VoIP & Hosted PBX Glossary

VoIP and Hosted PBX Acronyms 

We have compiled the below list of acronyms and their explanations to help you understand some of the most common jargon you may come across when looking to purchase or sign up with a Hosted PBX and/or VoIP solution. 

A

Answering Rules

Answering Rules allow you to create custom rules to determine how incoming calls are handled.

 

Antenna

An LTE dual polarized antenna provides a solution of two antenna’s in one enclosure for optimal LTE performance with 4G, 3G and 2G technologies. It is a cost-effective solution for enhancing signal reception for VoIP LTE services.

 

Auto Attendant

Using a pre-recorded message or menu of options, Auto Attendant automatically greets and transfers calls to the relevant extension and can be used to replace the need for a receptionist.

 

Automatic Call Distribution (ACD)

ACD answers calls and transfers them to a specific employee or group, it is also able to put callers on hold and route them to the next available employee.

 

B

Bandwidth

Bandwidth refers to the capacity of transmitting data from one point to another point in a given amount of time. Expressed in bits per second, the bigger the bandwidth, the faster data can be transmitted. 

 

Broadband

Broadband connections provide always on internet access and offer high access speeds of 100kbps or higher. Broadband internet connections come in four different forms; DSL, Fibre, Cable and Satellite.

 

C

Caller Line Identification (CLI)

Caller Line Identification or Caller Identity displays the caller’s number when the phone is ringing.

 

Call Forwarding

Call Forwarding is a feature used to transfer call to another number when your phone is busy, unanswered or unreachable.

 

Cloud (Hosted) PBX

A Hosted or Cloud Private Branch Exchange (PBX) is a telephone system that is accessed entirely via the internet. The system is delivered and managed by a telephone service provider and offers the same plus additional features and functionality as that of an on-premise PBX.

 

Conference Calling

Conferencing Calling is used to connect multiple parties in different locations in a call over a phone line or internet connection.

 

Customer Premises Equipment (CPE)

Customer Premises Equipment refers to any telephony equipment that is sold to or leased to the customer by a telephony service provider that is located at the customer’s premises.

 

Call Routing

Call Routing is a setting used to point incoming calls to a specific extension or phone number that is based on a set of answering rules.

 

D

Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)

A DSL is used to transmit digital data over copper telephone lines that are directly connected to a modem.

 

Distribution Lists

Distribution lists allow you to create lists of extensions that enable one message to be sent multiple extensions.

 

Direct Dialling Inward (DDI)

DDI allows you to assign individual phone numbers to each employee without the need for separate for phone lines for each person.

 

Do not Disturb (DND)

Do Not Disturb is a setting which enables you to direct all incoming calls to your voicemail, preventing your phone from ringing.

 

G

Gateway

A VoIP Gateway is a device that converts telephony traffic into IP to transport over an IP network.

 

Geographic Number Porting

Geographic number porting allows you to change telephone service providers and keep your existing fixed-line telephone number. Find out more about Number Porting.

 

GSM – Global System for Mobile Communications

GSM refers to the frequency bands mobile networks and carries use to transmit calls over 2D and 3G networks. 

 

G.729 Codec

Codec is used to maximise the bandwidth utilised by compressing data of a call being received and then decompressing it once the call has been delivered. G.729 offers a low bit rate of 8Kbps allowing you to get more calls through your bandwidth.

 

H

Hosted (Cloud) PBX

A Hosted or Cloud Private Branch Exchange (PBX) is a telephone system that is accessed entirely via the internet. The system is delivered and managed by a telephone service provider and offers the same plus additional features and functionality as that of an on-premise PBX.

 

Hunt Groups (Hunt List)

Hunt Groups or Hunt Lists allow the distribution of incoming calls to a group of extensions and identifies which extension is available to answer the call.

 

L

Local Area Network (LAN)

A LAN is a computer network that connects computers within a limited area such as an office, home or school.

 

Least Cost Routing or Premicell

A Premicell or Least Cost Router is a device used to find the cheapest route when routing calls to ensure you save money on your monthly phone bill. Find out more about our Premicell product.

 

M

Music on Hold

Music on Hold is a feature that plays a message or music while a caller is waiting on hold.

 

N

Number Porting

See Geographic Number Porting

 

Network Address Translation (NAT)

Network Address Translation (NAT) comprises re-writing the destination addresses of IP packets or the source when they go through a firewall or router. The purpose of this is to enable various hosts on a private network to connect to the internet using one  public IP address.

 

P

Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)

PSTN is the world’s traditional landline telephone network that makes use of copper wires.

 

Premicell or Least Cost Routing

A Premicell or Least Cost Router is a device used to find the cheapest route when routing calls to ensure you save money on your monthly phone bill. Find out more about our Premicell product.

 

Q

Quality of Service (QOS)

Quality of Service refers to technology that controls data flows to decrease packet loss and latency and guarantees performance quality at a certain level.

 

R

Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP)

RTP is an Internet Protocol standard that defines the format for delivery video and audio over internet networks.

 

Ring Groups

A ring group is a group of extensions or phone numbers that ring at the same time when a incoming call is received.

 

Router

A router is a networking device that is connected to at least two networks and sends data packets between computer networks.

 

S

Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)

SIP is a protocol used for VoIP which enables users to make and receive video and voice calls virtually free of charge. SIP is used for any communication around the world over the internet.

 

Softphone

A softphone is software used to make telephone calls over internet from computers such as laptops, desktops and smartphones.

 

Switch

A network switch is networking device that connects multiple computer devices together thereby creating a network.

 

T

Telephone Management System (TMS)

A TMS allows companies to login to their online account to generate reports on their call history showing number of calls made, duration of calls, voicemails, and minutes used.

 

V

Virtual Fax

Virtual Fax is the first fax solution in South Africa. It utilises fax over IP technology which allows users to send faxes directly from their email without any additional software required.

 

Virtual Number

A virtual number is a phone number that is not directly associated to a phone line. These numbers can be automated to transfer incoming calls to a preselected phone number.

 

Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP)

VoIP uses the internet to route calls through an IP-based network rather than traditional telephone lines. View our VoIP Packages.

 

Virtual Private Network (VPN)

A VPN allows companies to create a secure and private connection to communicate over a public network such as the internet or on a service provider’s private network.

 

W

Wide Area Network (WAN)

A WAN is a communications network that covers a wide geographical area and connects smaller networks such as local area networks (LANs) to enable devices in one location to communicate or connect with devices in other locations.