Glossary
If you come across a term that is unfamiliar, you can consult our glossary below for clarification.
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411  -  Also known as directory assistance. 411 is an information system that will help you locate phone numbers. Dial 411 (SEND) and give the listed name of the party you are trying to reach.
 
911  -  Dial 911 to contact emergency services in your area (police, fire, medical). 911 is available within cellular coverage regions in PEI, NB, NS, and NFLD in St. JohnĘs only.
 
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A
 
ACD  -  See Automatic Call Distribution.
 
ActiveX  -  This is a progamming language created by Microsoft that allows for interactivity on Web Pages.
 
Address  -  This specifies the location of a Web page or Site on the Internet.
 
Address Book  -  In many Email programs, you can have an address book that remembers all your commonly used Email addresses.
 
Agent  -  A person who can answer incoming phone calls. Each agent is associated with a peripheral and can be a member of one or more skill groups.
 
Analog  -  A shortened version of the term "analog transmission," which is a way of sending signals- voice, video or data - in which the transmitted signal is "analogous to," or like the original signal. This is the traditional method of modulating radio signals so that they can carry information.
 
Analog signals  -  Any continuous signal. For example, watches with hands are analog because the hands move continuously around the clock face.
 
Applet  -  This is a small program, usually written in the Java language, that allows for interactivity on Web Pages.
 
Asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL)  -  A type of communication that splits the frequency range used on the phone line into two distinct bands. The lower band is used for analog (voice) transmission, the higher for digital (data) transmission.
 
Attachment  -  Any file that is sent along with an e-mail message.
 
Attendant Console  -  Also called an Operator Console. A specialized phone set used by console operators to answer and direct incoming calls.
 
Automated attendant  -  An automated answering point for incoming calls to a company. Usually this is included as a feature in the voice mail system.
 
Automatic Call Distribution (ACD)  -  Automated system that routes calls and manages the information associated with those calls.
 
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B
Bandwidth  -  The amount of data that can be transmitted over a given time period. Generally, the more bandwidth your connection has, the faster information can be delivered to your computer.
 
Billing Cycle  -  The dates on your bill that represent the period of time during which you were charged for products, services and toll usage.
 
bit  -  The smallest unit of data used by computers.
 
bits-per-second (bps)  -  This is measurement of speed that a computer is transmitting data at.
 
BLF  -  See Busy Lamp Field
 
Body  -  The main text of an e-mail. This is the actual content of the message you are sending.
 
Bookmarks  -  Shortcuts to pages that you find interesting.
 
Broadband  -  Broadcasting with a technology twist. Its wider pipes and inherent two-way capability promise to deliver everything, such as video, voice, data, text, graphics and more, to both the PC and the TV.
 
Busy lamp field (BLF)  -  A set of lights or LEDs commonly found on an attendant console (ATC) that give visual indication as to which phones on the system are busy.
 
Busy Signal  -  A sound that you hear if your call is unable to go through. Depending on the circumstances, you may hear either the slower, standard busy signal or a "fast" busy signal. A standard busy signal indicates that the party you are trying to reach is on another call and that he or she doesn't have services such as Voice Mail, Call Waiting, Call Forwarding, or Busy Answer Transfer activated to acknowledge your call.
 
byte  -  A byte a measurment unit of data used by computers. A byte is equal to 8 bits of digital data.
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C
Cache  -  Whenever you visit a site, the information on that site is stored to a temporary file (or cache) on your computer. This is done so that the next time you may visit the site, it will be quicker to load as it will look fir the information locally on the computer. The downside is that if a Website is updated frequently, you may not be seeing the most recent information (Hitting the Refresh or Reload Button should bring you the most current information on the site).
 
Call Center  -  1.Any place where calls are placed or received in support of a specific business activity such as sales, marketing, customer service, telemarketing or technical support. 2.Any group within an organization that handles similar telephone calls.
 
Call Detail Recording (CDR)  -  A stored database record containing data about a specific call. Processed as a unit and used to create billing records, a CDR contains details such as the called and calling parties, originating switch, terminating switch, call length, and time of day.
 
Call Management services  -  Phone services that will help save you time, money and effort - as well as secure your privacy. Choose from Call Waiting, Visual Call Waiting, Call Display, Distinctive Ring, Call Forwarding, Call Answer, Call Return - Missed Call, Call Return - Busy, Three- Way Calling.
 
Canada Direct  -  An easy way to call home or other countries while traveling. Use Canada Direct to eliminate potential language difficulties and also reduce hotel surcharges. Calls are billed at Canadian rates which are often lower than other countries and you have the convenience of billing your calls to your Bell Aliant Telecom Calling Card.
 
CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access)  -  The digital standard for telephone services. CDMA assigns "codes" to conversations, allowing multiple conversations to take place over a given channel. Digital phones keep track of and instantly recognize which codes go with which conversations. If you have a wireless digital phone, you most likely have CDMA.
 
CDR  -  See Call Detail Recording
 
Central Office  -  The location of a local telephone company's switching equipment where customers' lines are terminated and interconnected.
 
Chat  -  Real-time communication between two users via computer. Once a chat has been initiated, either user enters text by typing on the keyboard and the text appears on the other user's monitor. Most networks and online services offer a chat feature.
 
Chat room  -  A virtual area where multiple users can initiate discussions. In reality, chat room is a communication channel, but the term "room" is used to promote the chat metaphor.
 
Class of Service (CoS)  -  The identification of the type of service subscribed to by the customer. In terms of service, the class identifies the type of telephone equipment or PBX service used by the customer. In switching, the class identifies the calling privileges or restrictions of a given line.
 
client  -  This normally refers to a program that is used to connect to a server to exchange information. (Email Client, FTP Client, etc...)
 
COM port (Communications Port)  -  The communications port on your computer, also called the serial port or RS-232 port.
 
compression  -  When you download files from the Internet, sometimes they are "compressed" into smaller files to speed up the download time or to save disk space.
 
Configuring  -  The process of setting up a program or computer system for a particular application.
 
Cookies  -  Small text files that certain Web pages put on your hard drive to be used by other Web pages.
 
CoS  -  See Class of Service
 
CPE  -  See Customer Provided Equipment.
 
Crosstalk  -  An electrical disturbance caused by the magnetic or electric fields in a telecommunication signal that affect an adjacent circuit. Crosstalk in a telephone circuit results in hearing voices from another conversation on another circuit while you are on the telephone.
 
Customer Provided Equipment (CPE)  -  Telephone equipment, such as key systems, PBXs, answering machines, etc., that reside on the customer's premises (e.g., office building, home office, or factory). Also called Customer Premises Equipment.
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D
Data  -  In general data is a body of facts. In computing data refers to information after it is translated into a form for processing. In telecommunications, data usually refers to digitally-encoded information, which is different from analog-encoded information.
 
Data Transmission  -  Sending data from one location to another via signals over a channel.
 
decompression  -  In order to read or use files that you have downloaded from the Internet that are compressed, you need a program to "decompress" them (or expand them) back to their original size.
 
decryption  -  This is decoding or descrambling data that has been encrypted for security reasons (example online banking).
 
Dedicated Access  -  A direct connection between a terminal and a service, network or computer dedicated to the specific use of a particular customer.
 
Dialup access  -  A regular modem connection to the Internet. Regular modems connect to the Internet by dialling a phone number to connect to a Point of Presence (POP). In contrast, high-speed Internet access usually entails a constant connection to the Internet whenever both your computer and high-speed modem are turned on.
 
dialup number  -  This is the phone number that your modem dials to connect to the Internet.
 
DID  -  See Direct Inward Dialing
 
Digital subscriber line (DSL)  -  A technology that allows for speeds above 56K over a regular telephone line.
 
Direct Inward Dialing (DID)  -  A method of directly dialing the directory number of a telephone attached to a PBX without routing calls through an attendant or an automated attendant console.
 
Direct Inward System Access (DISA)  -  A feature which permits authorized outside callers to access network facilities by dialing directly into the DMS 100 without attendant assistance.
 
Direct Outward Dialing (DOD)  -  The ability to dial directly from a PBX extension without routing calls through an operator, attendant, or automated attendant functions.
 
Directory assistance  -  A service by which you can obtain the listed telephone number for a residence or business.
 
DISA  -  See Direct Inward System Access
 
DOD  -  See Direct Outward Dialing
 
domain name  -  The domain name is the unique name that identifies a particular Internet Site. The domain name points to a specific server of where to locate a particular website. Example domain names would be BellAliant.net, ebay.com, yahoo.com
 
Download  -  Transfer a file from a computer on the Internet to your computer. Your browser downloads a file every time it displays a Web page.
 
DTMF Tones  -  Dual Tone Multi-Frequency are the tones that your phone transmits to communicate with tone activated phone systems like Voice Mail or telephone banking.
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E
E-mail  -  Short for electronic mail. E-mail is the standard method for sending messages to other users via the Internet.
 
E-mail address  -  A name that identifies an electronic post office box on a network. Networks follow different e-mail address formats; however, all e-mail addresses used on the Internet must look like this:
 
encryption  -  Encryption is a way of coding information so that if it is intercepted by another party, it can not be read. It acts to "scramble" the message.
 
ethernet  -  This is a technology that is used to connect multiple computers together over a Network.
 
ethernet card  -  This is the piece of hardware that is installed into your computer which allows for high-speed communication between a computer and other computers on a Network.
 
executable (exe)  -  This is the file that is used to launch or run on a computer.
 
External modem  -  A modem that resides in a self-contained box outside the computer system. Many experts consider it superior to internal modems, because they contain lights that indicate how the modem is functioning. In addition, they can easily be moved from one computer to another; however, they do use up one COM port (communications port).
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F
FAQ  -  Frequently Asked Questions ū These are online documents that cover many of the common questions you may have.
 
Fast Busy Signal  -  This tone is twice as fast as a regular busy signal. Fast busy usually indicates that all circuits are busy, so the call cannot go through. Hang up and dial again.
 
Favourites  -  Shortcuts to pages that you find interesting.
 
File Transfer Protocol (FTP)  -  The process of transferring or uploading your files to the server of your Internet Service Provider (ISP).
 
filter  -  This is the device that plugs in between the telephony device and the phone jack that prevents noise from interfering with your voice communications when the same line is used for your High-Speed DSL connection.
 
Firewall  -  A security system (usually software-based) used to protect an organization's internal network from unauthorized intrusion.
 
Flash  -  Flash is a plugin technology that allows for streaming video, animation and audio to play in your Browser.
 
Free Calling Area  -  See Local Service Exchanges.
 
Frequency  -  The number of cycles or times that any regularly recurring phenomenon occurs in one second (hertz).
 
Frequency  -  The number of oscillations, or vibrations, of radio waves per unit of time, usually expressed in either cycles-per-second or Hz (Hertz).
 
FTP  -  FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol. It is a way of transfering files from one computer or server on the Internet to another.
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G
Gaming  -  A form of Internet entertainment. You can play numerous games over the Internet by yourself or with people from all over the world; most of them are free.
 
GHz  -  One billion hertz, or cycles per second. Used to measure bandwidth.
 
gigabyte  -  A gigabyte is a unit of measurement and is equal to 1024 megabytes.
 
graphic  -  A graphic is an image viewed on a website.
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H
Handshake  -  This is the noise that the modem makes when connecting. It is a communication between two modems to agree on how to transfer data or communicate.
 
hard drive  -  This is the main area where files are stored on a computer.
 
Hardware  -  As it applies to computers and telecommunications, any physical device used for computing or communicating. For example, your monitor, hard drive, and telephone would be considered hardware.
 
HDML (handheld device markup language)  -  Written to allow Internet access from wireless devices such as handheld personal computers and smart phones. Derived from hypertext markup language.
 
Hertz  -  A unit of frequency measurement representing one cycle per second.
 
history  -  This is a list of sites visited in your Browser.
 
Home Page  -  A home page is the first web page that acts as a starting point to a particular Website. You can normally customize your Browser to open up to a particular Home Page each time it is opened.
 
html  -  HTML is the programming language used for building websites.
 
http  -  http is the protocol used to exchange files across the Web.
 
https  -  "Https" is the secure protocol used to exchange files across the Web. Often banking sites will use the https protocol to keep information secure and confidential.
 
hub  -  This is a device that acts to Network computers together to share the same connection.
 
Hunting  -  1. The automatic routing of calls to an idle circuit in a prearranged group when the circuit being called is busy or unavailable. 2. The movement of a call as it progresses through a group of lines. The call will try to connect to the first line of the group. If that line is busy or unavailable, it will try the second line, and then the third line, etc.
 
HyperText Markup Language (HTML)  -  The authoring language used to create documents on the World Wide Web.
 
Hz (Hertz)  -  A unit of measurement of one cycle per second when one radio wave passes one point in one second of time. Named in honour of Heinrich Hertz, the physicist who developed the theory of radio waves. One kilohertz (1 kHz) is one thousand cycles per second; one megahertz (1 MHz) is one million cycles per second; and one gigahertz (1 GHz) is one billion cycles per second.
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I
Included Minutes  -  The number of minutes included in your monthly rate plan.
 
Inmarsat Call  -  Operator assisted call placed to a mobile service that uses satellite facilities to provide two-way voice and data communications from Canada to remote locations virtually anywhere in the world.
 
Inside Wire  -  If you have single-line residence or business telephone service, you are responsible for the installation and maintenance of telephone wiring inside your residence or business. We will continue to repair inside wiring as part of your basic service if you have a party line or if your service terminates on a "hardwired" telephone. Place link to Do-it-yourself Guide to Inside Wire.
 
Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN)  -  Completely digital telephone/communications network which carries voice, data, and video over existing telephone network infrastructure. It is designed to provide a single interface for connecting a phone, fax, PC, etc.
 
Integrated Voice Response (IVR)  -  An application that provides full-featured integrated voice response capability to answer inbound calls, perform database lookups, re-direct calls automatically, etc.
 
Internal modem  -  A modem that resides on an expansion board that plugs into a computer. Internal modems tend to be slightly less expensive than external modems.
 
Internet  -  The global network that connects millions of people and computers together.
 
Internet Call Manager  -  Internet Call Manager ū A service which allows you to be notified of phone calls while you are surfing on the Net. You'll see phone calls as they arrive. A little pop-up window will appear on your computer screen with the name, number and location of your caller and you can chose to disconnect and take the call, send the caller a message , ignore the caller and more.
 
Internet service provider (ISP)  -  A company that provides access to the Internet. When you sign up with an ISP, you receive a software package, a username, a password, and an access phone number. ISP is also referred to as IAP or Internet Access Provider.
 
IP address  -  An IP address is a numeric code that uniquely identifies a computer on the Internet. It is like a street address that identifies where a computer is located on the Internet.
 
ISDN  -  See Integrated Services Digital Network
 
ISP  -  ISP stands for Internet Service Provider
 
IVR  -  See Integrated Voice Response
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J
Java  -  Java is a programming language expressly designed for use in the Internet environment. Java can be used to create complete applications that may run on a single computer or be distributed among servers and clients in a network.
 
JPEG or JPG  -  JPEG is an acronym for Joint Photographic Experts Group. It is a graphic image file created from a range of compression qualities. Many pictures you see on the Internet today are saved in the JPEG format.
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K
Kbps (kilobits per second)  -  The speed of data transfer through a network or modem. It is 1,024 bits per second.
 
Key System  -  A Key System is a customer premises based telephone system that lets users share access to a group of central office lines. It is typical to have more sets than lines, therefore explains the need for intercom numbers (locals or extensions). This allows internal communications via the intercom numbers, while they must contend for the use of an actual line.
 
KHz (Kilohertz)  -  One thousand hertz, or cycles per second.
 
Kilobits per second (Kbps)  -  Thousands of bits per second. A measure of data transmission, such as that processed by a modem.
 
KSU  -  The cabinet that contains the electronics for a key system. See key system.
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L
LAN  -  LAN is an acronym for Local Area Network. A local area network is a group of computers and associated devices and peripherals that share a common communications line and usually share the resources of a server within a small geographic area (for example, within an office building).
 
left-click  -  To left-click, you click on the left hand button on your mouse once.
 
link  -  A link is generally a highlighted or underlined word that will take you to another page or site when you click on it.
 
Local Calling Area  -  See Local Service Exchanges
 
Local Service  -  Bell Aliant provides single-party, touch tone service as its basic local service offering.
 
Local Service Exchanges  -  Normally encompasses a city, town or village and adjacent areas. Within a telephone exchange all local service subscribers may place an unlimited number of calls of any duration to all other local service subscribers without incurring long distance toll charges.
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M
mbps  -  Megabits-per-second its equal to a million of bits-per-second.
 
Megabyte (MB)  -  One million bytes of information, or 1024 kilobytes. Megabyte is abbreviated as M or MB.
 
Message Waiting Indicator  -  An audible or visual indicator that alerts you when there is a new message in your Message Centre.
 
MHz (Megahertz)  -  A frequency measurement unit. It is a million hertz or million cycles per second.
 
Mobile or Marine Call  -  Operator assisted call placed to a mobile telephone in a car, truck or ship.
 
Modem  -  A device which enables data to be exchanged by converting signals. For example, a modem can be used to convert a digital signal to an analog signal to allow computers to transmit data, such as analog signals, over telephone lines.
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N
 
netiquette  -  Guidelines one is expected to follow when using the Internet - especially on newsgroups, chats or forums.
 
Network  -  Two or more computers connected to each other so they can share resources.
 
Network Access Fee  -  This monthly charge is applied to residential customers who subscribe to long distance savings plans with Bell Aliant. This fee helps fund on-going costs to maintain and expand the Atlantic Canadian telecommunications network.
 
newbie  -  A new person to the Internet.
 
Newsgroups  -  Virtual coffee houses where users get together to share information, get answers, give expert opinions, and discuss subjects of interest.
 
Nicknames  -  Short names used to identify people. For example, instead of typing out a user's full e-mail address in the 'To' field of a new message, you can often simply type the nickname of that user.
 
Noise  -  Interference or unwanted electrical signals that affect or distort a device's operation. Unwanted signals on a telephone line.
 
Non-Published Numbers  -  Telephone numbers that do not appear in the telephone books and are not included in directory assistance records. Customers pay for non-published service.
 
NPA  -  The first 3 digits of the 10-digit telephone number usually used to designate a geographic area.
 
NXX  -  The first 3 digits of the 7-digit telephone number, also known as central office codes.
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O
offline  -  Not connected to the Internet.
 
Off Premises Extension (OPX)  -  A peripheral private branch exchange (PBX) device located in a building other than the one housing the PBX system itself. Also called OPS, or Off Premise Station.
 
online  -  Connected to the Internet
 
Operated-Assisted Calls  -  Types of operator assisted calls: Person-to-Person, Mobile or Marine, Inmarsat and Time-and-Charge.
 
Operating System  -  An operating system is the program that helps to manage all a computer's resources. Some of the more popular operating systems include Windows (95, 98, Mellinnium, XP, 2000) and MacIntosh.
 
OPX  -  See Off Premises Extension
 
Outgoing Calls  -  Calls you place on your regular telephone. Opposite of incoming calls.
 
Overseas Calling Codes  -  For a complete list of overseas calling codes, please refer to the "Overseas Calling" intro page of your telephone directory.
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P
Packet  -  A bundle of binary data that is organized for transmission. A group of bits switched as a complete unit. Typically, a packet contains data, destination, origination of information, and control information arranged in a particular format.
 
PBX  -  See Private Branch Exchange
 
Peak  -  The time of day when call traffic on the network is heaviest.
 
Personal Greeting  -  A message that you record for your voice mail service. When someone calls your phone, and you don't answer, they will hear your personal greeting.
 
Personal Web Space  -  Your own customizable space on the World Wide Web for sharing your interests, thoughts, and ideas with the world through words and images - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
 
Person-to-Person Call  -  This operator assisted call is used when you want to talk to certain person or reach a particular extension.
 
Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS)  -  Standard telephone service used by most residential locations.
 
Plug-ins  -  Programs that you install on your computer to work in conjunction with your browser by extending its capabilities.
 
POCSAG  -  Also known as POCSAG 1200. One of the original protocols for pager communication. Its coding format transmits and receives at 512, 1200, or 2400 bps (bits per second). POCSAG has been mostly replaced by the faster FLEX protocol.
 
POTS  -  See Plain Old Telephone Service
 
Pound Key (#)  -  A key on the telephone touch pad located next to the "0" key.
 
Power Pages  -  An free online directory that provides telephone numbers, fax numbers, civic addresses, email and Internet addresses from directory listings in New Brunswick.
 
Powercycle  -  This term refers to the powering off and on of a piece of hardware for troubleshooting purposes. It generally refers exclusively to restarting a high-speed modem.
 
PPPoE  -  PPPoE is a much simpler way of supporting PPP over DSL accesses for Ethernet attached DSL modems. It takes advantage of Ethernet's shared environment along with PPP's familiar and secure dial-access user model. PPPoE will only allow 1 computer to authenticate when connecting through a hub. Bell Aliant will not support or guarantee service for any LAN configurations.
 
Prime Paks  -  Local service with a combination of additional services from Bell Aliant in one package that include, Call Management service(s), Internet service and long distance discounts.
 
Private Branch Exchange (PBX)  -  An in-house telephone switching system that interconnects telephone extensions to each other as well as to the outside telephone network (PSTN). A PBX enables a single-line telephone set to gain access to one of a group of pooled (shared) trunks by dialing an 8 or 9 prefix. PBXs also include functions such as least cost routing for outside calls, call forwarding, conference calling and call accounting.
 
Proxy Server  -  A server that sits between a client application, such as a Web browser, and a real server. It intercepts all requests to the real server to see if it can fulfill the requests itself. If not, it forwards the request to the real server. For example, a company might use a proxy server to prevent its employees from accessing a specific set of Web sites.
 
PSTN  -  See Public Switched Telephone Network
 
Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)  -  The general term used to refer to the variety of telephone networks and services in place worldwide.
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Q
  Sorry there are no terms for this letter. Contact us if you need more information.
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R
Random access memory (RAM)  -  A type of computer memory that can be accessed randomly. RAM is the most common type of memory found in computers and many other devices, such as printers.
 
Registry  -  The Windows Registry contains information that Windows continually references during operation, such as profiles for each user, data for installed applications, hardware profiles for the system, port information, and other crucial data.
 
Relay Service  -  Enables TTY (text telephone) users to place or to receive calls from non-TTY users, with the assistance of a Relay Service communicator.
 
right-click  -  To left-click, you click on the right hand button on your mouse once.
 
roaming  -  Roaming is a feature that allows you to connect to the Internet while travelling throughout Canada.
 
Router  -  A device that connects two LAN's. Routers are similar to bridges, but provide additional functionality, such as the ability to filter messages and forward them to different places based on various criteria. The Internet uses routers extensively to forward packets from one host to another.
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S
 
Safe Mode  -  A special, diagnostic mode for starting-up a Windows Operating System for troubleshooting purposes.
 
server  -  A computer or program that sends information to other computers when requested. Examples include Web Server (serves Websites), Mail server or News Server.
 
SMTP  -  This is the protocol used to send email messages. It stands for Simple Mail Transfer Protocol.
 
Soft key  -  A key below the phone's main display panel that performs special functions.
 
spam  -  Unsolicited Email commonly known as junk mail.
 
Special Needs  -  Customers with physical disabilities who are unable to place a direct-dialed long distance call are eligible for direct-dialed rates on operator-assisted calls. You must notify the operator at the time you place the call.
 
Spyware  -  A general term for a program that secretly monitors your actions and can exploit system data or resources.
 
Standby time  -  The amount of time a subscriber can leave a fully charged handset turned on to receive incoming calls before the batteries run out of power.
 
Star Button (*)  -  A button on your telephone touch pad. It is next to the zero button. It is often used to activate a phone feature, such as *69, or to indicate a "no" during interactive responses in telephony systems.
 
Subscriber  -  A customer of a communications carrier.
 
Subscription Services  -  Services such as Call Waiting, Visual Call Waiting, Call Display, Distinctive Ring, Call Forwarding, Call Answer, Call Return - Missed Call, Call Return - Busy and Three- Way Calling, are available on a monthly subscription basis.
 
Surfing  -  Roaming the Internet, or moving from place to place searching for topics of interest.
 
System Busy  -  A "fast" busy signal you might hear if your phone is unable to locate a signal to carry your call.
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T
Talk Mail  -  A voice messaging service that lets you send a message to anyone without having to call them. You can even leave messages for several people at once to alert them about everything from a team practice to a party. For sending local message you pay only 25 cents and for long distance messages, you pay the applicable rates. There is no charge to receive TalkMail messages.
 
Telephone Exchanges  -  See Local Service Exchanges.
 
Text Telephone  -  Text Telephones (TTY) used to allow people with hearing or speaking impairments to communicate over the telephone system by typing and reading instead of talking and listening.
 
Thread  -  A thread is a series of related messages on a certain subject.
 
Time-and-Charge Call  -  This operator assisted call is used when you want to have the applicable information of time and charges provided to you by the operator at the completion of the call.
 
Toll Restriction  -  Provides you the capability to control long distance spending by restricting billable long distance calls from your residence line at no charge*. Three separate options are available: Toll Restrict - blocks calls beginning with "1" (except 1-800, 1-866, 1-877 and 1-888 calls). Calls beginning with "0" (operator and calling card calls) can also be blocked. Collect and Third Number - prevent collect and third number calls from being charged to your number. No 900 - prevent calls to 1-900 service from being billed to your number. * Note: There is no monthly charge for Toll Restriction, however, there is a $10.00 charge to remove it once it is activated.
 
Traffic  -  Traffic in the Internet community simply refers to the volume of computers accessing another computer or server. An Internet web site may become slower or "bogged down" if traffic greatly increases.
 
Tri-band  -  A network infrastructure designed to operate in three frequency bands: 800 MHz, 900 MHz and 800MHz.
 
Trunk  -  A telephone line connected to a PBX and used for incoming or outgoing calls.
 
Trunk Group  -  A group of trunks to which a routing client can direct calls. A peripheral may divide its trunks into trunk groups differently than the routing client does. Simple trunk groups describe the peripheral's view of the trunks; network trunk groups describe the routing client's view of the trunks.
 
TTY  -  TTY (Text Telephone) used to allow people with hearing or speaking impairments to communicate over the telephone system by typing and reading instead of talking and listening.
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U
 
Unified Messaging  -  Having access to e-mail, voice mail and faxes via a common interface on the computer or by telephone. Computer-based unified messaging typically sends digitized voice mail messages and faxes to a mail server that distributes them as e-mail attachments to the user. Audio-based systems convert e-mail messages to speech (text-to-speech) to deliver messages to any remote user at a desk phone or cellphone.
 
Universal resource locator (URL)  -  Addresses used to identify various types of Internet sites, including Web sites.
 
unzip  -  To uncompress files that have been compressed into a single file.
 
Upload  -  Transfer information from your computer to a bigger computer somewhere else on the Internet.
 
USB  -  A technology that allows information to pass quickly between your computer and other devices such as printers, scanners, or modems.
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V
v.90  -  A standard protocol used for 56 kbps modems.
 
Viruses  -  Programs designed to damage other programs on your computer, causing it to crash during certain operations, delete important files, or even become inoperable. Most viruses are transmitted over the Internet via e-mail attachments.
 
Virus Definitions  -  A file or group of files that tell a virus scanner what to look for to spot an infected file.
 
Voice Mail Access  -  A feature of some phones that allows you to retrieve voice mail (via your network provider) with the touch of a button.
 
Voice Mail Access Number  -  The number you may be required to dial to retrieve your messages.
 
VoiceNet  -  A speech-navigated portal that allows you to get the information that you want to hear, on demand, simply by asking for it. Voice navigation offers you simple, safe, convenient and hands free access to e-mail, news and weather . Just because you're away from your computer doesn't mean you have to wait to get your e-mail. Enjoy anytime, anywhere access to your POP3 e-mail account. Respected sources like CTV provide up to the minute world and business news, weather forecasts and updates.
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W
 
Web browser  -  An application on your computer that retrieves information from the Web, allowing you to view Web pages on your computer screen (such as the page you are reading now).
 
WinZip  -  A program used to compress files (or file sets) into a compressed zip file.
 
Wireless Internet  -  A radio frequency-based service that provides access to Internet e-mail and/or the World Wide Web.
 
Wireless IP (wireless internet protocol)  -  The packet data protocol standard for sending wireless data over the Internet.
 
Wireless LAN (local area network)  -  Wireless LANs or WLANs, that use radio frequency (RF) technology to transmit and receive data over the air, minimizing the need for wired connections. Wireless LANs combine data connectivity with user mobility. WLANs allow both the transmission of data and the ability to share resources, such as printers, without the need to physically connect each node, or computer, with wires. Wireless LANs offer productivity, convenience, and cost advantages over traditional wired networks.
 
Wireless Markup Language  -  Internet language specifically tailored for the display limitations of WAP enabled wireless devices.
 
Wireless Network  -  A network that transmits messages to and from telephone equipment without a wire connection.
 
World Wide Web (WWW)  -  The most popular part of the Internet, because it provides a way for members to access information in the form of text, pictures, sound, and video.
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X
x2  -  one of the 56 kbps communication standards used by modems.
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Y
  Sorry there are no terms for this letter. Contact us if you need more information.
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Z
zip  -  A compressed file.
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