UK Telecoms and ICT Index and Links - A
- ACCESS CODE
- ACCESS LINE
- ACD - Automatic Call Distribution
- ACTs - Advisory Committees on Telecommunications
- ADSL - Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line
- ANALOGUE
- ANONYMOUS CALL REJECTION
- ASCII - American Standard Code for Information Interchange
- ASP - Application Service Provider
- ASYNCHRONOUS COMMUNICATION
- ATM - Asynchronous Transfer Mode
- AUDIOCONFERENCING
- AUTOMATED ATTENDANT
- AUTOMATIC DIALLER
ACCESS CODE
A short number beginning with 1 that enables callers to reach services provided on a telecoms network, such as 118xxx for directory enquiries, or to select a choice of carrier.
| related index entries: | TELEPHONE NUMBERS |
ACCESS LINE
A telephone circuit connecting a customer location to a public network switching centre.
ACD - Automatic Call Distribution
A method for handling large numbers of in-coming calls. Ensures that calls are dealt with as quickly and efficiently as possible, by distributing them between answering positions in a pre-programmed sequence.
| related index entries: | CALL ROUTING |
ACTs - Advisory Committees on Telecommunications
Committees established under the 1984 Telecommunications Act to advise Oftel on telecoms regulation issues. Awaiting revival in some form under Ofcom.
| external links: | Advisory Committees on Telecommunications ACTS became defunct after Oftel was absorbed into Ofcom |
| related index entries: | CFB - Communications for Business DIEL - Advisory Committee for Disabled and Elderly People NIACT - Northern Ireland Advisory Committee on Telecommunications SACOT - Scottish Advisory Committee on Telecommunications WACT - Welsh Advisory Committee on Telecommunications |
ADSL - Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line
A broadband connection between a subscriber and the local exchange using existing copper wires. Can send a large quantity of data (eg a TV picture) in one direction (download speed) and a small quantity (eg a telephone call) in the other (upload speed). Also known as one 'flavour' of xDSL.
ANALOGUE
An analogue signal varies considerably with time, taking any value within certain limits. The human voice is an analogue signal, varying in both frequency and volume. The standard telephone system uses analogue signals, which can be converted to digital signals using a modem.
| related index entries: | DIGITAL |
ANONYMOUS CALL REJECTION
Stops calls from being connected where a caller has withheld their number.
| related index entries: | CLI - Calling Line Identification |
ASCII - American Standard Code for Information Interchange
The basic standard for digital communication. All computers can communicate using ASCII, but more feature-rich applications need higher level standards or proprietary protocols.
ASP - Application Service Provider
An ASP hosts applications, for example accounting software or groupware, on servers in their own data centre. Users access applications over a network through a browser. Pricing is usually on a per-user basis, and includes the server, application and all upgrades, as well as maintenance and help desk services.
| features: | The practical applications of convergence |
ASYNCHRONOUS COMMUNICATION
Examples of asynchronous communication are e-mail and discussion forums, where communication does not take place in real time.
ATM - Asynchronous Transfer Mode
A fast broadband network protocol used in telecoms infrastructure and large networks. ATM allows all types of information (data, voice and video in any combination) to be transported by a single network infrastructure.
| related index entries: | BROADBAND |
AUDIOCONFERENCING
Using a terminal or bureau service for voice communications, generally involving more than two people.
| information sheets: | Telemeetings Telephone, data and videoconferencing over the Internet |
| features: | Breaking the boundaries: using teleconferencing to communicate faster and better |
| related index entries: | CONFERENCE CALLING TELECONFERENCING |
AUTOMATED ATTENDANT
A facility which answers all in-coming calls and presents callers with a menu of call routing options, accessed via the key pad on their phone.
| related index entries: | CALL ROUTING IVR - Interactive Voice Response |
AUTOMATIC DIALLER
A device which automatically dials telephone numbers on a network.
| related index entries: | CTI - Computer Telephony Integration |
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