Glossary

Abandoned attempt

An attempt to make a call but it is aborted by the user making the call.

Abandonment rate

The total number of callers that hang up after entering into a queue.

Abbreviated dialing

Telephone feature such as speed dialing that will permit the user to dial fewer digits to access the network.

Access charge

Is a charge or fee imposed by a communication service for use of its network

Access line

A phone line reaching from a phone company's central office to a point that is usually on your premises.

Access list

It is a list that is kept by routers that controls access to or from a router for a number of services.

Acoustic connection

A connection to a device or a system made with sound waves.

Active call

When a call is connected.

Activity connection point (ACP)

A location in telecommunications network when there is high communications traffic which includes data, document distribution, teleconferencing, and voice.

Add-on data module

Plug-in circuit cards that allows a PBX to send and receive analog and digital signals.

Addressed call mode

A mode which will permit control signals and commands to establish and terminate calls.

After call wrap up

The time an employee spends finishing up a transaction after a call has been completed.

All trunks busy

When a caller tries to make an outside call through a phone system and receives a fast busy signal.

Alternate lock code

A three digit code that will lock your cell phone.

Analog switch

Telephone switching equipment that switches signals without changing the analog form of the original phone call.

Announcement service

This allows a telephone user to hear a recording when they dial a certain number or an extension.

Audiotext

A pre-recorded message heard by system users.

Automated Attendant

The computerized replacement for a human operator that answers and directs calls by playing greetings and responding to touch tones.

Automatic Number Identification (ANI)

The name used by U.S. exchanges for the system that identifies the calling number. (See Calling Line Identification).

B battery

The section of a phone system that gives the phone power to all of its components.

Babble

Crosstalk from several interfering communications circuits

Babyphone

feature that allows calls to an off hook telephone to listen to rooms noises.

Back board

A piece of plywood that the base of your phone hangs on so you can mount the phone to the wall.

Back channel

An asymmetric telecommunications system that is typically a low speed transmission channel opposite to a main channel detection.

Background noise

The noise you will hear when you call someone and no one is saying anything.

Backplane

The high-speed communications line to which individual components are connected.

Backward signal

A signal sent in the direction from the called to the calling station, or from original communications sink to the original communications source.

Bad Line Key

When a PBX attendant encounters a bad trunk they push this bad line button on the console, and it will automatically flag the trunk for later checking and repair.