lifting a telephone handset or by pushing one, two or three buttons.

When placing a long-distance call, you may ask an operator to call you back with the length of time you talked and how much it cost.

As a substitute for answer supervision, many phones use call timing and estimate that a call is completed if the caller remains off-hook for 45 seconds or longer.

A technique for transmitting a number of separate data, voice or video messages simultaneously over one phone line by interleaving elements of each message in fast timed sequences.

An old fashioned way of saying plus and minus, or ground and positive in electrical circuits.

The charge for a long distance call made by one subscriber to another located outside the boundaries of the local area, within which calls are made under a uniform flat or measured monthly rate.

To curb a telephone user’s ability to make long distance calls. Toll restriction capability on modern PBXs and key telephone systems has been increasing in sophistication. Some PBXs now allow selective access to the long distance network. One user might be able to dial only the closest five area codes; another might be able to dial Chicago, another just California. The idea is save on expensive toll calls.

A pushbutton telephone dial that generates a different tone for each number dialed. A tone dial works faster than rotary dials. A tone dial can provide access to various special services and features, e.g. other common carrier services, voice mail, call forwarding, etc. AT&T calls pushbutton dialing or tone dialing "Touch Tone", and they’ve registered the name.

A registered trademark of AT&T for dual-tone multifrequency signaling. Also used in generic sense.

A telephone communication path, or channel, between two points, one of them usually being a telephone company central office or switching center.

A group of trunks between the same two geographical points, with similar characteristics, used for the same purposes.

A special CO line for hotels (i.e., HOBIS). Provided by Bell or another operating company serving a given area.

An entire telephone system with hardware and software assembled and installed by a vendor and sold as a total package. The term "turnkey" means the buyer is presented with the key to the thing he has just bought. He turns the key and it will work. The term implies the system will do everything it is supposed to at the time it is turned over to the user. Most telephone systems are purchased "turnkey". Increasingly some users are opting to buy phones and phone equipment and install it themselves. This can save money, but can produce aggravation.

A complex AT&T pricing plan which imposed two monthly "rate elements" on every hardware components of a leased piece of terminal equipment. Tier A is a fixed rate, not subject to rate increases. Tier B is a second rate, which is subject to rate increases. Two-tier pricing is fading in importance.

system. VTPP is now an obsolete term, except for the users still committed to pay for their phone system under an old VTPP plan.

Information delivered in digital form for display on passive or interactive screens. Includes remote or on-site broadcast or select-audience programming.

One application of speech recognition allowing a user to interact with the host system by speaking into it, as opposed to typing into a computer console or using a touch-tone keypad. Voice automation is particularly useful where interaction between human and system is simple and repetitive, as in some operator assistance functions.

A group of technologies that use some form of speech and are combined in different ways to perform specific communications functions. These technologies also interact with other technologies such as private branch exchanges, facsimile machines and automatic call distributors. There are essentially five segments of voice processing: voice store-and-forward, speech synthesis, speech recognition, speech-to text/text-to-speech, and audiotext/voice response.

The capture, storage, and transmission of recorded voice messages and information. The Predominant application is voice messaging and mail systems, which allow telephone users to send, receive and reply to voice messages, as well as to pass on messages and respond to others. Such messages left via public telephones count as completed calls.

Potentially lower cost long distance service. Allows calls to specified geographic areas. Calls made in one direction only; incoming or outgoing, not both (except in some limited intrastate applications). Many users think WATS calls are free, so they speak longer. This can kill the economics of buying WATS lines to save money. In the old days, interstate WATS was charged at effectively a flat rate. And thus there was some reason to believe that marginal WATS calls were "free". These days EVERY WATS call cost money. EVERYone!!. Without exception.

An instantaneous no voltage condition as measured across a CO loop which indicates that dial tone is about to be supplied to the circuit.

A central office line connection terminal used for telephone equipment that looks like multiple rows of pins in a plastic, block-shaped housing.

Dial sequences accessing information or conferencing services on a pay-per-call basis. The first three digits—"976", "900", or "540"—identify the type of service.