Vocalocity Hosted PBX — Understanding VoIP

To have a clear understanding of business VoIP and VoIP in general, you must understand the terminology. We've provided a list of commonly used terms that are used in describing and understanding VoIP technology.

• Business VoIP Network/Hardware
• Internet Terms
• General Telephony and VoIP
• Hosted PBX Features

Business VoIP Network / Hardware

ATA: ATA or the analog telephone adaptor is the hardware device that connects the conventional telephone to the Internet through a high speed bandwidth line.

Cable modem: The cable modem is a device that is used to connect a computer to the high speed coaxial cable run by cable TV companies to provide access to the Internet.

DSL modem: A DSL modem is a device that is used to connect one or more computers to the high speed DSL line provided by a DSL operator to gain access to the Internet.

IP Phone: An IP phone is one that converts voice into digital packets and vice versa to make phone calls over Internet possible.

Router: A router is a network device that that handles message transfer between computers that form part of the Internet.

SIP phone: A SIP phone is a telephone that uses the SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) standard to make a voice call over the Internet.

Softphone: This is a software application that is installed in the user’s PC. It uses the Voice over IP technology to route voice calls over the net. The audio is provided through a microphone and speakers plugged into the sound card. The only limitation of a Softphone is that the phone call has to made through a PC.

Switch: Networking hardware used to increase the amount of RJ45 Ethernet jacks within a Local Area Network (LAN).

Internet Terms

Bandwidth: Bandwidth is the volume of data that can be transmitted over a communication line in a fixed amount of time; expressed in bits per second (bps) or bytes per second for digital devices and in cycles per second, or Hertz (Hz) for analog devices.

Broadband: It is a term used to define high speed Internet connection, generally provided by cable TV, DSL or dedicated telecom lines.

Data compression: This is the process that is used to compress large data files into small files so that they use less bandwidth during transmission and less disk space when stored.

IP address: An IP address, also known as Internet Protocol address, is the machine number used to identify all devices that are connected to the net. Each device has its own unique number which it uses to communicate. 

IP mapping: IP mapping is the process of identifying IP addresses on the basis of their geographical locations. The mapping enables web administrators to pinpoint the location of any computing device connected to the Internet.

IP: IP, Internet Protocol, defines the way data packets, also called datagrams, should be moved between the destination and the source. More technically, it can be defined as the network layer protocol in the TCP/IP communications protocol suite.

Kbps: Kbps is the acronym for kilobits per second and is used to indicate the data transfer speed. If the modem speed, for instance, is 1 Kbps then it means that the modem can route data at the speed of one thousand bits per second.

General Telephony and VoIP

DID (Direct Inward Dialing): A service that provides a block of telephone numbers for calling into a company's private branch exchange (PBX) system. Using DID, a company can offer its customers individual phone numbers for each person or workstation within the company without requiring a physical line into the PBX for each possible connection.

E911: E911 is the short form of the term Enhanced 911, and is used for providing emergency service on cellular and Internet voice calls.

Hosted PBX: An internet telephony solution that follows the Software as a Service (SAAS) model by hosting phone system equipment in remote datacenters so that it can be managed from a web interface rather than through the administration of physical on-premise equipment.

IP telephony: IP telephony refers to the two-way transmission of voice over Internet. The voice is transmitted in real time by using the packet-switched technology over the IP network.

On Premise PBX: Physical telephony hardware that enables multiple handsets to share phone lines along with a common set of features and functionality.

PBX (Private Branch Exchange): A telephone switching system that interconnects telephone extensions to each other in-house as well as to the outside telephone network.

POTS: POTS is the short form of plain old telephone service. It transmits voice as analog data on communication lines that are much slower when compared to today’s ISDN or FDDI lines. However, not long ago POTS, which is also known as the public switched telephone network, was the standard telephone system across the world.

SIP: SIP, which is the acronym of Session Initiation Protocol, is an IP telephony signaling protocol. It is primarily used for voice over IP (VoIP) calls, though with some extensions it can also be used for instant messaging.

Voice over IP (VOIP): VoIP is the technology that is used to transmit voice over the Internet. The voice is first converted into digital data which is then organized into small packets. These packets are stamped with the destination IP address and routed over the Internet. At the receiving end the digital data is reconverted into voice and fed into the user’s phone.

Hosted PBX Features

Attended Transfer: Alert the forwarding party of the transfer prior to transferring a call with the PBX.

Blind Transfer: Transfer a call within the PBX directly, without notifying the recipient first.

Call Groups: A call group are multiple extensions that will ring simultaneously when the specified phone number is called.

Call Queue: Incoming calls are placed in a queue until they can be answered by the next available agent.

Dashboard: The Dashboard feature allows users to view internal PBX activity in real time. It provides activity status, Caller ID, duration and directory information.

Follow Me: Incoming calls can be forwarded to multiple phone numbers that will ring in a designated sequence after a set time frame.

Outlook Integration: The Outlook Integration feature allows users to place calls directly from their Outlook client or enter any phone number and click to call.

Virtual Numbers: Virtual numbers portray a local phone presence by using local phone numbers in other geographical locations.

Virtual Receptionist: The Virtual Receptionist allows callers to be automatically transferred to a user's extension, cell phone, other Virtual Receptionist, voicemail, etc. without the intervention of a live receptionist.

Voicemail Transcription: Voicemail Transcripion is the automated text transcriptions of voicemails sent in an email with the audio attached