UK Telecoms and ICT Index and Links - I
- ICON
- ICSTIS - Independent Committee for the Supervision of Standards of Telephone Information Services
- INDIRECT ACCESS OPERATOR
- INFORMATION SUPERHIGHWAY
- INTERNET
- INTEROPERABILITY
- INTRANET
- IP - Internet Protocol
- IP TELEPHONY
- ISDN - Integrated Services Digital Network
- ISP - Internet Service Provider
- ISVR OPERATOR
- ITC - Independent Television Commission
- IVR - Interactive Voice Response
ICON
in an ICT context, a small graphic or logo used to represent a file type or program, or a mobile phone graphic.
| information sheets: | Mobile phone tones and graphics |
ICSTIS - Independent Committee for the Supervision of Standards of Telephone Information Services
Regulates the content and promotion of premium rate telephone services.
| external links: | ICSTIS |
| related index entries: | PRS - Premium Rate Service |
INDIRECT ACCESS OPERATOR
Indirect access operators use BT's infrastructure from a customer's premises to the exchange to provide their own services. Services from these providers are accessed by dialling a prefix number, by routing through a 'smartbox' or router which automatically dials the prefix, or by registering for carrier pre-selection.
| external links: | Uswitch Ofcom approved comparison site for residential consumers but will come up with companies who also offer competitive small business solutions |
| FAQs: | What's this about dialling a prefix before the number, to be billed by a different telco? |
| information sheets: | Buyer's guide to fixed telecom services 'Carrier pre-selection' consumer guide - July 2002 How to find where telecoms services are available Using an indirect access telecoms service |
| related index entries: | TELECOMS OPERATORS |
INFORMATION SUPERHIGHWAY
The term used for a global broadband network connected using wholly fibre optic cables, which will enable vast amounts of data to be transmitted at the speed of light and make many new applications practical. Currently, data moves at the speed of the slowest part of the connection - in the UK this is often the local loop.
INTERNET
A global network of networks, made up of broadband backbones and permanently connected spurs to Internet Service Providers.
INTEROPERABILITY
The ability of different telecoms networks and/or devices to work together to provide a seamless service for users. More noted for its absence - a simple example of non-interoperability is if an Internet Service Provider does not support connection from the type of modem being used, or a caller's number on one network is not presented in a way that can be recognised by the called line on another network.
INTRANET
A closed data network using Internet protocols, used by companies and organisations to make information available to their employees.
IP - Internet Protocol
a standard signalling protocol used to send packets of data over a network. Using IP, computers and other digital devices using different operating systems can communicate with each other. Developed for the Internet but now used on LANs and being adopted for telephony and videoconferencing applications.
| information sheets: | VoIP, Voice over Internet Protocol and Internet telephony What is computer telephony integration? |
| features: | The practical applications of convergence |
| related index entries: | VoIP - Voice over Internet Protocol |
IP TELEPHONY
a telephone system which can be integrated with a data network and switched by computers and routers rather than by traditional pbxs and telephone switches.
| information sheets: | How to choose a business broadband provider VoIP, Voice over Internet Protocol and Internet telephony |
| features: | The practical applications of convergence |
| related index entries: | VoIP - Voice over Internet Protocol |
ISDN - Integrated Services Digital Network
ISDN is a digital alternative to the standard (analogue) telephone network, with no recabling required. ISDN provides multiple channels per line, offering a high speed connection as well as the ability to use analogue services such as fax. A high bandwidth (but not broadband) telephone line.
ISP - Internet Service Provider
Also known as Internet Access Providers, ISPs are companies or organisations which provide access to the Internet and/or other Internet related services.
| external links: | Net 4 Nowt Lists and reviews ISPs and their services The List A list and reviews of UK ISPs |
| information sheets: | Buyer's guide to the Internet Improving Internet connectivity |
| features: | Getting connected in Pwll Llacca |
| related index entries: | CONNECTIVITY |
ISVR OPERATOR
ISVR operators offer cheap international calls and operate under an International Simple Voice Resale (ISVR) licence. ISVR involves the conveyance of calls via a public network (for example BT's) in one country, over an international private leased circuit and then via a public network in another country. ISVR operators are able to reduce their costs because they are set up to use international capacity on a long term basis and use cost-saving processes that maximise the number of calls carried on a given link between two countries.
| related index entries: | TELECOMS OPERATORS |
ITC - Independent Television Commission
Licenses and regulates commercially funded television services in the UK, as well as data broadcasting over TV frequencies. Now part of Ofcom.
| related index entries: | OFCOM - Office of Communications |
IVR - Interactive Voice Response
A facility where a caller can respond to recorded prompts by inputting number tones from the telephone keypad, or speaking simple words from a given list (for example, yes/no).
| related index entries: | AUTOMATED ATTENDANT CALL ROUTING |
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